Pentecost Flames Salad Spinner Art and Prayer Ideas

I found a cheap salad spinner (£4 in IKEA!) and was finally able to try out some spinner art!  It's brilliant: quick, clean (because the spinner sits in its own bowl) and each piece is unique!  The process of making the art really lends itself to Pentecost themes so here's an idea to help celebrate the occasion...

You will need: A salad spinner; red, yellow and orange paint, small paper plates, a tub of hair gel (optional) 

 Put a plate on the bottom of the inside of the spinner and blob some paint in.  Put the lid on and spin!

 It only takes a few seconds of enthusiastic spinning and this is what you get... I think that trying to get the plate balanced across the bottom of the spinner would have helped this one (above) to be a little less lop-sided!

 Some sites recommend adding a blob of hair gel and it does make the paint a little more runny.  Experiment and see what works best for you.

I love it!  I tried it out yesterday with some 2 year olds and they loved it too.  All ages pleased in one go.

Thinking and praying ideas:

• The noise and the spinning as you make the pictures is a strong reminder of the sound of the powerful wind that came upon the disciples at Pentecost and the 'flames' are obvious reminders of the tongues of fire.  It's a great visual and kinesthetic aid to tell the Pentecost story!  
• Ask children to think about people that they would like to be touched by the Holy Spirit (including themselves!) and, as each picture is finished, write that person's name on the plate.  Display somewhere in the house as a reminder to pray for that person.