Here's a crafty activity to do with your children that's fun, will save you money and make other moms think "How does she find the time?"
Making your own play clay is ridiculously easy and yields fantastic, non-toxic clay that lasts for weeks or longer.
I've switched between recipes over the past few years, but the one I seem to use the most is from Paula Deen's "Paula Deen's My First Cookbook," (Simon & Schuster, 21.99, 176 pages). The cookbook is adorable and has food and craft recipes intended to inspire children in the kitchen.
Deen has found success with my son, who loves making the play clay with me and has been caught on numerous occasions lying tummy-down on the floor, flipping through Deen's cookbook and talking about "my recipes."
This is an extremely fun activity, but be prepared - the results are so great, you just might become the go-to play clay gal among your friends and kids' teachers.
Making your own play clay is ridiculously easy and yields fantastic, non-toxic clay that lasts for weeks or longer.
I've switched between recipes over the past few years, but the one I seem to use the most is from Paula Deen's "Paula Deen's My First Cookbook," (Simon & Schuster, 21.99, 176 pages). The cookbook is adorable and has food and craft recipes intended to inspire children in the kitchen.
Deen has found success with my son, who loves making the play clay with me and has been caught on numerous occasions lying tummy-down on the floor, flipping through Deen's cookbook and talking about "my recipes."
This is an extremely fun activity, but be prepared - the results are so great, you just might become the go-to play clay gal among your friends and kids' teachers.
Paula Deen's play clay
Prep time: 2 minutes
Cook time: 3 to 5 minutes
Serves: Makes about 2 cups
Notes: Using more than a few drops of food coloring is fine and usually imparts a stronger color. For brighter colors, try neon food coloring.
Ingredients
1 cup flour
1/4 cup salt
2 tablespoons cream of tartar
1 cup water
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 to 3 drops food coloring
Instructions
Stir flour, salt and cream of tartar in a pot. In a separate bowl, stir water, oil and food coloring. Add wet mixture to the dry mixture in the pot and turn the heat on medium, stirring together the ingredients until incorporated. Cook for about 3 to 5 minutes, stirring it. Once it starts to glob together, you're almost done. Stir until the goo clumps together and becomes a play clay consistency. Pour onto the counter and let cool for about 10 minutes. Knead the dough until it's workable and store in a plastic bag or container.
