Homemade Playdoh: Even Better Than the Real Thing

This IS better than the real thing and so far superior to the Dollar store variety that I can't express it.

Benefits to making your own playdoh:

• cheaper
• better
• customizable colors
• LOTS of one color (big help when you have several toddlers)
• softer than regular Playdoh, but still holds its shape

Recipe is from First Art: Art Experiences for Toddlers and Twos by Mary Ann Kohl (this is half of her recipe and it still makes quite a bit--maybe the equivalent of 6 regular Playdoh cans or so)

Have all supplies ready. This will take about 1/2 an hour, so do it during naptime when your kids aren't hanging on your pant legs and dying for their new activity.

• 2 1/2 c. water
• 1 1/4 c. salt
• 1 1/2 T. cream of tartar
• 1/2 t. to 1 1/2 T. food coloring (smaller amount for pastel on up as you please... I like about 1 1/2 t.)
• 5 T. oil
• 2 1/2 c. flour

Heat water, salt, cream of tartar, and food coloring in 3 quart saucepan until hot (over medium low heat). Stir in oil and gradually stir in flour. Continue heating and stirring until mixture pulls away from sides of pan (depending on how hot your salt/water mixture is, this can take no time at all or several minutes). Remove from heat periodically and check: when you can pinch off part of the mixture and it's not sticky, it's done.

Turn dough out onto a surface like a cutting board and let it cool slightly. While still warm, knead until smooth.

Store in a ziploc bag!

Sun Hand Craft

Ok...I don't have a picture, but I got the idea off of www.enchantedlearning.com. It is a sun using your child's handprint. I always love these things...you can look back later and see how much they have grown. Takes a little of mom prep, cutting out the hands, unless your child is old enough.

Supplies needed: Paper plate, yellow paint, 7 hand prints on yellow/orange paper.

Directions: Paint the paper plate yellow on the BACK side. Trace and cut about 7-10 handprints of your child on yellow or alternating yellow/orange paper. (The smaller the child, the more hands needed to go around sun.) Staple or glue the hand prints to the edges of your sun. Feel free to add a face or Bible verse (i.e. Jesus is light of the world.)

Fun Foam

There are so many things you can do with craft foam. For example, the picture is of a box set I got at Easter. It had foam crosses, glitter, and stickers to decorate. My 5 yr. old did one for each member of the family and we hung them in our window. They made a great display. Sets change seasonally, but you can always buy other basic sheets or crafts to do. (Found at any arts & crafts store or Walmart/Target.)

Discount School Supply

Discount School Supply is a great website from which you can order all kinds of art and craft supplies inexpensively; their own brand seems to be fairly high quality. They have free shipping on large orders, so plan ahead (or share your order with a friend) to get the best deal. We ordered all kinds of very fun beads, tempera paint, toddler sized smocks, pipe cleaners, newsprint, glue sticks, and a host of other miscellaneous supplies. My toddler can't use some of the items yet, but she absolutely LOVES the beads we have. Look for larger sizes if you have young children.