Clay, Playdough, Paste, etc.

Baker's Clay

4 cups flour
1 cup salt
1 1/2 cups water

Combine in bowl and mix thoroughly with hands. Knead four to six minutes. Make into shapes or use cookie cutters; use a straw to cut a hole for hanging. Bake in 325 degree oven for 30-50 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool and paint with tempera. (Raw dough can be colored by using food coloring.)

Iridescent Soap Bubbles

1 cup water
2 Tbs. liquid detergent
1 Tbs. glycerin
1/3 teaspoon sugar
Mix all ingredients. Make straw bubble blowers; use cookie cutters, colanders, strainers
and other household items. String works well for huge bubbles.

Gak

Part "A"
2 cups Elmer's Glue (some others do not work)
1 1/2 cups warm water
Part "B"
4 tablespoons of borax powder
1 1/3 cups warm water with food coloring

Pour "B" into "A" and mix with hands.
(Note: Gak will remove color from wood.)

Modeling Goop

2 cups salt
2/3 cups water
1 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup cold water

Stir salt and water over heat 4-5 minutes. Remove from heat. Add cornstarch and 1/2 cup cold water, stir until smooth. Cook until thick. Store in a plastic bag. This can be used for modeling and will not crumble when dry.

Playdough I

Mix together:
2 cups flour
1 cup salt
4 teaspoons cream of tartar
2 cups water plus food coloring
2 tablespoons baby oil (other oil can work, too)

Place over low heat and stir often until playdough is consistency of mashed potatoes. Knead when cool.

Suggestions

When cool, place on table for children to use.
Do not make models for the children.
Try to vary the availability of tools - some days allow hands only; other days put tools out.

Playdough (II)

This recipe is similar to the commercial brand, but more durable. Keep in closed container when not in use.
1 cup flour
1 cup water
1 Tbs. oil
1 Tbs. alum
1/2 cup salt
2 tablespoons vanilla
food coloring

Mix all dry ingredients. Add oil and water. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until it reaches the consistency of mashed potatoes. Remove from heat and add vanilla and food coloring. Divide into balls and work in color by kneading.

Koolaid Playdough

Mix together:
1 cup sifted flour
1/2 cup salt
3 Tablespoons oil
1 small pack of Koolaid

Add 1 cup boiling water. Stir ingredients together and knead mixture to soft dough.

Non-hardening no-cook Playdough

2 cups self-rising flour
2 Tbs. alum
2 Tbs. salt
2 Tbs. cooking oil
1 cup, plus 2 tablespoons boiling water

Mix and knead.

Pasta Dye

1/2 cup rubbing alcohol
Food coloring

Mix alcohol and food coloring in bowl. Add small amounts of different shaped pasta to the liquid and gently stir. Dry pasta on waxed paper or newspaper.

Fingerpaint

Dissolve 1/2 cup cornstarch in 3/4 cup cold water in a pan.
Dissolve 1 envelope knox gelatin in 1/4 cup cold water. Set aside.
Add 2 cups hot water to starch mixture. Cook until thick and clear.
Blend in gelatin
Add 1/4 cup liquid detergent and tempera paint for color.

Glue Paint

Use any amount liquid glue (ie., Elmers, Ross)
Add food coloring

Mix to desired shade. Looks wonderful on children's artwork. Make nice colored frames for artwork, as well. Sprinkle with glitter or add glitter to glue.

Sand Paint

1/2 cup sand (washed, dried and sifted)
1 Tbs. powder paint

Shake onto surface brushed with watered glue.
(Note: Empty plastic vitamin or soap bubble bottles make excellent containers.)

Soap Paint

1 1/2 cups soap flakes
1 cup hot or warm water

Whip with an eggbeater until stiff.

Bookbinder's Paste

1 teaspoon flour
2 teaspoon cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon. powdered alum
1/3 cup water

Mix dry ingredients. Add water slowly, stirring out lumps. Cook in a double boiler over low heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat when paste begins to thicken; it will thicken more as it cools. Keep covered. Thins with water when necessary.

Homemade Paste

3/4 cup flour
1/4 cup warm water.

Mix until thick and sticky. Add drops of wintergreen or peppermint extract for smell. Store in refrigerator in airtight container.

Sugar Flour Paste

1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
2 cups cold water
2 cups hot water
1 tablespoons powdered alum
3 drops of oil of cloves

Mix flour and sugar together. Mix water together. Slowly stir in one cup water. Bring remainder of water to boil and add the mixture to it, stirring constantly. Continue to cook and stir (approximately 1/2 hour in a double-boiler) until fairly clear. Remove from heat and add oil of cloves. Makes 1 quart of paste. Paste keeps a long time. Keep moist by adding small piece of wet sponge to top of small jar of paste.

Salt Glitter

Add 5-6 drops food coloring to 1/2 cup household salt. Stir well. Cook in microwave for 1-2 minutes or spread on waxed paper and let air dry. Store in airtight container.