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!

A Little Girl's Quilt

Four years ago, when my daughter was born, I bought some fabric that I knew would make a darling quilt for her when she moved to a "real" bed. Four years later (and a much simplified design), I finally made it. She loves it. The pillow shams really needed to be done because the quilt looked unfinished without them. I think it all turned out quite well. The ribbon pillow is from Sewing in No Time by Emma Hardy.

Aprons and Pot Holders

I have a housewarming party/shower to attend this coming weekend. What to make for the honoree? My favorite apron, of course! I whipped up six of them this past December, so creating another one went fairly quickly. I also tried my hand at some potholders--not as easy as they look, let me assure you! But, I think all turned out well. The girl has picked teal, taupe, white, and yellow for her kitchen colors. I didn't find fabric that incorporated the yellow, but this old-timey-kitchen themed fabric met the other requirements nicely! See aprons in this post. Pot holder pattern is from Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing.

The T-Shirt Quilt

This t-shirt quilt is a LONG promised project: I coerced my husband into cleaning out his t-shirt drawer a few years ago, promising I'd turn those old t-shirts into a quilt. Several years later, I decided the time had come. I made it for his birthday (end of January) and I think it was a hit!

Quick Table Runner

This table runner was very easy and quick to make. I originally made it for my sister Carrie, but she moved by Christmas to a new house with different dining room colors. So, it's now gracing my dining room table in this picture! Eventually it made it to Carrie's house. Made from pattern in Sewing in No Time by Emma Hardy.

Tea Cozies

I made two identical tea cozies (and matching finger mitt--not pictured) in 2009. They were fun projects. One of the recipients sent me a fat quarter of the Mary Engelbreit teapot fabric featured on the middle strip. What, she wondered, could we do with this great fabric? (Incidentally, this is my friend Megan who hosts Literaritea). I thought of this tea cozy pattern from Sewing in No Time by Emma Hardy. They turned out well.

Drawstring Bags

These charming bags were for two little girls down the street, one of whom had a birthday, and for my daughter. The bags are big enough to hold stuffed animals, a few books, and other necessities for a car ride somewhere or an overnight. I made them from the directions in Emma Hardy's Sewing in No Time. (a book I highly recommend) 2009 project