thanks guys have been googling and found you can buy cheap disposable kids aprons so Im now thinking plaster painting might be an option (found a place that has 90 pieces plaster, paint, glitter and brushes for $80!!!) And DD had a ball doing plaster painting in the school holidays so I think she will like the idea. Just need to borrow trestle tables from the grandparents and some disposable table cloths

ETA we did the pot planting thing for free at bunnings one day and the kids loved it but were filthy after planting their flowers, maybe my kids are grubs