It's National Play-Doh Day! Great Dough Recipes!

Play-doh is fun, fast, and easy. But for a longer, more satisfying project, why not try making your own dough. There are lots of recipes to choose from - here are a few of my favorites.

SAND MODELING DOUGH

1 cup fine, clean sand

1/2 cup cornstarch

1 teaspoon Alum

3/4 cup hot water

food coloring if desired

Mix sand, cornstarch and Alum in bowl. Add hot water and stir vigorously. Add food coloring if desired. Cook over medium heat until thick. Let dough cool. Mold into desired shapes (it's fun to use the molds that come in sand play toys) and let dry in the sun for several days. Store any leftover dough in an airtight container in the refrigerator

This dough can be used to make small sandcastles as a memento of your trip to the beach.

WHITE CLAY
This is my favorite recipe for making ornaments and beads. It's a smooth clay and dries very hard. It will absorb moisture from the air, so it's a good idea to coat the finished project with clear nail polish once the paint has dried.

1 cup baking soda

1/2 cup cornstarch

2/3 cup warm water

food coloring or poster paints

clear nail polish

Mix baking soda and cornstarch in saucepan. Add water and stir until smooth. Cook over medium heat, boil and stir until "mashed potato consistency". Pour onto board to cool. Knead when cool. For color, knead food coloring into clay (after cooled) until blended, or paint after finished molding.


SNOW PLAY DOH
This dough is perfect for making ice cream cones or snow men. Wonderful texture!

1 cup Ivory Snow laundry detergent

2 cups warm water

food coloring

electric hand mixer or egg beater

Add food coloring to warm water, then add to laundry detergent. Mix well with beater until fluffy. Use just like regular play doh.


NUTTY PUTTY (EDIBLE!!)
We like to make simple shapes for snacks - ladybugs, small teddy bears from balls of dough

3 1/2 cups peanut butter

4 cups powdered sugar

3 1/2 cups corn syrup or honey

4 cups powdered milk

chocolate chips (optional)

Mix the ingredients. Divide into 15 to 20 portions and refrigerate in plastic bags. After washing their hands, have children mold and shape the dough on waxed paper. Provide chocolate chips to be used as decorations if desired.



HOMEMADE SILLY PUTTY
definitely not edible
1 cup white glue (Elmer's)

1 cup liquid starch

food coloring

Put glue and food coloring into plastic container. Add starch a little at a time, stirring constantly. Keep stirring until mixture holds together like putty. Test with your fingers, if too sticky, add more starch in small amounts until mass is smooth and rubbery. Now, have fun playing with it...stretching, pulling, bouncing, making transfers of the Sunday comics. Store in airtight container.