Are you interested in free children's activities and resource information?

1/2 cup (125 ml) flour
2/3 cup (150 ml) water
Oil of peppermint or oil of wintergreen

1. Mix the flour and water together. Stir until paste has a creamy consistency.
2. Add a few drops of the oil, as a preservative. This will make about 1/2 pint (250ml)

Cornstarch Paste

3/4 cup (175 ml) water
2 Tablespoons (25 ml) light Karo syrup
1 teaspoon (5 ml) white vinegar
1/2 cup (67 ml) cornstarch
3/4 cup (175 ml) water
Oil of wintergreen

1. Mix 3/4 cup water, Karo syrup and vinegar together in a saucepan. Ask a grown-up to help bring the mixture to a full boil.
2. Mix the cornstarch with the second 3/4 cup of water, and slowly add to the boiling mixture. Stir constantly to avoid lumps.

Paper-Mache Paste

Use this paste with strips of paper to cover a form (such as a blown up balloon). Let each layer dry before adding another layer.

3 cups (750 ml) of COLD water
1 1/2 cups (375 ml) flour
Oil of peppermint

1. In a heavy saucepan, stir flour into cold water. Ask a grown-up to cook over low heat until the mixture thickens to a creamy paste.
2. Cool; then add a few drops of peppermint oil.

Self-Hardening Salt Clay

1 1/2 cups (375 ml) salt
4 cups (1 l) flour
1 1/2 cups (375 ml) water
1 teaspoon (5ml) alum (as preservative if clay is not baked)

1. Mix the dry ingredients together in a plastic bowl; then add water gradually.
2. When dough forms a ball around the spoon, knead the dough well, adding small bits of water if it is too crumbly.
3. This clay can also be baked. Set the oven to 300 degrees F. (150 C) and bake small shapes for 30-40 minutes or until hard.

Play Dough Clay
(non-hardening)

2 cups (500 ml) Flour
1 cup (250 ml) salt
1 teaspoon (5 ml) cream of tartar
2 tablespoons (25 ml) oil
1 teaspoon (5 ml) food coloring
2 cups (500 ml) water

1. Mix ingredients in a saucepan. Ask a grown- up for help in cooking over medium heat, stirring constantly, until dough leaves sides of pan.
2. Remove from pan, and when cool to the touch, knead for a few minutes.

Cloud Dough

This dough is oily, but it is extremely pliable and easy for very young children to use.

1/2 cup (125 ml) water (or more)
1/2 cup (125 ml) cooking oil
2 cups (500 ml) flour
2 cups (500 ml) salt
Food coloring
Peppermint oil

1. Mix together the cooking oil, flour, and salt. Add a few drops of the food color to the water.
2. Gradually add the water (additional water may be needed to bind the dough). Add a few drops of the peppermint oil.
3. Knead the mixture until smooth and pliable.

Cornstarch Dough

1/2 cup (125 ml) water
1 cup (250 ml) baking soda
1/2 cup (125 ml) cornstarch

1. Mix together the soda, water, and cornstarch in a heavy saucepan. Ask a grown-up to cook over low heat, stirring with a wooden spoon until the mixture becomes thick.
2. Add a few drops of food coloring. Cool and knead until it is smooth. Use dough for modeling or roll out and cut shapes.
3. Air-dry dough before painting. (To keep the dough) store dough in a plastic bag in the refrigerator.

Soap Balls

2 cups laundry detergent
2 tablespoons water
food coloring

1. Pour detergent in a bowl, add colored water gradually until soap
forms a ball with hands

Oatmeal Dough
This dough has a very different texture, is easily manipulated and has an unusual apperence finished

2 cups oatmeal
1 cup flour
1/2 coup water

1. combine ingredients, knead well.
2. Paint when dry.

Finger Paint

Add a sprinkle of powdered soap flakes (not liquid) to either of these recipes to help paint glide over the paper and to make clean-up easier.

1. Mix 2 parts of liquid laundry starch with 1 part powdered tempera paint or a few drops of food color as you paint on the paper.

or

2. Mix flour and cold water into a paste. Add food coloring or powdered tempera paint on the paper as you paint.

Soap Paint

This paint dries with a three-dimensional effect. Colored sand or glitter will adhere to the paint without using glue. Work with the paint on heavy paper or cardboard. NOTE: Dispose of paint in a trash can, as it will clog a sink drain!

1 cup (250 ml) soap flakes (DO NOT use soap powder)
1/2 cup (125ml) cold water
Food coloring or powdered tempera paint

1. Put cold water into a bowl, add soap flakes, and beat with a mixer until stiff (the consistency off beaten egg whites)
2. Add coloring and beat thoroughly.

Squeeze Bottle Paint

Flour
Salt
Poster Paint
Plastic squeeze bottles

1. Mix equal parts of flour and salt. Add Paint to form a paste.
2. Pour into plastic squeeze bottles. Squeeze paint onto heavy paper or cardboard.