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Save this for a rainy day: 3 easy, fun indoor crafts for kids

Parental Guidance: Get the ingredients for these simple crafts now, so you're ready for the next rainy day stuck indoors.
/ Source: TODAY

Ah, summer! Running around in the sprinklers under the hot summer sun. Rolling around in the grass until your clothes are completely stained. Playing outside 'till the street lights go on. Summer is all about being outdoors, but panic can set in when Mother Nature doesn't cooperate and rain keeps you and your little ones stuck inside. Don't stress, because we're going to help you channel your inner Martha Stewart.

From making goopy, sticky flubber to engineering a giant bubble snake, getting crafty is all about rolling up your sleeves and having fun. The key to a successful day indoors is all about planning, knowing your audience, and preparing to get messy, messy, messy.

So the next time good ol' Al Roker forecasts rain in your "neck of the woods," don't run for cover (or the "Frozen" DVD — again). Instead, grab the soap, some cornstarch and a jar of coconut oil and get crafty!

(But hey, I'm a realist. If all else fails, then by all means snuggle up with the kiddos and watch a movie. Even the almighty Martha would say that can be "a good thing" too!)

FLUBBER

The ingredients: water, cornstarch, food coloring

The directions:

1. Heat two cups of water until it is very warm.

2. Pour the water into a bowl. Add 2-3 drops of food coloring and lightly stir it until it dissolves.

3. Slowly stir in 4 cups of food starch. Continue stirring until the starch dissolves completely.

4. Stick your fingers in and play with the flubber. If you find the texture to be too thin, slowly stir in more cornstarch until you are satisfied with the slime. If it seems too thick, stir in more water.

LIP GLOSS

The ingredients: beeswax block, coconut oil (at room temperature), vitamin e liquid, old lipstick for color and small plastic screw-top pod containers. Also need a glass measuring cup (microwave safe) and cheese grater.

The directions:

1. Put 5 tablespoons grated beeswax and 5 tablespoons coconut oil in glass measuring cup (Note: The amount can vary but just make sure equal parts wax and oil.)

2. Place beeswax and coconut oil in measuring cup and heat in microwave for 1 minute so that it’s melted, not boiling.

3. Add 1 teaspoon vitamin e and a chunk of old lipstick into the beeswax/coconut mixture. Heat in microwave for 10 seconds.

4. Mix and pour contents in little plastic screw-top pods. Let contents sit until hard or refrigerate.

BUBBLE SNAKE SHOOTER

The ingredients: plastic soda bottle (16 oz.), a sock, a rubber band and dishwasher liquid soap. (NOTE: It's best to do this in the bath tub.)

The directions:

1. Cut off the bottom of a plastic soda bottle.

2. Slip a sock over the opening and use a rubber band to keep the sock flat and firmly in place. 3. Dip sock in soap water mixture. Blow through the mouth part of the bottle and — voila! — snake bubbles.

Do you have any cool crafts that you and your kids love to do? Willie and I want to see you in action. Send us your cute pics and fun DIY videos. Do you have an idea for an upcoming Parental Guidance? Please tell us on Facebook or Twitter with the hashtag #ParentalGuidance: @megancolarossi, @williegeist, @today_parents. As we all know, being a parent is the toughest job in the world, but it’s totally worth the wild ride especially when we get a little help from a friend!