This isn't my normal couponing post, but it can save you money! In my house Play-Doh doesn't last long. My daughter's Play-Doh hardly ever stays on the craft table and usually ends up in little pieces, dried up on the floor. Yes, Play-Doh is messy but oh so fun! Today I decided it would be fun to try and make our own Play-Doh! Here's a good recipe for homemade Play-Doh that I found. My daughter had so much fun cooking it (very easy), as well as playing with it, so be sure you get the kids in the kitchen with you to help you make it. The best part is, it's ready to go in minutes!
Play-Doh
- 1 cup of all purpose flour
- 1 cup of water
- 1/2 cup of salt
- 1 tbsp of oil - any oil will do
- 2 tbsp of cream of tartar
- 1/8 to 1/4 tsp of food coloring
Mix all the ingredients into a pan and blend with a whisk. When all ingredients are blended, place the pan on the stove on medium to medium-high heat. You will need to mix continually until the mixture thickens. It may take 3 to 4 minutes. When the mixture starts to clump and is difficult to mix, take the pan off the stove. Pour the dough on a floured surface and when it is cool enough to handle start kneading like bread dough. Remove from the floured surface when the dough is no longer sticky. Knead away from the floured surface until all the flour on the dough is absorbed and the dough is smooth and pliable. You're done! To store keep in plastic wrap, a plastic bag, or Tupperware.
Excuse the ugly color. That "green" is the result of all the food coloring colors mixed together. My daughter wanted ALL the colors in there. Anyway, hope you try out this fun activity with the kids. They'll love it and you'll end up saving yourself some money! I personally will never waste money buying Play-Doh again. I'll just make it from home! However, I will insist on a better color next time. ;)
Thanks to Recipes From Home for the Play-Doh recipe!
Excuse the ugly color. That "green" is the result of all the food coloring colors mixed together. My daughter wanted ALL the colors in there. Anyway, hope you try out this fun activity with the kids. They'll love it and you'll end up saving yourself some money! I personally will never waste money buying Play-Doh again. I'll just make it from home! However, I will insist on a better color next time. ;)
Thanks to Recipes From Home for the Play-Doh recipe!
Cornstarch Fingerpaint
ReplyDeleteIngredients
3 cups water
1 cup cornstarch
food coloring
Directions:
In a medium saucepan, bring water to a boil. Dissolve cornstarch in a separate bowl with water. Remove boiling water from heat and add cornstarch mixture. Return to heat, stirring constantly. Boil until the mixture is clear and thick (about 1 minute). Remove from heat.
As the mixture is cooling, divide into separate bowls and add food coloring. Let the children carefully mix in the coloring.(Have fun naming the colors; Sponge Bob Yellow(tweetie bird yellow), Elmo Red, Blues Clues Blues(in your days it was Smurf Blue), Tinkerbell Purple or green--whatever your child's favorites are.
Moisten the surface lightly with a sponge and put about a TB of paint on it. Make designs with fingers, knuckles, yarn, q-tips, cut-up sponge shapes.
I used to have a big roll of finger painting paper (especially made for the heaviness of fingerpaint and has a coated, nonabsorbent surface which provides for fast drying)that I would tape to the little table. Then hang the masterpieces on a clothesline to dry. When Daddy comes home he can walk thru the "art gallery" and put a blue ribbon on his favorite!(if you have 2 kids make sure you have 2 blue ribbons ready!)
Hints:
Add 1 tbsp of glycerin to make the mixture shiny. You can find glycerin in most craft stores or pharmacies.(Let your child add it and call it Fairy Gel, Dinasour Juice...be creative!)
(Recipe adapted from Wycliffe Cookbook)