glue for glitter, nice(r) paintbrushes for DS almost 3

[mrsbaldwin]

So suddenly DS almost 3 is into painting, glitter and so on in a big way. This is great but as I have the artistic talent of a flea it must have been 35 years ago I had any interaction with the raw materials for arts and crafts.

Some stupid questions - advice gratefully received.

1. I've bought some glitter shakers from WHSmiths, but then realised, when he asked to use them I hadn't got anything to stick it with. In the olden days there was Gloy paste in a little bottle for sticking glitter. But maybe the technology moved on a bit since the 1970s? What glue for glitter should I be buying?

1. I also bought a multipack of paintbrushes from Smiths. But they're not really very good, or thick - one's fallen apart already. Can anyone suggest where I can get some better ones?

1. Is there some sort of kids art materials website where I can just buy stuff for an art box in a big batch? [hopeful emoticon]

TIA.

Early learning centre good for that kind of stuff. Paint brushes there are really good. Smiths glitter shakers are the best we've had. Pritt stick for nice clean glitter sticking or pva glue (messy glue as my dc call it) if you want satisfying glitter sticking.

I think clear glue is better for glitter, but pva works well too. tesco had a largeish bottle recently for i think under 50p. Dont quote me, but it was definately cheap. Poundland is my favourite for arts and crafts (my dd is 2.2) esp when there is a seaonal day coming up eg easter they have lots of tissue paper, egg shapes etc.
For my little one, Im a bit cruel...I cover some of the holes on the glitter pot (play doh will do) and decant some glitter out first so it lasts much longer!
You also want some glue spreaders (large supermarket?) or make your own out of something in the recycling box.

That's a really good point about decanting out, swimming. Too many tubes in our house were one glorious shake and then all gone-too much glue on paper to be able to put any back. The smiths ones are brilliant I find because they're the only ones with tiny holes so that a gentle sprinkling comes out. We had them last Christmas and they're still going strong. Maybe not as much fun though...

Thanks very much for these replies - really helpful.

My poor old DS has been mournfully waving the glitter shakers about in their packet all week - however tomorrow is the great Art Shopping Day. We are going to ELC, Poundland and the supermarket as suggested.

I like the idea of stopping up the glitter shaker - good plan.

Maybe I should also buy some more hoover bags :)

Yes-but don't try wiping up glitter with microfibre cloth-glitter in it forever after!

And the glueing update is ....

Very good recommendation about the PVA glue, Molehill - DS did some excellent glittering with it yesterday, really concentrating (sweet).

Swimming - some cheapo sugar paper discovered in Wilkinson in the end.

Thanks so much!

Brilliant!

Yellow Moon/Baker Ross do good packs of brushes (and their glitter shakers are good too). I'd go with PVA, you can stick little seed beads or sequins in it too which looks lovely if you're into that sort of thing...

Great. Dont forget you can add glitter to playdoh too!

Aha, some websites [goes off to have a look].

Glitter in playdoh - what a good idea, I just made some for the first time last week in fact

My DCs used to like cutting up old magazines/greeting cards/catalogues and sticking the pictures down either in a scrap book or to make new pictures.
You can't go wrong with stickers!! Yellow Moon are great.
Start keeping a box of junk - empty cartons, plastic containers, interesting bits of ribbon, coloured foil, tissue paper etc for model making/collage
Have fun!

Thanks Seeline. Funny you should say this, DS tried to take the scissors to this weeks Grazia this morning - ha! I am going to have a look at Yellow Moon this morning.

My DD used to like shredding old magazines with a pair of scissors - no purpose to it just enjoyed cutting. Kept her amused for ages - do keep an eye open though - she took the scissors to her hair one day having decided she wanted a fringe. It took ages to grow it out