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Recipes
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COOKED PLAY DOUGH
This play dough is a soft, nice consistency that lasts a long time if kept in an airtight container. One recipe makes a good
amount for two children. I like to have enough so that each child can have an abundance of dough! I also only make one
color and emphasize the exploratory aspect of the activity and there are no worries of mixing the colors.
2 Cups of flour
1/2 Cup of salt
2 TBS. of cream of tartar (found in spice aisle)
2 Cups of water with food coloring mixed in
1/4 Cup oil
Sometimes I add cloves, lemon extract, mint extract or any other fragrance that I can think of. You can also add glitter.
Wisk dry ingredients together first. Cook over low - medium heat, stirring constantly. It becomes quite difficult to stir when
it's almost done. Cook it just a little bit beyond the time it forms a ball and it should be done. Remove from heat. When
cool enough to handle, knead until it is uniform. If play dough is still sticky, add some flour when you knead it; next time
cook it a little bit longer.
NO - COOK PLAY DOUGH
This play dough is a great activity to do with the kids. They'll have fun measuring, pouring and mixing. The finished
product is not as nice as the cooked play dough and doesn't last as long. I like to make it anyway because it is lots of
messy fun and a great language activity. One recipe makes two small portions.
2 Cups of flour
1/2 Cup of salt
Scant 1 Cup of water with food coloring mixed in
A few drops of oil
Mix all ingredients together and knead. If it is sticky add more flour. If it is crumbly add more water. Store in an airtight
container. It will last longer if refrigerated.
OATMEAL DOUGH
1 Cup of flour
2 Cups of oatmeal
1 Cup of water
Combine flour and oatmeal in a bowl and mix. Slowly add water and mix.
TIPS:
Air-dry projects for 24 hours and they will harden. Keeps 10 – 14 days refrigerated in a zip lock bag.
Variation: Add coffee grounds for a dough with even more texture.
GOOP
1 Cup of white glue with food coloring mixed in
1/3 Cup of liquid starch (found in laundry detergent aisle)
Pour glue into bowl, add starch and mix. All the starch might not mix in. Pour off any excess liquid. If it is real sticky add
more starch. It also becomes less sticky as you play with it more. It sticks to clothing very easily when first made; wear a
smock! Store in an airtight container and in the refrigerator. After refrigerated for a couple of hours it becomes more like
silly putty, However, If left unrefrigerated too long it becomes sticky again.
GLITTER GOOP
Equal parts Colorations™ green glitter paint and glue (Elmer’s™ or any white glue works)
Colorations™ green glitter paint can be purchased at The Messy Artist.
Mix ingredients together and it becomes goop. If it is a little sticky you can adjust the proportions as needed or add liquid
starch. It has a more elasticity than the other goop.
SLIME
1 Cup of corn starch
3/4 Cup of warm water with food coloring mixed in
Can use more of less water depending on the consistency you want. Mix ingredients together and play! If you include the
children in the making part of this activity just let them pour the cornstarch and water. It's very difficult to mix and splashes
when children do it. It works best if you mix it with your hands, however, you can also use a strong wooden spoon. Plastic
or cheap metal spoons tend to bend when mixing. This activity is best done on a messy tray. Provide children with
popsicle sticks or plastic spoons, little cups, plastic animals, toy people and characters to put in the slime. The toys allow
children who are a little tentative about the slime to play with it without getting messy. The water slowly evaporates and the
slime becomes cornstarch. If you are playing with it for a while you can just add more water right onto your messy tray. It
washes up easily with warm water.
COLORED GLUE
White glue
Food coloring
Glue bottles
Funnel
When making colored glue it is best to buy a gallon of glue and a bunch of empty glue bottles. Pour some glue in a paper
cup, add food coloring and mix. Then pour into glue bottle using a funnel. Make as many colors you would like.
COLORED RICE OR MACARONI
Rice
Macaroni
Zip lock bags
Liquid water colors
Put rice or macaroni in bag. Add just a few drops of liquid water colors, close bag and shake. The colored rice and
macaroni is great for collages. Make colored ziti noodles and make necklaces!
Food coloring tips:
It stains when it is not mixed in water.
When using in a recipe that also calls for water, mix into water first.
When playing with slime for long periods it will stain hands for about 24 hours.
When mixing in food coloring remember that colors will become lighter when mixed in with the white flour, cornstarch, glue,
etc.
SPARKLY PAINT
This paint is thick, gritty and dries sparkly. It's fun to use with squeeze bottles.
Yield: Makes about 3 cups (enough for 3 squeeze bottles)
Ingredients:
1 cup of Equal parts flour, water and salt
Dry tempera powder is best for coloring, but food coloring or a little paint should work too.
Mix all ingredients together and put in squeeze bottles or paint with brushes.
Tip:
If you make it several days ahead and put it in the squeeze bottles, it settles and is difficult to shake up to the right
consistency.
SCULPY SOAP
1 Bar of Ivory Soap
Water
Liquid watercolors, tempera paint or food coloring
Literally Good Clean Fun!
Put bar of soap through your food processor using the grater blade! Yes, you read correctly! It won’t ruin your food
processor; it’s just a little hard to clean out the soap after. Once you have shredded your soap, it will look like shredded
mozzarella cheese. Mix the shredded soap with a little water and paint or food coloring. Put in as much or little water as
you like. If you put in a little water, it comes out dough like. If you put in a lot of water it’s more like soap paint and you can
paint a picture with it. Enjoy.