Never Fail Play-Doh

Materials: 1 cup flour, 1 tablespoon oil, 1 cup water, 1/2  cup salt, 2 teaspoons cream of tartar, few drops food coloring, sauce pan, spoon, ziplock bag

Procedure: Mix all the ingredients into the sauce pan, except for the food coloring.  Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly until a ball forms.  Place the mixture onto a floured surface and allow to cool enough to knead.  Flatten the dough slightly and place a few drops of food coloring onto the dough.  Knead the dough and add additional food coloring if necessary.  Store in a ziplock bag. 

Variation: Add a packet of Kool-Aid instead of food coloring to the dough for color and smell.

Materials: liquid starch, glue

Procedure: Mix one part liquid starch to two parts glue.  Stir the glue into the starch slowly so the ingredients will mix well together. If the mixture is too sticky add a little more starch.  Cover and refrigerate the mixture overnight.

Flubber

Materials: 1 teaspoon Borax (this can be found in the laundry section of most stores), 1 cup water, 1 large bottle of glue, bowl, spoon

Materials: Place the Borax and the water into a bowl.  Add the glue a little at a time and stir until a ball forms.  As you are adding the glue you can add some food coloring or glitter to make the flubber more interesting.

Another Playdoh

This playdoh is shiny, smooth, and has a silky feel.

Materials: ½ cup corn starch, 1 cup baking soda, ¾ cup water, food coloring, saucepan, spoon, ziplock bag

Procedure: Place the cornstarch and baking soda in a saucepan and stir.  Add the water and mix well.  Cook the mixture over low heat, stirring occasionally until it looks like mashed potatoes.  Allow the mixture to cool and place onto a floured surface.  Knead the dough.  Add a few drops of food coloring and continue kneading.  Store the dough in a ziplock bag.

Eggshell Chalk

Materials: eggshells from 12 eggs, 2 teaspoons flour, powdered tempura paint (for colored chalk), 2 teaspoons hot water, rolling pin, bowl, spoon, ziplock bag

Procedure: Wash the eggshells. Be sure to remove any attached whites and dry the shells.  Put the shells into a ziplock bag and seal.  Crush the eggshell into a fine powder using the roller pin.  Pour the powdered eggshells into a bowl.  Add the flour and some paint.  Mix together until the color is consistent throughout.  Add the water and mix to form a paste.  Roll the paste into a tube shape and allow to dry overnight.  This chalk will work on a blackboard or sidewalk.

Face Paint

Materials:  ½ teaspoon cold cream, 1 teaspoon cornstarch, ½ teaspoon water, food coloring, spoon, small paintbrush, small container with lid

Procedure: Mix together the cold cream and cornstarch in a small container until they are well blended.  Add the water a few drops at a time, stirring until the mixture is creamy.  You may not need to use all the water.  Stir in the food coloring one drop at a time until the desired color is reached.  Remember: really bright colors can stain the skin for a few days.  Repeat the above procedure for each color desired.  Paint designs on your skin using the small paintbrush.  Clean up with soap and water.  Leftover paint can be stored in a covered container.

Finger Paint

Materials: 3 tablespoons sugar, ½ cup cornstarch, 2 cups cold water, 1 teaspoon liquid dishwashing detergent, food coloring, saucepan, spoon, plastic containers

Procedure: Mix the sugar and cornstarch together in a saucepan.  Add the water and cook the mixture over low hear, stirring constantly until it is thick.  Remove the mixture from the heat and stir in the detergent.  Divide the mixture evenly among several small containers.  Use different combinations of food coloring to give each container a unique color.  Stir well and use when the paints have cooled.  Cover and store any remaining paint.

Paint from Milk

Materials:  1 tablespoon nonfat powdered milk, ½ cup water, 1 teaspoon powdered tempera paint, spoon, small plastic containers

Procedure: Place the powdered milk and water in a small container.  Mix and let stand until the bubbles have disappeared.  Stir in the tempera paint.  Repeat the above steps for as many colors of paint desired.  Cover any leftover paint and store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Watercolors

Materials:  1 tablespoon white vinegar, 2 tablespoons baking soda, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, ¼ teaspoon glycerine (drug store), food coloring, bowl, spoon, plastic containers

Procedure:  Mix the vinegar and baking soda together in a bowl.  Watch what happens!  When the mixture stops foaming, add the cornstarch and glycerine and stir.  Pour the mixture into a small container and stir in a drop or tow of food coloring.  Let the mixture sit overnight to harden.  Repeat the above steps to make as many colors as desired.  Dip a paintbrush in water and then into the paint to make a watercolor picture.

Invisible Ink

Materials: lemon, knife, bowl, cotton swab, white paper, lamp

Procedure: Cut the lemon in half and squeeze the juice into a bowl.  Dip a cotton swab into the liquid and write a secret message on a piece of white paper.  Allow the paper to dry for a couple of minutes.  When the invisible “ink” is dry, hold the paper near a lamp.  Don’t get to close to the lamp or the paper may burn.  Watch your message appear when the paper warms.

Disappearing Ink

Materials:  ¼ cup water, iodine, spray starch, disposable pie pan, cotton swab, white paper

Procedure: Place the water and 5 drops of iodine in the pie pan.  Spray starch in the pan by holding down the nozzle for 10 seconds. (Do this step outside.)  Dip a cotton swab into the liquid and write a message on a white piece of paper.  Watch the paper.  Over the next few hours the message will disappear.

Scratch and Sniff Paper

Materials:  4 cups finely shredded USED paper, warm water, 1 teaspoon scent (cinnamon, cloves, vanilla, cocoa, Jell-O, etc.), bucket, blender, deep baking dish, wire coat hanger, nylon pantyhose

Procedure: Place the paper in the bucket filled with warm water and let it sit until softened, about an hour.  Fill the blender halfway with the softened paper.  Use the pulse button to break apart the paper fibers.  The pulp should look like watery oatmeal.  Pour the pulp into the deep baking dish and add the teaspoon of the chosen scent.  If you would like to have more than one scent, use an additional baking dish.  Repeat with the remaining paper.  Stretch the coat hanger into a square and slide it into one leg of the pantyhose to make a screen.  Scoop the screen through the pulp mixture to collect some of the pulp.  Gently smooth the pulp out across the screen in an even layer.  Allow the pulp to dry on the screen overnight.  Peel the paper off the screen when it is dry.  Scratch and sniff the paper.  Dispose of any leftover mixture by straining the pulp out of the water.  Pour the water down the sink.  Place the pulp in a plastic bag and throw in the garbage. 

Slime

Materials: 1 teaspoon Metamucil, 1 ¼ cups water, food coloring, jar with lid, large glass microwave safe container, resealable plastic bag

Procedure:  Combine the Metamucil and water in a jar.  Tightly close the jar and shake for a few minutes.  Pour the mixture into a glass microwave safe container, and add a few drops of food coloring.  Microwave on high for 3 minutes.  Press stop when the liquid begins to ooze out of the container.  Do not remove from the microwave!  Wait 3 minutes, them microwave for five minutes more.  Remove the container from the microwave and wait an hour for the slime to cool.  When not playing with the slime, store in a resealable bag.