Play Dough #1- Submitted by Christi

1 cup salt, 1 cup flour, 1/2 coup water, food coloring

Tint water to desired color using the food coloring. Add flour and salt to the colored water, stirring to avoid lumps. Add more flour until it is the right consistency.

Play Dough #2- Submitted by Christi

2 1/2 cups flour, 1/2 cup salt, 1 tbsp. alum, 1 3/4 cups boiling water, 2 tbsp. vegetable oil

Mix flour and salt in a bowl. Mix alum, water, oil and food coloring in a separate bowl, slowly add flour and salt mixture. Knead well, add more flour if the dough is too sticky.

Play Dough #3- Submitted by Christi

1 cup flour, 1/2 cup salt, 1 tbsp. oil, 1 tbsp. cream of tarter, 1 cup water, food coloring

Mix all ingredients in large saucepan. Cook mixture over low heat until thickened. Knead dough until smooth. Store in air tight container or ziplock bags.

Smelly Play Dough- Submitted by Christi

2 cups flour, 1/2 cup salt, 1 tbsp. alum, 1 pkg. unsweetened cool-aid, 3 tbsp. vegetable oil, 1 3/4 cups boiling water, food coloring

Knead together all ingredients and store in air tight container or ziplock bags.

Sponge Dough- Submitted by Christi

6 cups flour, 1 cup salad oil, water

Mix flour and oil together, slowly adding enough water to make a softy, spongy dough. Store in large ziplock bags, keep in refrigerator. Add food coloring if preferred.

Clean Mud- Submitted by Christi

12 rolls white toilet paper, 3 cups borax, lots of water, 3 large bars of ivory soap

Unroll toilet paper into large plastic tub, add water until paper is just covered. Let it set for a couple of days. Grate the bars of soap and add the borax to the soaking paper. If too wet drain some of the water out. When done playing place lid on plastic tub or cover with Seran wrap. This should stay good for a few weeks, slowly becoming firmer and firmer.

Silly Putty- Submitted by Christi

2 cups glue, 1 cup starch

Using hands, smoosh together until putty has an elastic texture. It takes lots of time, be patient. Store in ziplock baggies.

Cornstarch Clay- Submitted by Christi

1 cup cornstarch, 1/3 cup vegetable oil, 2/3 cup flour

Pour cornstarch and oil into bowl, stir well, until consistency of syrup. Gradually add flour and mix until thick and doughy. Knead well and store in air tight container.

Baking Dough- Submitted by Christi

1 cup salt, 4 cups flour, 1 1/2 cup hot water

Dissolve salt in hot water in large bowl. Add flour and mix well. Knead mixture until soft. Place in air tight container for 2-4 hours. Shape objects using cookie cutters, then bake for approximately 1 hour at 300 degrees. Once cooled, objects can be painted, glittered, glued, etc. To hang ornaments insert hanging wire before baking, or cut hole into object before baking.

Flour Based Poster Paint- Submitted by Sherry

1/4 cup flour, 1 cup water, small jars or plastic containers (yogurt containers work great), 3 tablespoons powdered tempera paint per container, 2 tablespoons water per container, 1/2 teaspoon liquid starch or liquid detergent per container (optional)

Measure flour into saucepan. Slowly add 1 cup water while stirring to make a smooth paste. Heat, stirring constantly, until paste begins to thicken. Cool. Measure 1/4 cup paste into each small container. Add 3 tbsps powdered tempera paint and 2 tbsps water to each container. For a matte finish, add liquid starch. For glossy finish, add liquid detergent. Store covered.

Uncooked Playdough- Submitted by Sherry

bowl, cup of cold water, cup of salt, 2 teasps vegtable oil, tempera paint or food coloring, 3 cups flour, 2 tbsps cornstarch

In bowl, mix first three ingredients along with enough tempera paint or food coloring to make a bright color. After, gradually add flour and cornstarch until the mixture reaches the consistency of bread dough. Store covered.

No Bake Craft Clay- Submitted by Sherry

1 cup cornstarch, 11/4 cups cold water, 2 cups baking soda, sauce pan, food coloring, plate, damp cloth, tempera or arcylic paints (optional), clear shellac, acrylic spray, or nail polish

combine first three ingredients in saucepan; stir over med heat for 4 minutes until mixture thickent to a moist mashed potato consistency. For color, add a few drops of food coloring to the water before it is mixed with baking soda and cornstarch. Remove from heat, turn onto plate, and cover with a damp cloth until cool. Knead until smooth. Shape as desired or store in an airtight container or ziploc bag. Dry sculptures overnight, then paint with tempera or acrylic. Seal with shellac, acrylic spray, or nail polish.

Doll Bed- Submitted by Sherry

large cardboard box, towels or old receiving blankets, old baby blanket, small pillow

Use materials to show your child how to make a bed for his/her doll or stuffed animal. Your toddler will enjoy putting her baby or animal to bed and waking them up again.

Tape City- Submitted by Sherry

Test tape on a small area to make sure it can be easily removed before you do the whole thing.

You need masking tape and small cars. Use the tape on your floor to create an indoor roadway for small cars. You can add parking lots, shops, and schools and accessories from dollhouses, little people sets, and plastic animals.

Chair Maze- Submitted by Sherry

Place chairs in a maze around the room. Let your toddler crawl along them or walk over them, or use them as a train for her/his stuffed animals.

Mail Box- Submitted by Sherry

Shoe box with lid, scissors, unopened junk mail, old cards mailed from birthdays, holidays, etc..

Cut slit on top of box and have child decorate or cover with contact paper or construction paper. Have your toddler deliever mail. My son likes using his little back pack to carry the mail in too.

Color Cards- Submitted by Sherry

construction paper, black marker, scissors, clear contact paper

Make up two sets of cards from paper. Start with a few colors, workin gyour way up to the nine basic ones. If you wish, write the names of the colors on the cards. Cover with contact paper to keep sturdy. Spread cards out and pick one up.. Say to your toddler I have the blue card can you find the other blue card. After practice your child will enjoy matching the cards all by themeselves.

Clean Paint- Submitted by Patrisha

Powdered Tempera Paint, Liquid Dish Soap (preferably clear)

Mix the paint and soap (note: a little goes a long way) Let your toddler go nuts painting himself, the kitchen floor, whatever, you don't mind mopping.

This paint cleans up like a charm!! My toddler twins and I did this with green paint for St. Patrick's. They had a blast! They were covered in green and so was the kitchen floor. But it wiped up with NO effort!!!