Homemade FLOAM

2-Tsp. Borax (available in laundry aisle at your grocery store)½-Cup Water (Tap water is fine)¼-Cup White Glue (available in Craft/Department/Discount Stores) ¼-Cup Water (Tap water is fine)1-Zip Lock Bag (1 qt. Bag is best)Food Coloring (Optional- kids like colors) Styrofoam Beads (about 2 - bathroom 3 oz. cups full for above)

MIXING DIRECTIONS -

1. Dissolve 2-Tsp. Borax Completely in ½-cup (4 oz.) water.

2. In a separate bowl mix ¼-cup (2 oz.) white glue and ¼-cup (2 oz.) water. Add food coloring of your choice to this solution.

3. Pour the glue solution into a zip lock bag. Then add 1-Tbs. of the Borax/water solution to the glue solution. At this point you will think that this stuff will never come out of this bag.

4. Add Styrofoam Beads to the mixture to make “Floam”.

5. Seal bag and knead by hand until thoroughly mixed. Let stand about 15 minutes, and then knead by hand again. Take out of bag when the gel (“Floam”) separates easily from the inside bag walls. It will have the consistency of dough.

Where to buy the microbeads

http://www.beanbagbeads.com/Pillow_filling.asp They sell 1 gallon of the teenie tiny microbeads for less than $12

http://www.serenityhealth.com/bean_filler_royal.html

http://www.milkbottlefill.com/ SMALL 1/8 INCH VIRGIN STYROFOAM MICRO BEADS for $15.00 plus free shipping AND they take PayPal!!!! I bought mine here and got them in 3 days – in time for winter break with the kids!

FLOAM (Another version of the recipe)

1 Tbs. Borax1 Cup Water¼ Cup White Glue(or 4% polyvinyl alcohol)¼ Cup Water1 Zip Lock BagFood ColoringStyrofoam Beads

1. Dissolve 1 Tbs. Borax Completely in 1 cup water

2. In a separate bowl mix ¼ cup white glue and ¼ cup water

3. Mix equal parts of Borax solution to equal parts of gluesolution in zip lock bag ( ½ cup of each = 1 cup of slime)

4. Add a few drops of food coloring

5. Seal bag and knead by hand

6. Add Styrofoam Beads to the mixture to make “Floam”

Explanation: Borax acts as a cross linking agent or "connector" for the glue (polyvinyl acetate) molecules. The glue molecules join together to form even larger molecules called polymers: result - a thickened gel very similar to slime.

If you have access to a chemical supply house, try a 4% solution of polyvinyl alcohol instead of glue for a less rubbery polymer. It will be more transparent & show off color better. (Check your phone book or online – I found several -http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/product;part;14557 or http://www.sargentwelch.com/product.asp?pn=WL54364_PK&sid=yahoo&cm_mmc=yahoo-_-cpc-_-sgtw-_-ployvinylalcohol&OVRAW=polyvinyl%20alcohol&OVKEY=polyvinyl%20alcohol&OVMTC=standard are just a few.)

Blubber

½ Cup water½ Cup glue½ Cup water2 Tbsp Borax

1. Do not use cheap glue that has too much water in it.

2. Mix ½ cup water with ½ cup glue

3. In a separate container, mix ½ cup water with 2 T Borax (You'll find thishidden away in a tiny recess of your detergent aisle)

4. Now, while stirring the Borax mixture constantly, add the glue mixture.It should immediately clump up and look like blubber (Or at least what weimagine blubber to look like.)

5. If it isn't really clumpy and tough, mix up more Borax mixture and addthat to it.

SLIME

1 Part Liquid starch2 Part Elmer's GlueFood Coloring (opt.)Mix and enjoy. It's supposed to be like slime.Modeling "Goop"2/3 cup water2 cups salt1/2 cup water1 cup cornstarchBeads, colored macaroni and other small objects

Add 2/3 cup water to the salt in a pan, stir and cook over med. heat, stirring 4-5minutes until salt is dissolved. Remove mix from heat.

Gradually mix 1/2 cup water with the cornstarch in a separate container. Stir until smooth.

Add the cornstarch mixture to the salt mixture. Return to low heat and stir and cook until smooth. The goop will thicken quickly. Remove from heat and use for modeling objects.

Objects made from this goop can also be hardened in the sun. This mixwill not crumble when dry. Objects like macaroni, etc. can be added to the goop, and adhered to the models.

Flubber

Solution A:1 1/2 C. Warm Water2 c. Elmer’s GlueFood Coloring

Solution B:4 tsp. Borax1 1/3 C. Warm water

Mix solution A in one bowl, mix solution B in another bowl.

Dissolve both well. Then just pour solution A into solution B, DO NOT MIX OR STIR! Just lift out flubber. It's neater than "Gak" or "slime". And it also a safechemical reaction for the kids to see. Use a glass bowl for solution B so the kids could see the flubber form in the bowl. It just becomes a big "cloud" of rubbery stuff. Store in baggies.

If you half the recipe, you only need to half the solution A and it will work the same.

Homemade Silly Putty

2 parts white glue1 part liquid starch

Mix ingredients and let dry until workable. Add more glue or starch ifnecessary. May not work on humid days. Store in airtight container.

Modeling Clay

2 cups salt2/3 cup water1 cup cornstarch½ cup water (cold)

Stir salt and water over heat for about 5 minutes. Remove from heat andstir in cornstarch and cold water. Mix until smooth, return to heat and cookuntil thick. Cool before using. Store in plastic bag.

Cookie Clay

2 cups salt2/3 cups water1 cup cornstarch½ cup cold water

Mix salt with water in saucepan. Stir and boil. Add cornstarch and coldwater. Keep heating if it does not get thick. Roll out dough on boardFloured with cornstarch. Dry and decorate ornaments.

Bread Clay

6 slices white bread6 tbsp. white glue½ tsp. detergent or 2 tsp. glycerinFood coloring

Remove crusts from bread and knead with glue. Add either detergent orglycerin. Knead until no longer sticky. Separate into portions and addfood coloring if desired. Shape and brush with equal parts of glue andwater for a glossy coat. Allow to dry overnight to harden. Paint with acrylicpaint. Seal with clear nail polish.

Baker's Clay

4 cups flour1 cup salt1 tsp. powdered alum (Found in spice isle at grocery store)1 ½ cups waterFood coloring

Mix dry ingredients in a big cooking pot. Blend liquids together in a bowl. Combine with dry ingredients and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat when dough pulls away from the sides of the pot and can be pinched without sticking (about 5 min.) Turn onto board or counter and knead until smooth clay consistency. Store in an airtight container.

Simple Playdough

3 cups flour1 ½ cups salt6 tsp. cream of tartar3 cups cool water3 Tbsp oilFood coloring

Mix dry ingredients in a big cooking pot. Blend liquids together in a bowl. Combine with dry ingredients and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat when dough pulls away from the sides of the pot and can be pinched without sticking (about 5 min.) Turn onto board or counter and knead until smooth play dough consistency. Store in an airtight container.

Uncooked Playdough

1 cup cold water1 cup salt2 tsp. vegetable oil3 cups flour2 tbsp. cornstarchTempera paint or food coloring

Mix water, salt, oil and enough paint to make bright colors. Gradually workflour and cornstarch to consistency of bread dough.

Nature's Playdough

1 cup flour½ cup salt1 cup water2 T oil2 T cream of tartarbeet, spinach, and carrot juice

Mix flour, salt and oil, and slowly add the water. Cook over med. heat, stirring until dough becomes stiff. Turn out onto wax paper and let cool. Knead the dough with your hands until of proper consistency. Use as is, or divide into balls and add a few drops of the vegetable juices to make green, pink, and orange.

Salt Playdough

1 cup salt1 cup water½ cup flour

Mix ingredients and cook over medium heat. Remove from heat when thick and rubbery. As mixture cools, knead in enough flour to make a workable dough.

Cinnamon Applesauce Hearts

1 lb jar sweetened applesauce8 oz cinnamon

Drain 1# jar of SWEETENED applesauce overnight (you will be amazed at how much water seeps out!!) Add 8 ounces of cinnamon to this and mix together well. Pat into a ball, press hard to solidify and mix. Then pat outin 1 cup units onto wax paper, push to 1/4" thickness (although my daughter did 1/2 " or so) and cut with cookie cutters. Dry.

Potato Dough4 or 5 potatoes1 - 1 ½ cups flour

Bake 4 or 5 potatoes, in the skin, until soft inside. Peel, and discard peel. Mash potatoes, I use a potato ricer, so I get a nice fine, even texture. ombine 1 - 1 ½ cups of flour to every 2 cups of mashed potato and form a dough. My son loves playing with this dough, just so he can eat the scrapes. It has no raw egg in it, and leaving it out for a bit, there is nothing in it to spoil. The color will grey after a while, but if you add food coloring, when youmake it, you won't even notice. If you have extra, roll it is balls and pressyour thumb in one side, and roll it across the back side of a fork. Cook in boiling water for 1 min. and serve either with tomato sauce or butter or even brown gravy. They taste great.

Peanut Butter Playdough18 oz. peanut butter6 tbsp. honeyNon-fat dry milkCocoa for flavor

Mix all ingredients, adding enough dry milk to give make dough pliable.Shape, decorate with edible treats, and eat!

Nutty Butter Playdough

1 C. Peanut butter1 C. Powdered Milk1 C. Honey1 C. Oatmeal

Mix together and play and/or eat.

Quick and Easy Modeling Dough

3/4 c Flour (not self-rising)1/2 c Salt1 1/2 t Powdered alum1 1/2 t Vegetable Oil1/2 c Boiling WaterFood Coloring

1. Mix flour, salt, and alum in a mixing bowl.

2. Add vegetable oil and boiling water. Stir vigorously with a spoon untilwell blended. Dough should not stick to the sides of the bowl and shouldbe cool enough to handle.

3. Add food coloring and knead into dough until color is well blended andthe dough is the desired tint.

QUANTITY:Makes about 1 cup. Double the recipe for large projects. For groups, mix several double recipes rather than one large amount.

USES:The is an excellent play dough. It has a smooth texture, takes about 15 minutes to make, and dries to a hard finish overnight. You can you can make lovely dough flowers as well as animals and other figures with it.

STORAGE:Store in a jar with a tight lid. Dough will keep several months without refrigeration.

Colored Playdough

1 cup flour1 tbsp vegetable oil1 cup water1/2 cup salt2 tsp. cream of tartarFood coloring

Mix all ingredients in saucepan. Heat, stirring constantly until ball forms.Knead until smooth.

REAL Playdough (so they say)

1 cup flour1 cup water1 T oil1 T powdered alum½ cup salt2 T vanillafood coloring

Mix all dry ingredients. Add oil and water. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until reaching the consistency of mashed potatoes. Remove from heat and add vanilla and food coloring. Divide into balls and work in color by kneading.

Kool-aid Playdough

½ cup salt2 cups water2 tbsp. salad oil2 cups flour2 tbsp. alumKool-aid for color

Boil salt in water until salt is dissolved. Add Kool-Aid for color. Add salad oil, flour and alum. Knead or process until smooth. Keeps for two months or longer.

Alum Play Dough

2 cups flour1 cup salt2 T alum1 cup water2 T oilliquid food coloring

Pour dry ingredients into large pan. Stir together to mix. Stir oil and food coloring into the water. Pour liquid into the dry ingredients while mixing, squeezing and kneading the dough. If too sticky, add more flour. Keeps best in the fridge.

Dryer Lint Modeling Material

3 c Lint (from laundry dryers)2 c Cold or warm water2/3 c Non-self-rising wheat flour3 drops oil of wintergreenOld newspaper

Put lint and water in a large saucepan. Stir to dampen all parts of the lint. Add flour and stir thoroughly to prevent lumps. Add oil of wintergreen. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture holds together and forms peaks. Pour out onto several thicknesses of newspaper to cool. Use as you would papier-mâché pulp or shaped over armatures (boxes, bottles, balloons, and so forth) or press into a mold. This material will dry in 3 to 5 days to a very hard, durable surface. When wet it has a felt like consistency. It dries to smooth or rough, depending on how it is used. When pressed into a mold, a hard, smooth finish is obtained.

Stored in an airtight container, it will keep for several days.

Egg Yolk Paint (Cookie Paint)

1 egg yolk1/4 tsp. waterFood coloring

Mix egg yolk with water and lots of food coloring. Use a paint brush topaint on baked cookies. Return cookies to oven until egg has solidified.

Face Paint

1 tsp. corn starch½ tsp. water½ tsp. cold creamFood coloring

Stir together starch and cold cream until well-blended. Add water and stir. Add food coloring. Using a small brush paint designs on child's face. Remove with soap and water. Store in airtight container.

Face Paint for Larger Areas

1 tbsp. solid shortening2 tbsp. cornstarchFood coloring

Mix shortening and starch together until smooth. Add food coloring. Use a sponge or your fingers to apply to face. Great for turning faces green on Halloween. Remove with soap and water. Store in airtight container.

Clown Paint

1/8 C. Baby Lotion1/4 Teasp Powdered Tempera paint1 Squirt liquid Dishwashing Soap

Easily removed by soap and water

Frosting Paint ( non-edible)

1 cup powdered tempera paint2 tbsp. wallpaper paste1/4 to ½ cup liquid laundry starch

Mix tempera paint with wallpaper paste. Add starch, mixing until thick enough to spread - like frosting. Place paint on a plastic lid and use Popsicle sticks to spread.

Condensed Milk Paint

1 cup condensed milkFood coloring

Mix one cup condensed milk with a few drops of food coloring. This makesa very bright, glossy colored paint.

Poster Paint

1/4 cup flour1 cup water3 tbsp. powdered tempera paint2 tbsp. water½ tsp. liquid starch or liquid detergent

Measure flour into saucepan. Slowly add 1 cup water until mixture is smooth. Heat, stirring constantly until mixture thickens. Cool. Add 1/4 cup flour paste into small jar or plastic container. Add tempera paint and water for each color. For opaque finish add liquid starch. For glossy finish add liquid detergent.

Laundry Starch Finger Paint

1 cup laundry starch dissolved in cold water1 qt boiling water1 cup pure white soap flakes or powderFood coloring or poster paint

Add boiling water to starch and cold water mixture and boil until thick. Remove from heat and stir in soap. Divide into small containers and add food coloring as desired.

Cornstarch Finger Paint

3 tbsp. sugar½ cup cornstarch2 cups cold waterFood coloringSoap flakes or liquid dishwashing soap

Mix sugar and cornstarch in medium saucepan over low heat. Add cold water and stir until mixture is thick. Remove from heat. Divide into four or five portions (in muffin tins or cups). Add a drop or two of food coloring to each portion and a pinch of soap flakes or soap. Stir and let cool. Store in airtight container.

Liquid Starch Finger Paint

1/4 cup liquid laundry starch2 drops food coloringor 1 tsp. tempera paint

Mix ingredients in small plastic bowl until blended.

Puffy Paint

FlourSaltWaterTempera Paint

Mix equal amounts of flour, salt and water. Add liquid tempera paint for color. Pour mixture into squeeze bottles and paint. Mixture will harden in a puffy shape.

Soap Paint

1 C. Laundry Soap Flakes1/4 C. Water1/3 C. Liquid Starch

Mix together. Beat with a whisk for 3 minutes.

Paper Mache Paste

1 cup water1/4 cup flour5 cups lightly boiling water

Mix flour into one cup water until mixture is thin and runny, stir into boiling water. Gently boil and stir for 3 minutes. Cool before using. (Use with newspaper/newsprint strips for Paper mache).

Sugar Flour Paste

1 cup flour1 cup sugar1 quart water (2 cups cold, 2 cups hot)1 T powdered alum3 drops oil of cloves

Mix flour and sugar together. Slowly stir in 1 cup of water. Bring remaining water to a boil and add the mixture to it, stirring constantly. Continue to cook and stir (½ hour in a double boiler) until fairly clear. Remove from heat and add oil of cloves. Makes 1 quart of paste. Paste keeps a long time. Keep moist by adding small piece of wet sponge to top of small jar of paste.

Gouache Paint

(Opaque paint that dries quickly and can be painted on in layers)

2 cups dextrin (hobby stores have it)4 T DISTILLED water½ cup honey2 tsp glycerine½ tsp boric acid solutionpowdered or poster paints

Dissolve the dextrin in the water (will be foamy). Then add the honey, glycerine and boric acid. Stir well, or shake in covered jar. Mix this base with powdered paint or poster paint and store tightly covered. Thin with water if too thick.

Salt Paint

1/8 C. liquid Starch1/8 C. Water1 Tbl Tempera Paint

Mix together and apply to paper with a brush. Keep stirring mixture. Paint will crystallize as it dries.

Sand Paint

Tempera Paint (powder)SandMix dry tempera paint with sand. Let kids spread glue on picture andsprinkle on sand.

Pudding Paint

Instant Vanilla PuddingFood Coloring

Mix pudding according to directions. Add food coloring for desired color. Finger paint on paper plates. Edible

Snow Paint

Food ColoringWater

Place water and food coloring in empty spray bottle. Let children spraycolors on the snow to make designs

Crayons

Put pieces of old crayons of the same or similar colors in a coffee can and set it in a pan of water on the stove. Cook until melted. Pour the wax into a mold and allow to harden.

Soap Crayons

1 3/4 c Ivory Snow; (powder)50 drops food coloring1/4 c water

Mix water & soap flakes together. Add food coloring & put mixture into anice cube tray. Allow to harden. Break or cut into pieces. Fun to write withon the tub when bathing & face & hands!!!

Sidewalk Chalk

2 C. Water2 C. Plaster of Paris2 Tbl Tempera Paint (Wet or Dry)Toilet Paper Tubes with duct tape over one end

Combine and stir together. Let stand a few minutes. Place tubes on cookie sheet lined with foil or wax paper. Pour mixture into holders, let stand until semi-firm. Remove holders and let dry completely - ready to use in about 1 to 1 ½ hrs. (reminder, never pour plaster down sink)

Feelie Bags

½ cup dippity-do hair gelfood coloringziplock bag

Add food coloring and dippity-do to ziplock bag- make sure it is sealed well, and let children manipulate kneading the dough. If too sticky, add more flour. Keeps best in the fridge.

Beluga Bubbles

1 C. Warm Water1/4 C. Blue Dishwashing Liquid1 Tsp. Salt

Combine all ingredients. Mix well until salt dissolves.

Best Bubble Solution

1 c Water2 tbsp Light Karo syrup OR 2 Tablespoons Glycerin4 tbsp Dishwashing liquidMix together and have fun!

More Bubbles½ C. Water½ C. Liquid Detergent1 Tbl. Cooking Oil

Mix together and use

Whipped Snow

2 cups warm water1 cup pure laundry soap or flakesElectric mixer

Put water and soap in large bowl and beat with mixer until very fluffy. Add food coloring if desired. This can be molded into shapes and left to dry.

Rainbow Stew

1/3 c. sugar1 c. cornstarch4 c. cold water

Cook until thick. put in bowls, add food coloring. Put in zip lock baggies. Let the kids play with it while it is in the bags for a neat sensory experience or use it to mix colors.

Squeeze Bottle Glitter

1 part flour1 part salt1 part water

Mix equal parts of flour, salt and water. Pour into plastic squeeze bottles, such as those used for ketchup and mustard. Add liquid coloring for variety. Squeeze onto heavy construction paper or cardboard. The salt gives the designs a glistening quality when dry.

Egg Dye1/4 tsp. food coloring3/4 cup hot water1 tbsp. vinegar

Gak Recipe

Ingredients:

1 cup white glue food coloring, your choice of color (optional) 1 cup liquid starch

Pour glue and coloring in plastic container. Stir until color is thoroughly mixed in.Add starch a little at a time, stirring with a spoon or kneading with your fingers as mixture thickens.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.

Flubber Recipe

Put 3 T. of water into a ziploc bag. Add 1 T. of white glue. Add 2 heaping T. of Borax (laundry detergent). It must be Borax.*

Shape into a ball. If the mixture is too sticky, roll the ball in a little bit of Borax. Enjoy stretching this elastic substance.

Silly Putty Recipe

Add: 1/2 cup water to 1/2 cup Elmers Glue (Not School Glue!)

Mix and add 3 drops of food coloring

Make Borax solution: Take 2 tablespoons borax and add to 1 cup of water and stir.

Add 1/2 cup of borax solution to water and glue mixture

Stir and store in a plastic bag

Mix well. Add food coloring if you wish. Let it dry about an hour. When ready, it will be smooth and rubber-like. Store in an airtight container.

Bubble Mix

While many people make bubbles out of any old detergent and water, you can get the biggest, longest lasting bubbles if you use liquid detergent and syrup. Use a mixture of Dawn (or Joy) and Karo Light Syrup. With this mixture for every 1/2 cup of liquid detergent, add about 1 tablespoon of Karo Syrup. However, the mixture can be varied a lot without affecting the bubble much.

When mixing up a batch of bubble mix you should realize that there are several sure fire bubble busters - dirt and other bubbles. You should try to make sure that the containers you are using are very clean and that you don't stir too much or too quickly, keeping the bubbles down.

Bubbles also tend to like cold air, but sometimes there is not much you can do about the temperature!

Monster Bubbles

6 cups water (Distilled is best) 3/4 cup corn syrup (Karo Light)2 cups Joy (or Dawn) dish washing liquid

Mix together. Let set 4 hours (to let bubble settle), then enjoy.

Homemade Slime Recipe

BoraxWhite GlueWaterFood Coloring (optional)Ziploc bag

Borax is available in the laundry section of your local grocery store. Take a cup of water and add to it 1 Tbs. of borax (approx 4% solution). Stir until completely dissolved.

Make a 50% water 50% white glue solution. Take 1/4 cup of each and mix thoroughly.

In a ziploc bag, add equal parts of the borax solution to equal parts of the glue solution. 1/2 cup of each will make a cup of slime.

Add a couple drops of food coloring.

Seal bag and knead the mixture.

Dig in and have fun. Remember to wash your hands after playing.

Keep your slime in the sealed bag in the refrigerator when not playing with it to keep it longer. Unfortunately it may eventually dry out or grow mold. Just throw it out and start again!

Cinnamon Clay

1 1/2 cups ground Cinnamon 1 cup Applesauce 1/3 cup white School glue (like Elmer's) 1 medium sized Bowl Flat surface for kneading Wax paper Rolling pin Cookie cutters - various types Knife Straw Non-stick cooling rack Ribbon Puffy paints, optional

Mix cinnamon, applesauce, and glue together in a bowl.

Remove from the bowl and knead the mixture until it turns into a firm clay.

Let sit for about 30 minutes.

Clay is best used at room temperature. You may need to dust your rolling in, hands, or working surface with cinnamon, or use wax paper as a working surface.

Roll out clay with a rolling pin to approximately 1/8 of an inch thick. Use cutters to cut out desired shapes ( we like gingerbread men).

If you are going to hang your shape, use a straw to cut out a hole near the top of the shape.

Place shapes on a non stick cooling rack or wax paper. You will need to keep an eye on them and turn them over occasionally so that they dry evenly and dry flat. Dry shapes for approximately 5 days.

When dry you may put a ribbon through the hole for hanging on the tree or adding to a package.

You may add puffy paint to decorate your shapes, if you wish.

Hey Koolaid Playdough

1 cup flour

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 package unsweetened Kool-Aid

1/4 cup salt

2 tablespoons cream of tartar

1 cup water

Mix flour, salt, cream of tartar and Kool-Aid in a medium saucepan. Add water and oil. Stir over medium heat 3 to 5 minutes. When mixture forms aball in pan, remove. Knead until smooth. Put in a plastic bag and refrigerate.

Edible Peanut Butter Playdough

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup honey

1 cup powdered milk

Knead until smooth. Store in a plastic baggie. (We used crackers as cutting tools and then ate them!!)

Chocolate Playdough

2 cups water

1/2 cup salt

2 Tbsp. vegetable oil

2 Tbsp. cream of tartar

1/3 cup cocoa

3 cups flour

Bring water and salt to a boil.  Stir in remaining ingredients.  Allow to cool slightly.  Knead until smooth. 

Gingerbread Playdough

1 cup flour - 1/2 cup salt

2 tsp. cream of tartar

1 cup water

1 tsp. vegetable oil

lots of cinnamon, allspice, ginger, nutmeg, whatever!

Mix the dry ingredients. Play with the spices till you get the scent you want and the color. Mix water and oil together first and add them to the dry ingredients and stir. In a pot, cook the mixture for two to three minutes, stirring frequently. The dough will start to pull away from the sides of the pan and clump together. Take the dough out of the pan and knead the dough until it becomes soft and smooth. Allow to cool and store in an air tight container.

Another Chocolate-Scented Play Dough

1 1/4 cups flour1/2cup cocoa powder1/2 cup salt1/2 tablespoon cream of tartar1 1/2 tablespoons cooking oil1 cup boiling water   Mix the dry ingredients. Add the oil and boiling water. Stir quickly, mixing well. When cool, mix with your hands. Store in an airtight container.

Strawberry Play Dough

1 cup flour

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 package un-sweetened strawberry Kool-Aid

1/4 cup salt

2 tablespoons cream of tartar

1 cup water

Mix flour, salt, cream of tartar and Kool-Aid in a medium saucepan. Addwater and oil. Stir over medium heat 3 to 5 minutes. When mixture forms a ball in pan, remove. Knead until smooth. Store in a covered plastic container.

Lip Gloss

This is a fun, sweet, fruity lip gloss that gives your lips a little color too! Fun for girl's parties! They can make it and take it home! Multiply the recipe to make as much as you like.

1 Tbsp vegetable shortening

1 tsp honey

1 pack unsweetened Kool-Aid

¼ tsp hot water

Mix shortening and honey in small bowl.

In separate bowl, stir Kool-aid and water until dissolved.

Add water mixture a few drops at a time to shortening mixture until the gloss is colored and scented the way you like it!

Put in a gloss pot (available at craft stores and beauty supplies) or another small airtight container and store in the fridge

Rock Candy

• 4 cups sugar

• 2 cups water

• a small saucepan

• a wooden spoon

• a candy thermometer

• a small, clean glass jar

• a measuring cup

• cotton string

• a weight to hang on the string (such as a screw or galvanized washer)

• waxed paper

• a pencil (to suspend the string in the jar)

 

1. Heat the water in the saucepan over medium-high heat until it comes to a boil.

 

2. Completely dissolve the sugar in the boiling water, stirring continuously with the wooden spoon until the solution grows clear and it reaches a rolling boil.

 

3. Remove the solution from the heat, and then carefully pour it into the jar. Cover the jar with a small piece of waxed paper.

   

4. Tie the weight to one end of the string, and then tie the other end to the middle of the pencil. The string should be about two-thirds as long as the jar is deep. Dip the string into the sugar solution, remove it, lay it on a piece of waxed paper, straighten it out, and let it dry for a few days.

5. Gently suspend the prepared string in the solution and let sit at room temperature, undisturbed, for several days. You can check each day to see how much your crystals have grown. It’s tempting, but don’t touch the jar until the experiment is finished—it usually takes about seven days.

6. At the end of the week, the crystals on your string should be clearly defined, with sharp right angles and smooth faces of various sizes. In the field of crystallography, these are called monoclinic crystals. Their shape is determined by the way the individual sugar molecules fit together, which is similar to the way the shape of a pile of oranges is determined by the shape of the individual oranges and the way they stack together.

• Try adding food coloring or flavoring to your sugar syrup before making the rock candy.

Bookmarks

Materials:

cardboard

sequins (optional)

lace scraps (optional)

marker pens

glue

clear contact paper

yarn pieces

hole punch

scissors

Procedure

1. Cut out cardboard approx. 4cm x 15cm

2. Decorate it with sequins, marker pens, or perhaps lace could be added. Let your child create their own ideas. They often come up better ones.

3. Cover the decorated paper with the contact paper

4. Put a hole with the hole punch at the top and in the middle of the bookmark

5. Tie yarn through the hole to form a tassel

This same project in a smaller size could be used for gift cards. Tip- Keep a shoe box full of sequins, seed beads, felt, yarn, empty plastic containers and so forth on hand for such rainy day projects.

Bath Salts

Materials

1 cup Epsom salts

Measuring cup

Lidded jar

Liquid Food Color

Pretty Container

A few drops of your favorite perfume

1/2 yard of 1/2" to 1" wide ribbon

Measure 1/2 cup of Epsom salt into a jar with lid. Add a few drops of food color and shake. (More can be added to get the color you want) Open the jar and let the salts dry overnight. Add a couple of drops of perfume to the bath salts, shake, and pour into a decorative jar. Put on a lid and tie with your pretty ribbon.

Cinnamon Christmas Ornaments

Materials

4 oz Cinnamon

1 Cup Applesauce

1 TBSP Nutmeg

1 TBSP Ground Cloves

1 TBSP White Glue

Procedure

Mix applesauce with ground cinnamon, nutmeg, ground cloves, and glue to form a stiff dough. Roll out to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut with cookie cutter. Make hole for ribbon hanger. Carefully put on rack to dry. Let air dry several days, turning occasionally. Makes 12 sweet smelling ornaments.

No Cooking Play Dough

Materials

1 Cup Salt

1 Cup Flour

1 TBSP Salad Oil

Food Coloring if desired

Water

Gak

Materials

1 Cup White Glue

1 Cup Liquid Starch

Food Coloring

Bubble Prints

Materials

1 Cup Water

Food Coloring

1/4 Cup Liquid Detergent

1/4 Cup Liquid Starch

Straws

Paper for printing

Procedure

In a 6" - 8" bowl, mix together water, drops of food coloring, liquid detergent, and liquid starch. Using a straw, blow bubbles into the mixture, until the bubbles form a structure above the rim of the bowl. Make a print by laying a sheet of white paper across the bowl rim, allowing the bubbles to pop against the paper. If the bubbles pop too quickly, add a few tablespoons of sugar to the water. This paper would be nice for stationery or envelopes.

Variation of Bubble PaperMaterials

Newspaper or brown craft paper

White paper or construction paper

Food coloring

Plastic drinking straw

Cover a work space with newspapers. Place white paper on newspapers. Put a large drop of food coloring in the center of the white paper. Holding one end of the straw above the drop of food coloring, blow through the other end of the straw. How hard you blow determines how far and how fast the drop of coloring moves. After blowing the 1st drop of coloring as far you want, do the same with more drops of color.

3-D Soap Paint

6 tb Liquid starch1 c Biodegradable soap powder

Whip ingredients with beater. Mixture may be tinted with tempura.

Cloud Dough

3 c Flour2 tb Powdered tempera1/2 c Salad oilWater

Mix together the flour, tempera, and oil. Add enough water to make a soft, pliable, elastic-like dough.

This dough does not keep well.