Early Childhood Art Recipes

These recipes were collected from a variety of sources (mostly online early childhood teacher groups-thank you loopers!) and have not all been tested. Those that are highlighted are favorites from when I was teaching preschool.

Click on a category below to explore the recipes....

COOKED DOUGHS AND CLAYS
NO-COOK DOUGHS AND CLAYS
BAKE FINISHED PRODUCT DOUGHS AND CLAYS
MORE SENSORY EXPERIENCES
NO-COOK FINGER PAINT
COOKED FINGER PAINT
PAINT
PAPIER MACHE
FACE PAINT
CRAYONS
CHALK
BUBBLE PAINTING
MISCELLANEOUS

BOOKS
WEB SITES

CLASSROOM PLAYDOUGH
Combine in large pot: 3 cups flour, 3 cups water, 3 tablespoons oil, 1½ cups salt, 2 tablespoons cream of tartar, and coloring if desired (liquid or paste food coloring, vegetable juice, tempera paint, liquid watercolor, Kool-Aid, or Jell-O). Stir constantly over medium heat until thickens. Knead. Store in an airtight container.
If you put the food coloring in the water instead of the dough, the color comes out more evenly!!!
Instead of doing at a stove, can use boiled water.

“FAVORITE PLAYDOUGH”
Combine and boil until dissolved: 2 cups water, ½ cup salt, food coloring or tempera paint
Mix in while very hot: 2 tablespoons cooking oil, 2 tablespoons alum, 2 cups flour
Knead (approx. 5 mins.) until smooth. Store in covered airtight container.

VARIATION ON “FAVORITE PLAYDOUGH”
Combine: 2 cups water, 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, food coloring
Bring to a boil and add: 2 cups flour, 1 tablespoon alum, ½ cup salt
Stir and knead until well mixed.

YET ANOTHER VARIATION ON "FAVORITE PLAYDOUGH"
Put in bowl in this order: 2 ½ cups flour, ½ cup salt, 3 tablespoons oil, 1 tablespoon alum, and 2 cups boiling water. Stir up and add food coloring if desired. Keep in covered dish. This dough keeps incredibly long and has a texture like store bought Play Dough. Other options: add glitter (for sparkle) or unsweetened Kool-Aid powder (for scented rich color).

LOOKS LIKE ANOTHER VERSION OF "FAVORITE PLAYDOUGH'
The children measure 2 cups of water, 3 tablespoons of oil, and Wilton's paste food coloring in a pot. You put the pot on the stove to boil while-don’t let it boil over as the oil will start a fire. If you're worried you'll space out, put the oil in after the boiling yourself. The children measure 3 cups of flour, ½ cup of salt, and 1 tablespoon powdered alum in a bowl (or 1 teaspoon granulated alum put in the water instead so it can dissolve). The kids take turns stirring the dry ingredients. After the water boils, have the children stand back, pour the boiling mixture into the dry mixture and stir quickly. Roll a small handful of HOT playdough between your palms until just barely cool enough to touch (still pretty hot) then give to a child. Children LOVE to feel the warmth and it's not hot enough to burn them. Other options: add glitter (for fun sparkle) or unsweetened Kool-Aid powder (for scented rich color).

CHOCOLATE MODELING CLAY
(Thanks Penny!)
* chocolate can be substituted with almond bark, or colored candy disks to create different colored lowers
* recipe is the consistency of modeling clay, you can mold any shape you want. *adult supervision and participation is required for this activity.
Melt 10 ounces of chocolate (chopped chunks or chips) in a microwave for 1 minute. Stir. If chocolate is not completely melted, return to the microwave for 30 seconds at a time and stir until smooth. If you don't have a microwave, place the chocolate in the top of a double broiler over hot water and stir until melted. When the chocolate is melted, add 1/3 cup light corn syrup and blend. Pour the mixture onto a waxed paper sheet. Spread the chocolate with your fingers until it's about ½ inch thick. Cover loosely with waxed paper and let it stiffen for at least a couple hours or overnight. The chocolate will become very pliable.
Making a Chocolate Rose:
    Have the kids roll 10 marble-sized balls out of the chocolate clay.
    Place the balls on a waxed paper sheet, about 1 inch apart.
    Place another waxed paper sheet on top. Big or little thumbs can press each marble into a flat disk (about the size of a quarter). Use some pressure!

To Form The Rose:
Remove 1 disk and curl it into a "teepee" shape, narrow at the top and wider at the bottom.
Wrap the next disk around the opening of the teepee and the third disk at the back of the teepee. This is the rose bud. Continue adding disks which will look like petals. Continue to layer them to create a rose in bloom.

Roses can be used as edible decorations for a cake or to create a basketful of blooms. They will harden after a few days and can be saved by storing in a cool, dry place.

CHOCOLATE SCENTED PLAYDOUGH
Mix 1 ¼ cups of flour, ½ cup cocoa powder, ½ cup salt, ½ tablespoon cream of tartar. Add 1 ½ Tablespoons cooking oil, 1 cup boiling water. Stir quickly, mix well. Cook over low heat until dough forms a ball. When cool, mix with your hands. Store in airtight container. It will smell good enough to eat but without sugar in it kids will not want to taste it a second time!

CORNSTARCH CLAY #1
Mix 1cup cornstarch, 2 cups baking soda, and 1/3 cup warm water until smooth. Over medium heat, boil and stir until like mashed potatoes. Cool on a board until cool enough to knead it with your hands. For color, knead in paint or food coloring. You can cut into shapes, let it dry about 2 days, and paint as you like. Optional: Brush with clear nail polish for shine, if desired. pure white, hardens quickly, stores in airtight container for several weeks

CORNSTARCH CLAY #2
Mix ½ cup salt and ½ cup hot water and bring to a boil in saucepan. Stir ½ cup cold water into ½ cup cornstarch in a bowl. Add cornstarch mixture to boiling salt water and stir. Cook over low heat, Stir until the mixture looks like pie dough. Cool and knead.

GINGERBREAD PLAY DOUGH
Mix 1 cup flour, ½ cup salt, and 2 teaspoons cream of tartar. Add lots of allspice and cinnamon or unsweetened Kool-Aid for a wonderful scent. In another bowl, add food coloring to 1 cup water. Add colored water and 1 teaspoon vegetable oil to dry ingredients and stir. Cook the mixture for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently. Knead dough until soft and smooth. Cool and store in airtight container.

MICROWAVE PLAYDOUGH
(Thanks Debbie!)
Mix 2 cups sifted flour, 2 cups water, 1 cup salt, 4 teaspoons Cream of Tartar, 2 tablespoons oil, and food coloring [or Kool-Aid for great smell and colors] in a large bowl. Microwave on HIGH for 3-5 minutes, stirring every minute. Cook until it is so thick you can no longer stir it. Let it cool. Knead or work with your hands until it is smooth. Store playdough in an airtight container.

SALT DOUGH #1
Combine 4 cups salt and 1cup cornstarch with sufficient water to form a paste. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly.

SALT DOUGH #2
Put 2 cups salt and 2/3 cup cold water in a pan and boil. Mix 1 cup cornstarch with 2/3 cold water in bowl and stir well. Add salt mixture to cornstarch mixture in bowl. Knead. Keep in a covered container or plastic bag in refrigerator. Model or mold clay and let dry several hours. Paint when dry, if desired.

SALT DOUGH #3
Stir together 1 cups salt, ½ cup cornstarch, and ¾ cups cold water over low heat until too thick to stir, about 2 or 3 minutes. Put on waxed paper until cool, then knead until smooth. Can be rolled or shaped. Air dry.

SALT DOUGH #4
Combine ½ cup salt, 1 cup flour, and 1 teaspoon alum. Stir in water, a little at a time. Knead until smooth.

SAND CLAY
Mix 3 cups sand, 1 ½ cups cornstarch, and 3 teaspoons alum or cream of tartar in an old (will scratch) saucepan. Add 2 ¼ cup hot water, stirring vigorously. Add food coloring if desired. Cook over medium heat until so thick that can't be stirred further. Cool slightly and model, can use plastic molds. Allow to dry. Paint if desired. Store left-overs in airtight container.
*use with shells for seascape...shells will dry into mixture
*Makes permanent sand sculptures (can be used in sand table)
*Becomes stonelike when dry

SUGAR CLAY
Mix 1 cup sugar, 1 cup flour, and 1 cup colored cold water together. Add 5 cups boiling water and cook for 5 minutes stirring constantly. Knead when cool

SCENTED GELATIN DOUGH
Mix 2 cups flour, 1 cup salt, 4 tablespoons cream of tartar, and .3 ounce package sugar-free fruit flavored gelatin in saucepan. Add 2 cups boiling water & 2 tablespoons cooking oil. Stir over medium heat until mixture forms a ball. Cool on waxed paper. Store in airtight container (w/ fruit picture from box).

SCENTED KOOL-AID DOUGH #1
Mix ¾ cup salt, 2 cups boiling water, 1 or 2 packages Kool-Aid, and 3 tablespoons oil. Add 4 cups flour. If dough is too sticky, add more flour. Knead the dough a few times. Store play-dough in plastic bags or containers while it is not being used. Refrigerate for a different texture.

SCENTED KOOL-AID DOUGH #2
Combine 1 cup all-purpose flour, ½ cup salt, and 1 package unsweetened drink in a large bowl. Stir in 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil and 1 cup boiling water. Allow mixture to cool slightly, then knead until desired consistency. Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Vibrant color, fruity scent! Hint: Let the children play with the playdough when it is still warm (not hot!) - calming!

SCENTED KOOL-AID DOUGH WITH ALUM
Mix first 1 ¾ to 2 ½ cups flour, ¼ to ½ cup salt, ½ to 1 tablespoon alum, and 1 package unsweetened Kool-Aid. Add 1 or 2 cups boiling water and 1 ½ to 3 tablespoons vegetable oil into a dough. Stir quickly, mixing well. Knead when cool enough until the dough reaches the desired consistency. Add flour if it’s gooey. Store in airtight container.

SCENTED KOOL-AID DOUGH WITH CREAM OF TARTAR #1
Combine 1 cup flour, ¼ cup salt, 2 tablespoons cream of tartar, and 1 package unsweetened Kool-Aid in saucepan. Add 1cup water and 2 tablespoons vegetable oil. Stir 3-5 minutes over medium heat, until forms ball. Knead until smooth. Store in airtight container. Add Kool-Aid before water or won’t fix correctly.

SCENTED KOOL-AID DOUGH WITH CREAM OF TARTAR #2
Mix 2 packages unsweetened Kool-Aid with hot water until dissolved. Add 1 tablespoon vegetable oil to Kool-Aid water and set aside. In a large bowl, combine 2 ½ cups flour, 1 cup salt, and 1 teaspoon cream of tartar. Add Kool-Aid water to dry ingredients and mix well. Add 2 to 3 additional cups of flour as needed. Store in an airtight container.

BASIC PLAYDOUGH #1
Combine 2 cups flour, 1 cup salt, and 2 tablespoons vegetable oil. Gradually add 1 cup water colored with 5 or 6 drops of food coloring. Stir and knead. Keep in plastic bag or covered container for approx. 2 to 4 weeks. This is not a good dough for hardening finished objects.

BASIC PLAYDOUGH #2
Combine 2 cups flour, 1 cup salt, 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, 1 cup hot water, 4 teaspoons cream of tartar, and food coloring. Keep in a plastic bag or covered container to use again. Add more flour if it gets sticky.

BASIC PLAYDOUGH #3
Combine 2 cups flour, 1 cup salt, water, and food coloring or tempera paint. Add 2 tablespoons vegetable oil if you do not want dough to harden.

SCENTED PLAYDOUGH
Mix 4 cups flour, ¾ cup salt, and 2 packages unsweetened powdered drink mix together in a large bowl. Add 2 cups warm water and ½ cup oil and stir. If the dough is sticky, add more flour. Store in airtight container.

APPLESAUCE AND CINNAMON DOUGH
Mix equal parts of applesauce and cinnamon (a little less cinnamon can be used and a tablespoon each of ground allspice, ground cloves, and ground nutmeg can be added). Add cinnamon until the dough is stiff, and not sticky. Refrigerate if desired. When ready to use, roll out to ¼ inch thickness onto surface that has been sprinkled with more cinnamon powder to keep it from sticking. Make hole if desired. Let air dry several days on flat surface covered with waxed paper or wire rack (turning occasionally to prevent curling) or bake for several hours at no more than 250 degrees. If necklace/ornament hole wasn't made, can add magnet to back.

APPLESAUCE AND CINNAMON DOUGH #2
Drain 1 pound 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 out in 1 cup units onto wax paper, push to ¼ " thickness and cut with cookie cutters. Dry.

APPLESAUCE AND CINNAMON DOUGH #3 (Thanks Heidi!)
Combine 1 cup cinnamon, 2 tablespoons cloves, and 1 tablespoon nutmeg. Stir well. Add ¾ cup applesauce. Mixture will be stiff. Roll out to ¼ inch thickness on ungreased cookie sheet. Using small cookie cutter, cut into desired shapes and peel away excess dough. Cut copper wire into 2 inch lengths and bend into horseshoe shape. Insert ends into tops, leaving half-circles of wire exposed. Let dry uncovered for 4-5 days tie ribbon on the top of the wire. There is minimal teacher prep (the wire needs to be cut), and the kids LOVE to mix and roll it!

APPLESAUCE AND CINNAMON DOUGH #4
(Thanks to Ann Beyer for sharing this recipe from Mrs. Letteney)
Mix 1 cup cinnamon, 3/4 cup applesauce, and 2 tablespoons white glue. Shape. Roll it out and use cookie cutters if you like. Add a hole for hanging. Air dry or bake at 120 degrees for 30 minutes. Then leave out overnight.

BREAD DOUGH
For each slice of white bread, mix in one tablespoon white glue (8 slices to ½ to 1 cup glue). You can remove the crust if you want a more "pure" white dough or you can leave it on and it will have a "wheat" color to it. Mix and knead until bread forms a dough that holds together. Add more glue if dough is too dry. Add more bread if dough is too wet and sticks to your fingers. To color the dough, make a sort of bowl in the center of the dough. Put a few drops of food coloring in the center. Fold dough over and begin to work the color into the dough. Repeat until the dough is the color you want.

BREAD DOUGH #2
This is an easy recipe that you may want to mix up yourself...when you do it...it starts to seem like it is not going to work then all of a sudden you have the most wonderful dough. Tear 5 pieces of white bread with crusts trimmed off into bits and place in the bowl. Add 5 teaspoons dishwashing soap and 5 tablespoons glue. Knead together until the mixture no longer sticks to your hands. Knead in the food coloring (you might want to wear latex gloves to keep the coloring from staining your hands).
**make sure your hands are clean before kneading or the clay may turn a dirty gray color. You can also use wheat bread to make brown dough to use for naturally "antiqued" objects.
*can also knead in a zip-lock bag

CLAY FOR HAND OR FOOT PRINTS
Combine 2 cups flour, ½ cup salt, and ¾ cup water. Knead, knead, and knead some more. Roll with a rolling pin, press in your hand or foot! Let air dry or put in 300 degree oven for 1 hour. You can color with food coloring before or color (paint of any kind) after and seal with a water type sealer (spray or brush on).

CLOUD DOUGH
Combine 1 cup water (with food coloring if desired), 1 ½ cups vegetable oil, and 6 cups flour in a large bowl. Scent (oil of peppermint, wintergreen, lemon, etc.), like coloring, is optional. Knead well on a countertop or other surface. If necessary, add more water in small amounts until the dough is soft and elastic. To store the dough, refrigerate it in an airtight container. Hint: Cloud dough is somewhat greasy. . .make sure children play with it on a washable surface.

CLOUD DOUGH #2 from http://tinkerlab.com/2011/11/cloud-dough-exploration/
Mix flour and oil (could be canola or baby) in an 8:1 ratio.

COFFEE DOUGH
Mix 1 cup flour, 1 cup coffee grounds, ½ cup salt, 1 cup water, and ¼ cup sand together. Shape into a ball and place thumb in center to form a hole. Place a treasure inside and cover up. Let dry 4 to 5 days. It is suppose to resemble a rock or a pumice stone. Then the child cracks it like an egg. My idea is to shape it like an egg and place a dinosaur inside. Have it crack and let the child be amaze to find a dino inside.

USED COFFEE GROUNDS
Combine 2 cups used coffee grounds, ½ cup salt, and 1½ cups oatmeal. Add enough water to moisten. This has a nice texture but it not good for finished products.

COFFEE AND CORNMEAL GLOB
Mix 2 cups used but dry coffee grounds, ½ cup salt, and 1 ½ cups cornmeal together. Add enough warm water to moisten. This Glob has a unique texture and is good to roll, pat, and pound.

CORNMEAL PLAYDOUGH #1
Mix 1½ cups cornmeal, 1½ cups flour, 1 cup salt, 1 cup water, adding water if too stiff.

CORNMEAL PLAYDOUGH #2
Mix 2 cups cornmeal, 2 cups flour, and ½ cup oil, adding water to reach the desired consistency.

CREAM CHEESE PLAY DOUGH from Philadelphia's Please Touch Museum
Mix 8 ounce package of cream cheese, ½ cup non-fat dry milk, and 1 tablespoon honey in a bowl until well blended. Sculpt creations on was paper, then transfer onto crackers. Decorate shapes with raisins, carrots, dried fruit . . .

DRYER LINT CLAY
Tear up 2 cups firmly packed dryer lint into little bits. Mix in a bowl with 1/3 cup warm water, 6 tablespoons white glue, and 1 tablespoon clear dishwashing liquid. Knead until workable. Make things. Let them dry for several days.

FROSTING DOUGH
Mix 1 can frosting mix, 1 ½ cups powdered sugar, and 1 cup peanut butter in bowl with spoon. Knead.

FUN DOUGH
Add water to 1cup cornstarch and 1½ cup baking soda to desired texture and consistency. Color with food coloring.

GLUEY DOUGH
Mix 1 cup flour, 1 cup cornstarch and ½ cup white glue. Slowly add just enough water (about ½ cup) to make a dough. Knead until soft and pliable.

LOTION PLAYDOUGH
Mix 1 cup flour, 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, 2 tablespoons hand lotion, ½ cup salt, 2 teaspoons cream of tartar, 1 cup water, and food coloring.

MUD DOUGH
Combine 2 cups mud, 2 cups sand, and ½ cup salt Add enough water to make pliable. This can not be easily picked up to save finished products. It can be used for rolling and cutouts.

MUDDLING DOUGH
Stir 1cup salt and 1cup flour together in a medium bowl. Add food coloring to ½ cup water to achieve desired color. Pour water into salt and flour mixture and knead until mixture is doughy, adding more flour or water as necessary. Store in airtight container. Objects made with this clay will air dry in about 48 hours. Hint: As a variation, omit food coloring and let children paint their dried creations with tempera paint.

OATMEAL DOUGH #1
Combine 2 cups oatmeal, 1 cup flour, and ½ to 1 cup water. Knead well. Projects may be painted when dry.

OATMEAL DOUGH #2
Mix 1 cup oatmeal, 2 cups flour, ½ cup salt, 1½ cups water, and ½ cup oil until the desired consistency, adding more water or flour as needed. stayed fresh all week, didn't crumble like the cooked recipe seems to do after a few days

OATMEAL DOUGH #3
Gradually add 1 cup water to 1 cup flour and 2 cups oatmeal in bowl. Knead until mixed (this dough is sticky, but unique in texture. Model as with clay. Variations: Add cornmeal in small quantity for texture, Add coffee grounds in small quantity for texture.

PEANUT BUTTER PLAYDOUGH #1
Mix well with very clean hands: 2½ cups peanut butter, 2 cups powdered milk, 2 tablespoons to 2 cups honey Keep adding powdered milk until the dough feels soft, not sticky. Refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours. Add cocoa or carob powder for a chocolate flavor. Add raisins or coconut for texture. Raisins, miniature marshmallows, or chopped peanuts may be added o used to decorate finished shapes.

PEANUT BUTTER PLAYDOUGH #2
Mix 1 cup peanut butter, 1 cup corn syrup, 1 ½ cups powdered sugar, and 1 ½ cups powdered milk together with a spoon. Add more powdered milk if necessary to make a workable dough. Knead, shape, and eat. A good recipe but leaves the fingers kind of greasy.

PEANUT BUTTER PLAYDOUGH #3
Mix ¾ cup peanut butter, ½ cup light corn syrup, ½ cup soft margarine, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1 cup sugar, and 1 cup flour. Knead until smooth.

PEANUT BUTTER PLAYDOUGH #4
Combine 1 cup peanut butter, 1 cup milk powder, 1 cup rolled oats (the quick kind), ½ cup coconut flakes, and ½ cup liquid honey or sugar

PEANUT BUTTER PLAYDOUGH #5
(Bumpy Edible Playdough)Wash hands and combine on work surface covered with wax paper: 2 cups smooth peanut butter, 2 cups rolled oats, 2 cups dried milk, 2/3 cups honey. Store in an airtight container

PEANUT BUTTER PLAYDOUGH #6
Mix peanut butter with powdered milk until it's the consistency you want

PLASTIC DOUGH
*stretchy, moldable, and dries quickly to a hard, plastic-like consistency
In a small bowl mix ¼ cup white glue, ¼ cup water, and 4-6 drops food coloring until well-blended. Combine ½ cup flour and ½ cup cornstarch in a separate bowl. Add the dry mix to the wet mix and stir well until a stiff dough is formed. Knead on a floured surface for 2-3 minutes. When the children mold the dough, they should work on a surface covered with wax paper. The drying time will depend on how thick their creations are.

SALT AND ALUM MODELING DOUGH
Mix 1 cup flour, 1 cup salt, and 1 rounded teaspoon alum. Slowly add 1/3 to ½ cup water until you get a desirable consistency. Knead until clay-like. Hardens in one or two days. Paint if desired when dry.

SELF-HARDENING SALT CLAY
Mix 4 cups flour, 1 ½ cups salt, and 1 teaspoon alum. Add 1½ cups water gradually. When dough forms a ball, knead well, adding water if too crumbly. Can also bake at 300 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until hard

SAWDUST PLAYDOUGH
Combine 2 cups fine sawdust, 1 cup flour, and 1 tablespoon glue. Slowly add hot water or liquid starch colored with food coloring or tempera paint

ANOTHER SAWDUST DOUGH
Combine 2 cups sawdust, 3 cups flour, and 1 cup salt. Add water as needed. This dough becomes very hard and is not easily broken.

SAWDUST MODELING "CLAY"
Mix: 2 cups sawdust, liquid starch, 1 cup flour or wheat paste, 1 tablespoon glue (if flour is used)
Mix ingredients to workable consistency. Can be dried and painted.

SAWDUST CLAY
To mix the clay, use a large bowl or bucket. Mix 2-3 parts of sawdust and 1-3 part of flour together. (NOTE: sawdust should not contain any redwood sawdust.) Pour in water and mix until it reaches a stiff but 'squishy' consistency. Add more flour if it is too crumbly. The clay needs some kneading before the gluten in the flour becomes elastic, holding the sawdust together. Work it in your hands or on a tabletop covered with newspapers. Play with the clay a little until it becomes easy to shape. This clay air-dries very hard. It should be place directly in the sun, if possible. When dry, you can sand it or not, depending upon what you like. Use tempera or acrylic paints to decorate the finished objects. To give your pieces a glossy coating, spray with acrylic clear finish or paint with acrylic floor wax.

SAWDUST MODELING COMPOUND
Mix 1 cup fine sawdust (if desired, dye with food coloring first and drain and spread on newspaper to dry) and 1 cup thin or paper paste to a thick doughlike consistency. Knead until thoroughly mixed. The amounts of paste may vary according to the kind of sawdust used. If the sawdust is coarse, more paste may be needed to obtain the proper consistency. Model as with clay. Articles molded with this compound have a lovely wood-grain appearance. Pieces of dough may be added to the basic piece by moistening and sticking them down. Within two to three days, the finished article will harden. To speed up drying bake in a 200-degree-F. oven for 1 to 2 hours, depending on the size of the article. To give the article a permanent finish, spray with shellac or varnish. They can also be sanded to give a smoother finish.

SHAMPOO DOUGH
Mix ¾ cup flour, ¼ cup white glue, and ¼ cup thick shampoo in a bowl. Then knead. Add more flour if needed. Model, or roll out and cut. Store in airtight container. Dry. Paint if desired.

SOAP AND SAWDUST
Combine 1 cup whipped soap and 1 cup sawdust. May be used for 2 or 3 days if stored in a tight plastic bag.

SOAP MODELING
Add enough water to moisten 2 cups of soap flakes (if you can't find soap flakes, make your own with bar of Ivory and vegetable grater) and whip until moldable. Finished products can be dried, but it takes a long time.

SOAP DOUGH
Mix 2 cups flour and ½ cup salt together. In a separate bowl, mix 2 tablespoons liquid tempera, 1 tablespoon liquid soap, and ½ cup water. Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture. Knead until pliable.

SPICY GLOB
Mix 2 cups flour, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, 2 teaspoons baking powder, ¼ teaspoon nutmeg, 1/3 cup sugar, and ½ teaspoon salt together. Add 1/3 cup water and 4 tablespoons salad oil. Knead until glob sticks and forms a ball. Divide glob into portions on wax paper. Roll and make globs into shapes.

SUGAR DOUGH
Mix 1 tablespoon water, 2 tablespoons sugar, and 3 tablespoons flour. Add food coloring.

TOOTHPASTE PUTTY
In bowl, mix 2 tablespoons cornstarch, 1 tablespoon white glue, and ½ teaspoon toothpaste (not gel). Add ½ teaspoon water. Stir until mixture is soft like putty. Putty may begin to harden in 20 minutes; to soften add a drop of water. Projects will dry hard in 24 hours.

BAKER'S CLAY
Mix 1 cup salt in 1 ½ cups warm water (colored if desired) until partially dissolved, then add to 4 cups flour. Mix with spoon until particles stick together, form ball, and knead 5-10 minutes. Explore dough. If rolled coil splits, needs more kneading. If dough doesn't knead properly, add few drops of water at a time and work until dough satiny smooth. If dough is too moist, add flour (dough will be stiff). Store in airtight container for up to 24 hours. Bake at 300 on cookie sheet for about 1 hour (or at 250 for 1-3 hours). Glaze with egg white, evaporated milk, or mayonnaise before baking or let cool and paint, if desired. Spray with clear varnish or fixative (finished pieces may be glued together). Half, double, or triple this recipe (measure carefully).

CINNAMON DOUGH (not edible)
Summarized from Mudworks by MaryAnn F. Kohl
Mix 2 cups flour, 1 cup salt, and 5 teaspoons of cinnamon in a bowl. Pour ¾ to 1 cup warm water into a well in the center. Mix with hands until dough forms a ball. More flour or water may be added as needed. Knead on floured board until smooth and satiny, about 5 minutes. Wrap in plastic and chill for 20 minutes. Use like any clay...excellent for cookie cutter ornaments rolled ¾ " thick, or hand model. Bake at F 350 for 1 hour until hard. These ornaments can be sandpapered and even varnished.

COFFEE DOUGH
Dissolve ¼ cup instant coffee in 1 ½ cup warm water. In another bowl, mix 4 cups flour and 1 cup salt. Make a hole in this and add 1 cup of the coffee water into it. Mix with a fork or hands until smooth. Add more coffee water if needed. Dough should be smooth and satiny, not sticky or crumbly. Store in a plastic bag. Bake finished designs until hard (1 hr. or more) at 300 degrees. Add 2 coats shellac to preserve.

COFFEE DOUGH
from MUDWORKS MaryAnn Kohl, maryann@brightring.com
Mix 2 cups flour and 1 cup salt in a bowl. Make a well in the center. Add ¼ cup instant coffee to ¾ - 1 cup warm water in a cup and stir. Pour the coffee/water into flour/salt, stirring. Form a ball. Add more flour or water if necessary. Knead until smooth, on a lightly floured board, for about 5 minutes. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate until ready to use. Then model as with any clay. Bake at 325F for 1 ½ hours, until hard, on a foil-lined cookie sheet. Varnish the cooled project to seal.
Note: Dough is a delicate golden color.
Hint: work on foil on the work table
For success, roll dough ½ " thick
This recipe makes enough dough for one 8" flat project, or several small projects.

GINGERBREAD MIX DOUGH (EDIBLE)
summarized from Mudworks by MaryAnn F. Kohl
Pour 1 package gingerbread mix into a large bowl. Add ¼ cup milk and ¼ cup salad oil. Mix with hands.
Remove from bowl and wrap with plastic, chill for 1 hour. Mold little balls of dough into free form sculptures, or roll dough ¼ " thick and cut out shapes with cookie cutters or a knife. Bake on greased cookie sheet with room between for 12 minutes at F 350. Then cool and remove from the sheet.
* can decorate with candy, icing, raisins, etc.
* can poke a hole before baking with a toothpick or straw so can tie a string or ribbon on for ornaments

PLAYDOUGH FOR BAKING
Use for making nearly unbreakable miniature tree ornament sand figures.
Blend ¾ cup flour, ¼ cup white glue, ¼ cup ivory liquid SHAMPOO, and food coloring in a bowl. Knead the mixture together thoroughly, dusting with flour. Roll dough out flat. Make it thin because it expands when baked. Cut the dough with small cookie cutters. If you wish to hang the cutouts, poke a hole through the top. Bake on a cookie sheet for 2 hours at 200 degrees F. When cool, decorate with acrylic or tempera paint.

PRETZEL DOUGH (EDIBLE)
Mix 1 package yeast, 1½ cups warm water, 1 tablespoon sugar, and 1 teaspoon salt in a bowl. Gradually mix in 4 cups flour. Knead vigorously and use like playdough. Make shapes and objects. Place on aluminum foil covered cookie sheet . Brush with beaten egg. Bake at 425° for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown.

PUFF DOUGH
Mix 1 cup flour & 1 cup water together to make a paste. Roll 1 bag cotton balls in paste & carefully lift out, allowing excess to drop off. Form into desired shapes on a baking sheet. Bake for 1 hour at 325 degrees. Can be painted when cool.

SALT DOUGH #1
Add approx. 1 cup water slowly to 2 cups flour and 1 cup salt. Knead until smooth. For ornaments, poke a hole or add an open paper clip. Bake at 275º for about 45 minutes.

SALT DOUGH #2
Combine 2 cups flour and 1cup salt in bowl. Mix well. Slowly add 1cup water and stir to form ball. Knead 7-10 minutes to give dough a firm consistency. After cutting (add hole if want as ornament), can air dry or bake at 325 degrees for 30 minutes.

SALT DOUGH #3
Add 2 cups salt to 2 ½ cups boiling water, then stir into 4 cups flour. Knead on a flour-covered surface. Shape objects, then bake at 250 for 2 to 3 hours, checking frequently after 2 hours. Paint when cooled.

SALT DOUGH #4
Mix 1 ½ cups salt, 4 cups flour, and 1 teaspoon alum. Add 1 ½ cups water gradually. When dough forms into a ball, knead well, adding water if it is too crumbly. This will harden on own but can also be baked at 300 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes or until hard.

SAWDUST MODELING COMPOUND
Mix 1 cup fine sawdust (if desired, dye with food coloring first, drain, and spread on newspaper to dry) and 1 cup (varies depending on kind of sawdust-if course, may need more paste) thin or paper paste to a thick doughlike consistency. Knead until thoroughly mixed. Model as with clay. Articles molded with this compound have a lovely woodgrain appearance. Pieces of dough may be added to the basic piece by moistening and sticking them down. Within two to three days, the finished article will harden. To speed up drying bake in a 200-degree-F. oven for 1 to 2 hours, depending on the size of the article. To give the article a permanent finish, spray with shellac or varnish. They can also be sanded to give a smoother finish.

SPICY APPLESAUCE ORNAMENTS
Mix ¾ cup ground cinnamon, 1 cup applesauce, 1 tablespoon ground nutmeg, 1 tablespoon ground allspice, and 1 tablespoon ground cloves. Roll dough to a ¼ inch thickness (dust tabletop and rolling pin with cinnamon to prevent sticking). Let children use cookie cutters to cut shapes out of dough and place the on waxed paper. If you plan to hang, poke a hole in the top of each shape. Bake on cookie sheet for several hours at 250 degrees or air dry several days. Turn shapes often to prevent curling. To complete the spicy ornaments, tie on loops of ribbon or yarn for hangers.

CORNSTARCH & WATER (Oobleck/Sludge/Gobble-D-Goop/Magic Mud)
1. Put 1 cup cornstarch in a bowl. Slowly mix in water, mixing constantly with hands. Add few drops food coloring while playing. Add water as it dries out.
2. Let children add 1 cup water to 1 box (16 oz.) cornstarch in small additions, and mix the ingredients by hands. Add a few drops of food coloring into the mixture, if desired.

· Dries out?use plastic hammers to turn back into powder and then spray with water

· Put a large bowl of cornstarch in the sensory table. Give each child a smaller bowl, a spoon, a jar of green diluted liquid water color, and a pipette. They put a couple of spoonfuls of cornstarch in their bowl and drop the liquid water color in and stir. The green separates into beautiful color variations. This slow process of mixing the water and cornstarch also creates different phases of the mixture.

· Science Lesson-It’s a suspension-a matter that has both liquid and solid properties.

GLUE & LIQUID STARCH (Silly Putty/Nutty Putty/Slime/Glurch)
Gradually add 1 part liquid laundry starch to one part white glue (can be colored with food coloring or tempera paint), stirring with metal spoon. Knead or allow to sit for a while. Store in airtight canister in refrigerator.
ADVICE ON MAKING THE GLUE & LIQUID STARCH COMBO.

· Fill a small container about halfway full of liquid starch (8 oz. sour cream or yogurt containers work great - Cool Whip buckets don't seem to work as well) and then squirt glue into the liquid starch. (I never measure, just kind of "eyeball" it.) Squirting from a regular glue bottle seems to work better than pouring from the gallon (I'm not sure if it's that more of the glue gets covered with liquid starch faster or what). When the glue seems to be about equal in part to the liquid starch, reach your hand in and start kneading the mixture together. It will have a VERY stringy consistency at first, but the longer you work with it, the smoother the consistency becomes. By the time it is finished, it has a very smooth rubbery quality, and if you pick it up with one hand, it will "drip" in one smooth piece to your other hand. If it is too sticky, dip your fingers into the leftover liquid starch, and then work with the goop until it doesn't stick. When it has the correct consistency, I drop a few drops of liquid watercolor into the middle of the goop and work it through the whole ball. You end up with very vibrant colors! (Warning: be careful when you add coloring so it doesn’t collect in one place and then squirt out all over you!) Tara

· If you use Elmer's School Glue instead of regular white it doesn't bounce or pick up pictures.

GLUE & BORAX (Gak/Slime/Flubber/Gluep/Goofy Putty/Glue Goo)
In one bowl, mix 1½ cups warm water [some recipes say room temp.] with 2 cups white or clear glue (can add food coloring). In another bowl, mix 1 - 3 teaspoons Borax or Borateem with ½ to 1 cup warm, not hot water [some recipes say hot]. Mix ingredients in each container thoroughly. Add Borax mixture to glue mixture. Gently lift and turn the mixture until only about a tablespoon of liquid is left. Flubber will be sticky for a moment or two. Let the excess liquid drip off, and then flubber is ready!

· can bounce, blow bubbles in it with straw, color with markers, cut with scissors, paint with FlexiTemp & work color in, put out with muffin tin and pegs

GLUE & BORAX VARIATION: STEVEN SPANGLER’S DO-IT-YOURSELF "GOOFY PUTTY"
1. Add 1 tablespoon Borax powder to 1 cup of Water. Stir until most of the powder dissolves. Store the Borax Water in a jar or bottle. One cup of Borax water will make many batches of "Goofy Putty".

2. Measure 1 tablespoon of Elmer's White Glue (DO NOT SUBSTITUTE) into a zipper-lock bag. Add 1 teaspoon of plain water to the bag and mix. The additional water makes the glue flow better. Add a drop of food coloring to spice up the experiment.

3. Add 1 tablespoon of Borax Water to the bag of watered-down glue. Seal the bag and squeeze for 2 minutes in order to thoroughly mix the liquids. Remove the putty from the bag and continue to squeeze.

· Do not pour down the sink. Do not allow to remain on clothing, upholstery, wood surfaces, or carpet.

GLUE & BACTI-STAT (No Borax Silly Goo)
Mix 1 cup white glue, 3 squirts Bacti-Stat (germicidal handsoap used in hospitals), and a little tempera for color with hands. May need to add more Bacti-Stat but will end up the consistency of Silly Putty.

GLUE, BORAX, & GUAR GUM: STEVEN SPANGLER’S DO-IT-YOURSELF "SLIME"
1. Add 1 tablespoon Borax to 1 cup of water. Stir until most of the powder dissolves. Store the Borax Water in a jar or bottle. One cup of Borax Water will make many batches of "SLIME".

2. Measure 4 cups of warm water into a large mixing bowl. Add 10 drops of food coloring. SLOWLY (very slowly) stir in 2 teaspoons of guar gum (available at health food stores). After thoroughly mixing, pour the guar gum mixture into a container. This may only last a few days. . . can be prolonged by storing in fridge.

3. Pour ½ cup of the guar gum mixture into a clean zipper-lock bag. Add 1 teaspoon of the Borax Water mixture. Seal the bag and shake. Within seconds you'll have prepared your very own batch of SLIME! This gooey mixture will retain its slimy properties for 1-2 days before finally turning into a watery mess. When the SLIME is no longer good, seal it in the zipper-lock bag and throw it away.

Differences: The Guar Gum Slime is less viscous (more runny) and can be stretched further before breaking than the Polyvinyl Alcohol Slime. Similarities: Both slimes are clear and colorless (if food color is not added), can be molded into different shapes, will flow from a funnel over a period of time, will bounce (to a certain degree), and will become flat if left sitting on a flat surface.

GUAR GUM SLIME
Put 1/3 cup warm water into a paper cup. Use a stirring stick and add ¼ teaspoon guar gum into the water. Stir until mixed and the guar gum is dissolved. Optional:add 2-5 drops of food color.Mix thoroughly. While stirring, add about 2 tablespoons 4% borax solution to the guar gum mixture. Once the mixture has gelled, remove the Slime from the cup and knead it in your hands. Place the Slime in a zipper-type plastic bag to prevent it from drying out. A few drops of Lysol can be added to the Slime to minimize the formation of mold and extend the lifetime of the Slime. You can get guar gum from Flinn Scientific.

POLYVINYL ALCOHOL SLIME
Put 2 tablespoons 4% polyvinyl alcohol solution into a paper cup. Add 2-3drops of food color. Mix Pour in 4% borax solution into the cup of polyvinyl alcohol solution. Stir constantly while the borax solution is being added. Once the gel has formed, remove it from the cup and knead it in your hands. Place the Slime in a zipper-type plastic bag to prevent it from drying out. A few drops of Lysol can be added to the Slime to minimize the formation of mold and extend the lifetime of the Slime.

TOILET PAPER, WATER, & BORAX (Clean Mud)
In a large container, unroll 3 rolls toilet paper. Add water (not much) until toilet paper is covered. [Some recipes say to let this soak for a few days.] Using a cheese grater, grate 1 small bar Ivory soap on top of the wet paper. Add ¾ cup Borax and mix. Add a small amount of water if it appears dry. If it is too wet, drain out some water over a fine screen or cheesecloth, but do not squeeze. It will be gritty at first-until the borax mixes in. Manipulate, mold, shape, wade in, etc. Cover container when not using. Will eventually dry out.

RECIPE VARIATION THAT DOESN’T USE BORAX
Let children help combine 2 rolls toilet tissue torn into pieces, 1½ bars shaved Ivory soap, and 2 quarts warm water in a big plastic dishpan or large bucket. Knead until soft and gooey, adding more water as necessary.

GLUE & SHAVING CREAM (Cloud Fluff/Poofy Paint)
Mix equal parts glue & shaving cream.
It may take a few days to dry on the paper. When I mix it up I prefer to keep the texture on the fluffy side>to look like clouds. The texture is fluffy & looks like clouds. You can get a less fluffy texture by adding more glue-which will dry harder & slightly flat. I don't worry about exact measures as it always turns out. If you want to add color, use a few drops of food coloring-not tempera.

PUTTY
Mix 1 cup cornstarch, 1 cup salt, and 1 ½ cups flour. Add ½ cup water, adding more and mixing until right consistency. It's easiest and messiest to mix with hands! This can be stored in zip-lock in fridge.

SOAP SUDS SNOW #1
Slowly add ½ cup water to 4 cups soap flakes in a bowl and whip until dough is of a consistency that can be rolled unto snowballs or formed into other shapes. Tint pink with food coloring to make "cotton candy."

SOAP SUDS SNOW #2
Scoop some Ivory soap flakes into a bowl. Add a small amount of water, mix with hands, and it becomes playdoh! I don't have exact measurements because part of my lesson involves having the children determine the necessary amounts. If it is too wet, they add more flakes and if it is too dry, they add more water.

GOOP/DRIZZLE GOO
Combine 1 cup flour, ¼ cup sugar, ¼ cup salt, ½ to ¾ cups water, and food coloring. Put in a squeeze bottle.

BEV BOS' GELATIN RECIPE
Sprinkle 1 box gelatin (32 packages) on 18 cups water. Mix ingredients and heat until dissolved. Pour into large containers. Color can be added to mixture while still liquid, however it is much better to allow the kids to add the color once the gelatin is firm. (Try adding color with pipettes (plastic eyedroppers. Push the pipettes down into the gelatin to release the color.) Once the hardened gelatin has broken down into small pieces, it can be reheated and molded again in the containers.

VARIATION ON GELATIN RECIPE
Sprinkle 4 envelopes Knox unflavored gelatin over 1 cup cold water in a bowl and let sit for a minute. Heat 3 cups water. Add boiling water to cold water and gelatin. Stir until gelatin is completely dissolved. Chill in the refrigerator until firm.

ANOTHER VARIATION ON GELATIN RECIPE
I used two boxes of Knox gelatin and made it in the touch table....dissolved the gelatin in large pan of boiled water first, then added it to the touch table with cold water. Let it set overnight. Gave the kids pipettes and colored water. IT WAS GREAT! We kept it for three days before it started to get a little smelly from hands and such I think, even though we have kids wash first. BUT it was so much fun while it lasted and there was so much exploration of color mixing and solid vs. liquid! If you have a big table, try it sometime!

GELATIN FUN
Dissolve 4 packages Jell-O and 2 packages Knox gelatin in 2 cups hot water. Let set in refrigerator until firm.

MOON SAND from http://www.skiptomylou.org/2009/07/15/diy-moon-sand/
Mix 9 cups of fine sand (such as Crayola Play Sand) with 3 cups of cornstarch. Add about 2 1/2 cups water (starting with 2 1/4 cups and adding until have desired consistency). Mix well. Store covered, and add a few tablespoons of water if it needs to be moistened the next time it is used.

· Paint on the shiny side of shelving paper, a smooth table, oilcloth, or plastic tray.

LIQUID STARCH METHOD
Put liquid starch in squeeze bottled and dry tempera in shakers. Squeeze about 1 tablespoon onto surface to be painted. Shake dry tempera paint onto starch. Mix and blend the paint. If it becomes too thick, sprinkle a few drops of water onto the painting.

LIQUID STARCH AND LIQUID DISH SOAP
Use the liquid dish soap sparingly and the liquid starch in plastic squeeze bottles generously. Dry tempera paint in saltshakers is shaken into the liquid mixture and spread around to suit the child's taste. Some caution must be given to children about not using too much tempera or the finer paint mixture will be too dry.

SOAPY FINGER PAINT
Mix 1 cup soap flakes with ½ cup of water in a small bowl and beat until stiff with an eggbeater. Paint on white shelf paper or waxed paper. Use white soap on dark paper or add dry tempera or food coloring to the soap and use on light-colored paper.

LAUNDRY STARCH
Mix: 1 cup laundry/liquid starch, 1 cup cold water, and 3 cups soap flakes

INSTANTIZED FLOUR METHOD
Stir 1½ cups instantized flour (used to thicken gravy) into bowl of 2 cups water. Add color. Regular flour may be lumpy.

FLOUR AND SALT
Combine: 1 cup flour and 1½ cups salt
Add ¾ cup water and coloring.

WALLPAPER PASTE
Stir 1cup commercial wallpaper paste powder into 3 cups water. Divide into portions and add food coloring as desired. You may add 1 cup of salt to the mixture for a different tactile sensation.

CORNSTARCH #1
Gradually add 2 quarts water to 1 cup cornstarch. Cook until clear and add ½ cup soap flakes (like Ivory Snow). A few drops of glycerin or oil of wintergreen may be added.

CORNSTARCH #2
Combine 3 tablespoons cornstarch with ¼ cup of cold water in a bowl. Stir until smooth. Add two drops of dishwashing liquid. Pour 1 cup of boiling water into the bowl and stir until the mixture thickens. Add food coloring and let cool.

CORNSTARCH #3
Combine 1 tablespoon cold water and 2 tablespoons cornstarch. Stir until smooth. Add 1 cup boiling water and stir again, until smooth. Add food coloring until paint is desired color. Let cool. Store this paint in a covered container. If mixtures dries between uses, add water to thin it. Wonderful sensory activity. Try different textures of materials to paint on (freezer bags, paper bags, aluminum foil...) Hint: Tape the paper onto the work surface for smaller children; to reduce mess have children work on old baking sheet.

CORNSTARCH #4
Mix ½ cup cornstarch with ¼ cup cold water to make a smooth paste in a saucepan. Add 2 cups hot water, stirring to prevent lumps. Cook over low heat until mixture begins to boil. Remove from heat and stir in ½ cup cold water and 2 teaspoons Listerine as a preservative. Divide and pour into jars. Add food coloring to tint.

CORNSTARCH #5
Mix ½ cup cornstarch with 4 cups of very cold water. Put into a pot and turn heat on high and let the mixture boil until it thickens. Cool and pour into smaller containers such as baby food jars, plastic yogurt jars, etc. Add several drops of food coloring into each jar and mix. It should make about 6 jars

CORNSTARCH #6
Dissolve ½ cup cornstarch in ¾ cup cold water. Pour 1 envelope gelatin into ¼ cup cold water and set aside. Add 2 cups hot or boiling water to cornstarch mix. Cook on medium heat, until it starts to boil and is clear, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Blend in dissolved gelatin. Optional: Add ½ cup soap flakes or detergent and stir until dissolved. Cool and divide into jars. Color with desired color with food coloring.

CORNSTARCH AND SUGAR
Mix 2 tablespoons sugar and ½ cup cornstarch. Slowly add 2 cups cold water and cook over low heat, stirring constantly until blended. Divide into portions and add desired food colorings. Clean up with soapy water.

FLOUR METHOD #1
Mix 1 cup flour and 1 cup cold water. Add 3 cups boiling water and bring all to a boil, stirring constantly. Add 1 tablespoon alum and coloring. Paintings from this recipe dry flat and do not need to be ironed.

FLOUR METHOD #2
In a large saucepan combine 1 cup flour and 1 cup cold water. Stir until smooth. Add 3 more cups cold water. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture thickens and bubbles. Reduce heat. Cook and stir 1 minute more. Remove from heat and pour into three heatproof bowls. Use food coloring to tint desired colors. Cover with plastic wrap, and let stand at room temperature till cool.

FLOUR AND SALT
Mix 2 teaspoons salt and 2 cups flour. Add 2 ½ to 3 cups cold water. Stir or beat with an eggbeater until smooth. Add to 2 cups boiling water and boil until clear. Beat until smooth. Add food coloring, then stir until smooth.

FLOUR AND SALT #2
Mix 2 cups flour and 4 cups cold water. Cook over low heat until thick. When cool, add a pinch of salt. Add dry tempera or food coloring, if desired. Store in covered jar in refrigerator

JELL-O FINGER PAINT
any kind of flavored Jell-O + enough boiling water to make it a goo consistency for fingerpaint. Use your normal fingerpainting material or glossy paper. Kids love the smell and the feel of it.

KOOL-AID FINGER PAINT
Mix 3 cups boiling water and 3 tablespoons oil into 2 cups flour, ½ cup salt, and 2 packs unsweetened Kool-Aid. The kids love the color change.

LAUNDRY STARCH AND SOAP FLAKES #1
Dissolve 1 cup laundry starch in small amount of cold water. Slowly add 5 cups boiling water to dissolve starch and (optional) 1 tablespoon glycerin. Cook until thick and glossy. Add 1cup mild soap flakes. Add color in separate containers. Cool before using.

LAUNDRY STARCH AND SOAP FLAKE #2
Mix 1cup Linit starch and 1cup cold water to smooth paste. Add 3 cups boiling water and cook until thick and glossy, stirring constantly. Add 1 cup Ivory soap flakes and beat with eggbeater until smooth.

LAUNDRY STARCH AND SOAP FLAKES #3
Mix 3 cups Vano Starch and 1 cup soap flakes and boil to dissolve. Cool until comfortable to use. Then add child's choice of powdered tempera.

LAUNDRY STARCH AND SOAP FLAKES #4 (WITH GELATIN)
Soften 1 envelope unflavored gelatin in ¼ cup of cold water; set aside. Combine ½ cup liquid laundry starch with ¾ cold water in a medium saucepan. Add 2 cups hot water and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon until mixture comes to a full boil and has become completely thickened. Remove from heat; blend in the softened gelatin. Add ½ cup mild soap flakes (Ivory, etc.) and stir until completely dissolved. Add food coloring or tempera paint to all or part of the mixture until desired color is obtained, adding no more than 1 tablespoon of food coloring or paint to each recipe. Store in covered containers. Makes about 3 cups, or recipe may be multiplied.

CONDENSED MILK PAINT
Mix condensed sweetened milk with food coloring. When the milk dries it looks transparent and has no sour small. It can be very expensive but worth it. Use the paint sparingly or it will take forever to dry!

CORNSTARCH PAINT
Combine 1 tablespoon cold water and 2 tablespoons cornstarch. Stir until smooth. Add 1 cup boiling water and stir again, until smooth. Add food coloring until paint is desired color. Let cool. Store this paint in a covered container. If mixture dries between uses, add water to thin it. Hint: Tape the paper onto the work surface for smaller children; to reduce mess have children work on old baking sheet. Wonderful sensory activity. Try different textures of materials to paint on (freezer bags, paper bags, aluminum foil...)

CORN SYRUP PAINT
Add food coloring to corn syrup and paint with small watercolor brushes. When dry, the paintings are brilliant colors and slightly "sticky" in texture. cleans up easily and quickly

GOUACHE PAINT (opaque paint that dries quickly and can be painted on in layers)
Dissolve 2 cups dextrin (hobby stores have it) in 4 tablespoons distilled water (will be foamy). Then add ½ cup honey, 2 teaspoons glycerine and ½ teaspoon 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.

QUICK-DRYING PAINT
Try this for pictures that dry very quickly and paint that washes out of clothes.
Mix thoroughly: 1 cup liquid tempera paint, ¼ cup liquid laundry starch, 2-3 tablespoons liquid dishwashing or laundry detergent, and water to dilute to your satisfaction.

PUFFY PAINT/SQUEEZE BOTTLE ART/SHINY SQUEEZE
Mix ½ cup water, ½ cup flour, ½ cup salt, and 2 teaspoons powered tempera paint or some food coloring. Pour into a squeeze bottle. Squeeze onto heavy paper or cardboard to make designs. Mixture will harden into puffy shapes.

SALT PAINT
Mix 2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon liquid starch, and several drops of tempera paint. Apply with a paintbrush. snow for winter, sand for the summer

SAND PAINT
Mix 1 part liquid starch, 1 part water, and 2 parts sand together. Then add tempera paint to make the colors that you want to use. Add more liquid starch if the paint is too thin; add more water if the paint is too thick. (works well with very bright colors on white shirt cardboard)

SHINY PAINT
Pour white glue into small cups. Mix your choice of liquid tempera paint in each. Use to paint on wood, paper, or cardboard as you would with any paint. Paint will dry shiny as if glazed. Variations: Paint pinecones, driftwood, rocks or glass. Try painting with sponge brushes for a very smooth finish. To help paint adhere to shiny, smooth surfaces, add a few drops of dish detergent.

SIDEWALK PAINT #1
Grind up sidewalk chalk and either add water or use wet paintbrush

SNOW PAINT
Whip 1 cup soap flakes into 1 cup water with mixer until thick and stiff. Divide and put into small cups and add food coloring, if desired. Paint "snow" onto paper to make gingerbread people, flowers, rainbows, or other objects.

THICK THICK PAINT
Mix 1 cup powdered dry tempera paint with 2 tablespoons wallpaper paste. Add ½ cup liquid starch a little at a time until the mixture is thick enough to spread. Use popsicle sticks to spread.

WATERCOLOR #1
Mix 1 tablespoon white vinegar and 1 ½ [or 2-recipes differ] tablespoons baking soda in small bowl and allow to foam. After foaming stops add 1 tablespoon cornstarch and 1 ½ teaspoons [or ¼- ½ teaspoon-recipes differ] glycerin and stir very well....up to a couple of minutes. Portion the mixture into a paint palette, muffin tin or similar container and add food coloring. Make the colors dark because drying and use will lighten them. Clean supermarket meat trays can be used for this, too. But make sure these are washed in an antibacterial solution first. Allow watercolors to dry in a warm place for several hours or overnight. Makes 1 set of Watercolors.

WATERCOLOR #2
Mix 1 tablespoon white vinegar and 2 tablespoons baking soda together in a small bowl. When mixture stops bubbling, add 1 tablespoon cornstarch and ¼ teaspoon glycerin. Mix well. Pour mixture into bottle caps from 2 liter bottles. Add several drops of food coloring to the mixture in the bottle caps. Let dry overnight

WINDOW PAINT
Mix just a little clear dishwashing liquid into tempera paint (or mix clear dishwashing liquid and powdered tempera paint until they resemble house paint). Line the window sash with masking tape and be sure to spread newspaper around to protect the area. To erase paint or touch up mistakes just wipe paint away with a dry paper towel.

WINDOW PAINT #2
Measure2 tablespoons powdered tempera paint into container. Add 1 tablespoon warm water and mix to a paste. Add 1 teaspoon Joy dishwashing liquid, mixing gently to avoid becoming sudsy. Dries on a window in about 10 minutes. Washes off with a water/vinegar solution.

WHEAT PASTE AND WATER
Mix 1 cup wheat paste (or starch) and 10 cups water until smooth. Soak newspaper strips in mixture and wrap several layers around a balloon or other items. Dry well. Paint with tempera paints and decorate.

FLOUR AND WATER
Combine ½ cup all-purpose flour and 2 cups cold water. Add mixture to saucepan of 2 cups boiling water and return to boil. Remove from heat and stir in 3 tablespoons sugar. Let cool and thicken before using. This recipe creates a smooth, light paste that's easy to work with. Before you start, cover your work surface with newspaper - papier-mache can get very messy. This may be used to make piñatas

DRYER LINT
Mix 2 cups water and 3 cups dryer lint together in a large saucepan, stirring well. Slowly add 2/3 cup flour, mixing well. Add 3 drops oil of cloves if desired. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until mixture holds together, forming peaks. Pour out and cool on newspapers. Spread over a base, such as a box, balloon or bottle. Dry 3 - 5 days. Store unused in airtight container 4-5 days. air tight. Do not do with asthmatics.

SOFT PULP PAPIER MACHE
Crumble paper napkins, tissue, or toilet paper. Cover with Thin Paste (see misc. recipes) or white glue. Model to desired shape. Must be used immediately, suggested for ages 4 & up, projects may be sun dried

MASH PAPIER-MÂCHÉ MASH
Fill quart bowl with newspaper pieces ½ " x 1 ½ ". Boil ½ gallon water in large pot. Add newspaper pieces to pot stirring constantly with slotted spoon. Cook over medium heat 20 minutes until broken down. Stir occasionally. Beat with electric mixer until smooth. Strain through colander, but do not squeeze. Return paper to pot. Add 1 cup wheat flour, mix well, and return to heat on low. Cook until stiff enough to stand in piles. Mix in 4 drops cinnamon oil. Pour onto thick newspaper to cool. Model as with clay. Allow several days to dry or, bake at 200 until dry. When dry, sand until smooth, and paint. Then shellac or varnish. makes enough mash for 1 project (quadruple to make larger objects) dries to hard, durable finish Variations: cover jars, bottles, blocks of wood; cover boxes to make furniture, ½ " thick; suggested for ages 4 & up

RESIN PAPIER-MÂCHÉ PASTE
Mix ½ cup flour and ¼ cup resin glue in a saucepan. Make a paste with ½ cup of warm water. Add 1 ½ cups hot water, stiffing vigorously to prevent lumps. Cook over low heat with 4 drops of oil of wintergreen, stirring constantly until thick, clear and smooth. Makes about 1 pint. Use paste within a few days of preparation. It gives a very hard finish to papier-mâché projects and is good to use in making large permanent objects

STRIP PAPIER-MÂCHÉ
Tear newspaper into long thin strips from the fold down. Lay paper strips on a pad of newspaper and cover one side of strips with wallpaper paste or thin glue paste (see misc. recipes) OR pull through paste, squeezing off extra paste with fingers. Cover a base such as a balloon, jar, or light bulb with paste covered newspaper strips. Hint: lay strips in one direction. Apply second layer of strips, running these across first layer. Continue for 4 or 5 layers. Allow 1 to 2 days to dry. Variations: 1. build a shape of newspaper tubes and form strips over this base 2. use to build puppets, piñatas, animals or other articles. Traditional and proven, projects may sun dry, no cooking is needed in prep, suggested age for use - 5 & up

TISSUE PAPIER MACHE
Tear tissues or colored tissues into pieces or strips. Soak in liquid starch until mushy in bowl or bucket. Add liquid glue until pulp holds a form. Squeeze out excess starch. Shape. Dry. Paint if desired. Variations: Cover a form such as balls of newspaper, a milk carton, or a balloon. suggested for ages 4 & up, no cooking needed before use, projects can air dry

FACE PAINT #1
1/8 c. baby lotion
¼ teaspoon powdered tempera paint
1 squirt liquid dishwashing soap
Easily removed by soap and water.

FACE PAINT #2
Mix tablespoon solid vegetable shortening with two tablespoons cornstarch. Tint small portions of the cream with food colorings, as desired. After applying the cream, pat with translucent powder. (or you can paint faces, hands, etc. using tube watercolors which are easy to wash off)

FACE PAINT #3
In one section of a muffin tin, mix together 1 tablespoon shortening, 1 teaspoon flour & one drop of food coloring. Repeat to make several colors in the sections of the muffin tin. Use finger to paint face. Wash off face with warm water & soap.

FACE PAINT #4
In a small bowl, mix 2 teaspoons shortening, 5 teaspoons cornstarch and 1 teaspoon white flour. Add four drops of glycerin. Stir to a creamy consistency. Add any food coloring that you wish. For brown make-up, add 2 ½ teaspoons of unsweetened cocoa instead of food coloring.

FACE PAINT #5
Mix 1 part cold cream, 1 part water, 2 parts cornstarch, and food coloring. Apply with fingertips, clean paintbrush, or Q-tip.

FACE PAINT #6
Stir 1 teaspoon cornstarch and ½ teaspoon cold cream until well blended. Add ½ teaspoon water and stir. Add food coloring.

NEW CRAYONS FROM OLD CRAYONS
Save stubs of old crayons. Peel off paper and break into pieces. Place in muffin tins (no liners necessary) in warm oven that has been turned off. Remove from the oven when the crayons are squishy but not liquid. Don't bake them or you will get two waxy layers that aren't all that pretty. Leave in oven to cool or remove carefully so as not to mix colors if you are making multi-colored crayons. If you put the muffin pan in the freezer or fridge, crayons get cold and hard and come out of the pan easily. Use the muffin pan for crayons only from then on....it doesn't even need to be washed. MaryAnn Kohl and others

If you live in a warm climate, you can make Scribble Cookies outside using only solar energy. We would spend the morning peeling and sorting crayons into the pan then place them outside at lunchtime. By the time nap was over, we had Scribble Cookies! Jane Armstrong

Melt down pieces of crayons in a coffee can set in boiling water. You can use a double boiler but with a coffee can you can throw it away. Start with the light colored crayons so you so not have to clean in between. When the crayons are melted pour them in candy molds. They pop out very easy and it is easy to clean up and reuse for candy or crayons. You can make the colors appropriate to the item - brown bears, red lips etc. but they love any neat shape.

I did the melted crayons in candy molds to give to my kids at the end of the year. I used a very large fry pan with about an inch of water then I used empty tuna cans to melt the crayons in. I used a pair of tongs to lift the cans out & pour. I could do several colors at once and they hold quite a bit. I made 75 crayons. Zanni

SOAP CRAYONS
Mix ¼ cup water & 1 ¾ cups soap flakes together. Add 50 drops food coloring & put mixture into an ice cube tray. Allow to harden. Break or cut into pieces. Fun to write with on the tub when bathing & face & hands!!! can also be used when still a little soft as face paint!

*Mix 1 part water and 2 parts Ivory Snow Powder together till thick & creamy. Food coloring is optional. Allow to harden. Break or cut into pieces. Or pour into ice cube trays & sit in sun to dry. Fun to write on the tub when bathing.

SIDEWALK CHALK #1
Add about 1 tablespoon of powdered paint and a little water to ½ cup of plaster or casting compound
Mixture should be moist but not watery or soupy. Mix for 1 minute or 2. Let the mixture dry for 24 hrs.

SIDEWALK CHALK #2
Combine 2 cups water, 2 cups plus 2 heaping tablespoons Plaster of Paris, and 2 tablespoons tempera paint (wet or dry), and stir together. Let stand a few minutes. Let stand until semi-firm. Remove holders and let dry completely. Ready to use in about 1 to 1 ½ hours. (Reminder: never pour plaster down sink)

SIDEWALK CHALK #3
We made sidewalk chalk this week. I used 2 parts plaster of paris to 1 part water. We first put a little wet tempera paint in the bottom of the cup.

SIDEWALK CHALK #4
Small Batch: 3 tablespoons Plaster of Paris, 2 tablespoons Power tempera paint, and 3 tablespoons water
OR
Large Batch: 1 ¼ Cup plaster paris, ¾ Cup powder tempera paint, and 1 ¼ Cup water

Mix plaster paris and tempera paint. Add water and mix well. (I use a wire wisk). Pour into molds. Allow to dry for 24 hours and remove from mold. Let air dry for 2 days to 1 week depending on size of mold.

SIDEWALK CHALK #5 from "The Ultimate Book of Kid Concoctions" (John E. Thomas and Danita Pagel)
Mix 1/3 cup quick-setting plaster of paris, 1 tablespoon powdered tempera paint, and 3 tablespoons water together in a small bowl until blended. Let the chalk dry 30-45 minutes. Carefully pop the chalk out of the cookie cutter or candy mold.

SIDEWALK CHALK #6
Stir most of ½ cup cool water into 1cup (not packed) plaster. Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of liquid tempera, mix well, especially at the bottom. Add a little more water so the mixture thickens.

SIDEWALK CHALK #7
Mix 1/3 cup quick-setting plaster of paris with 2 ½ tablespoons powdered tempera paint and 2 tablespoons glitter. Add ¼ cup water a little at a time, stirring well. You will end up with a thick soupy mixture. The chalk took about 3 hours to be fully hard.

EGGSHELL CHALK
Wash & dry 4-5 eggshells. Put into bowl and grind into a powder. A mortar and pestle works fine for this. Discard any large pieces. Place1 teaspoon flour and 1 teaspoon very hot tap water in another bowl and add 1 tablespoon eggshell powder & mix until a paste forms. Add food coloring if desired. Shape & press mixture firmly into the shape of a chalk stick, and roll up tightly in a strip of paper towel. Allow to dry approximately 3 days until hard. Remove paper towel & you've got chalk! Eggshell chalk is for sidewalks only.

Colored Bubble Recipe #1, from More Than Painting (Moomaw & Hieronymus)
1 tablespoon glycerin
1 cup Dawn or Joy dishwashing liquid
enough water to make a gallon
small amount of food coloring

Colored Bubble Recipe #2
2/3 liquid dishwashing detergent
a small amount of water
1/3 tempera paint or food coloring

Colored Bubble Recipe #3
1 Tablepoon dish soap
2/3 cup water
1 Tablespoon tempera paint OR 10 drops liquid food coloring OR tiny bit of liquid water color

BASIC BENTONITE EXTENDER
Gradually add 2 quarts water and ½ cup soap powder to 2 cups bentonite (powdered can be purchased at most ceramic supply stores and some hardware stores, even) and mix well with beater. (A blender is preferred. If it is used start by filling the container half full of water and add bentonite gradually. Turn blender off for a few seconds to check the consistency. Let mixture stand in a crock or plastic container for two to three days- stirring well each day. DO NOT use a METAL container. This recipe is important- because it a great extender of paint, it can make fingerpaint out of tempera...

POWDERED PAINT EXTENDER
Mix 1 cup Bentonite, ½ cup Ivory Flakes, and 2 quarts warm water well and let stand in large jar about three days. Stir each day. This will be like jelly and can be thinned with water to right consistency when ready to use - and to use again!!! *You can cut your paint bill in half by using this recipe....

RAINBOW STEW
Mix 1 cup cornstarch, 4 cups water, and 1/3 cup sugar together into a large fry pan. Cook until thickened. Remove and stir until cool and add food coloring. Make three or four different colors of rainbow stew. Put two different colors into a large zip loc bag. Push the air out of the bags, seal and duct tape to top of Ziploc bag. Let the children squeeze the bag and see what happens. This will keep for about 2 weeks. This is a wonderful lesson on primary color mixing.

RAINBOW STEW #2
Heat equal parts of cornstarch and water in skillet....add food coloring and it is very sticky and squishy. After it cools a bit, it is fun to have children put it into zip lock bags and they can add food colorings of their choice and then zip it up and squish and mix the colors together. And of course this substance can be used in many, many ways. With rubber spatulas and trays and boxes or meat trays to smear...]
*Have parents help make a huge batch, put it all in a huge clear garbage bag, duct tape it shut, and let kids walk on it with their bare feet.

COLORED SAND
Add 2 teaspoons of dry tempera paint to 1 cup of sand and mix well with a fork. Stir in 1 teaspoon water. Allow the sand to dry for several hours before using.

SUBSTITUTE FOR COLORED SAND
2-3 tablespoons of powdered tempera paint - 1 lb. salt.

COLORED SALT (GLITER) #1
Mix 5-6 drops of food coloring with ½ cup of household salt. Cook in microwave 1-2 minutes and spread on waxed paper to let air-dry. Use as you would glitter. As the glue dries the salt will sparkle!

COLORED SALT (GLITTER) #2
Add 1 tbsp. Liquid Watercolor to a quarter cup of regular table salt. Spread out on paper towels and microwave for 2 minutes. Using fingers, break up the dried pieces. The Liquid Watercolor dries to a beautiful, vibrant colored glitter. Great for young ones, because it's so easy...and SAFE! (Does not work with Gold, Silver, or White.)

FRUIT FLAVORED STAMPS
Place 1 tablespoon fruit-flavored gelatin mix (with sugar) in small bowl & add 2 tablespoons hot water. While "glue" is still warm spread onto glossy pictures cut from magazines, mailings, or old postcards. Dry stamps several hours. If they curl, flatten under heavy book. When ready to use, lick back & stick to paper.

FRUIT FLAVORED STAMPS #2
Boil 2 tablespoons any flavor gelatin with 2 tablespoons water. When cool apply to back of shiny magazine pictures with fingertip. When it dries, lick the back and stick it down.

FRUIT FLAVORED STAMPS #3
Boil 2 tbsp vinegar. Add and dissolve 1 package Knox unflavored gelatin and ¾ tsp extract - like mint, cherry or even vanilla (or use 1 Tbsp any flavored Jell-O - she used Cherry flavored Jell-O). While still warm paint onto paper using "good clean" pastry brushes. Dry, cut into shapes, lick and stick. They used left over wrapping paper with small pictures of bugs on it. But you could use flowered paper or any wrapping paper with small pictures on it.

ANOTHER RECIPE FOR HOMEMADE STICKERS
In a small bowl, sprinkle 1 packet (¼ ounce) unflavored gelatin into 1 tablespoon cold water. Let soften for 5 minutes. Pour 3 tablespoons boiling water into softened gelatin and stir until dissolved. Add ½ teaspoon white corn syrup or sugar and ½ teaspoon lemon or vanilla extract OR add 2 drops boric acid solution and ½ teaspoon white peppermint extract. Mix well. Brush the gum thinly on the back of the sticker. I find that it works better if you do a whole sheet and then cut after it's dried. The page will curl up but after it has dried you can press it under something heavy such as the phone book. When dry just moisten the sticker and apply. The gum will gel overnight. Place the adhesive in a pan of hot water to return it to liquid state. You may store this in the refrigerator in a sealed jar for months.

RUBBER STAMP INK
Mix 1 teaspoon food coloring, 3 tablespoons liquid starch, and 1 tablespoon water

PENCIL AS INK
Just rub pencil hard on paper and press thumb firmly to get "ink" then stamp on separate paper.

CREPE PAPER PASTE
Cut or tear 2 tablespoons crepe paper of a single color. The finer the paper is cut, the smoother the paste will be. Add ½ tablespoon flour, ½ tablespoon salt, and enough water to make a paste. Stir and squash the mixture until it is as smooth as possible. Store in airtight container.

PAPER PASTE
Mix 1/3 cup non self-rising flour and 2 tablespoons sugar. Gradually add 1 cup water, stirring vigorously. Cook over low heat until clear, stirring constantly. Remove from stove and add ¼ teaspoon oil of peppermint oil of wintergreen, or oil of cinnamon. Stir until well blended. How to use: Spread with a brush or tongue depressor. This paste can be stored in a covered jar for several weeks without refrigeration.

THIN PASTE
Mix ¼ cup sugar, ¼ cup non self-rising flour, and ½ teaspoon alum in pan. Add 1 cup water gradually, stirring vigorously. Boil until clear and smooth, stirring. Add ¾ cup water and ¼ teaspoon oil of cinnamon or oil of wintergreen. Stir. Spread with brush or tongue depressor
makes 1 pint, stores for several months without refrigeration, suggested age for use- 3 & up, stores several months- use with Soft papier-mâché Pulp

GLUE
Mix ¾ cup water, 2 tablespoons corn syrup and 1 teaspoon white vinegar in a saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat. Mix ½ cup cornstarch and ¾ cup cold water in a separate bowl. Add the cornstarch mixture SLOWLY to the first mixture. Stir constantly. Remove from heat. Let stand overnight before using.

THE ULTIMATE BOOK OF KID CONCOCTIONS, BOOKS 1 & 2 (John E. Thomas)
available in a set with bowls, measuring spoons, . . .

KIDS CRAZY ART CONCOCTIONS: 50 MYSTERIOUS MIXTURES FOR ART AND CRAFT FUN (written by Jill Frankel Hauser, illustrated by Loretta Trezzo Braren)