Craft Recipes
Artful Gift Home
Sidewalk Chalk - Silly Slime - Modeling Dough - Bread Dough - Paints
Edible
Finger Paints -Playdough - Clay - Paste - Bubbles - Salt Dough
3/4 cup warm water
2 to 3 tablespoons washable tempera paint (powdered or liquid tempera work equally well)
1 1/2 cups plaster of Paris Large plastic mixing containers (we used recycled margarine
tubs)
Toilet tissue tubes (or gift wrap tubes) cut in short sections Duct tape or masking tape
1. Prepare your chalk molds by covering one end of each tissue tube with duct tape or
masking tape. Set aside.
2. Pour the warm water into your mixing container, then sprinle the plastic powder into
the water a bit at a time until it no longer dissolves (about 1 1/2 cups). Stir thoroughly
- until the mixture is as thick as pudding.
3. Add tempera paint to the plaster mixture and stir until blended.
4. Pour the colored plaster into the tissue tubes. Gently tap the side of each tube to get
rid of air bubbles.
5. Let dry for one to two days, peel off the mold.
This is a lot like the store bought silly putty, but a lot cheaper! The
longer you play with it, the more fun it gets! It stays fresh in a baby food jar for
weeks. Try blowing bubbles with it, by stretching a blob over your lips and gently
blowing.
1/2 cup white glue
1/2 cup liquid laundry starch
1.Measure equal amounts of the glue and liquid starch, about 1/2 cup to start, into a
bowl.
2.Stir thoroughly.
3.Let rest 5 minutes.
4.Knead it with your hands, until it comes together. Just when you think it is ruined, it
suddenly turns into a wonderful
long-stranded glob!
1 cup very warm water
1 cup table salt
2 cups all purpose flour
This is mixed and worked up and kneaded until smooth. It does better if you cover with a
damp cloth
and let it rest for a few minutes. Bake in 325 degree oven until golden brown.
one loaf of white bread
white craft glue
1.Begin by having the children tear the slices of bread into really small bits and placing
them into the bowl. Note that the crusts should be taken off before you begin to tear the
bread up.
2.After all the bread slices have been shredded, pour the white glue into the bowl with
the bread and form a dough -- mixing with your hands. I recommend that an adult do the
mixing (and yes it is really gross but just remember that the finished product is quite
nice). I also recommend that the glue be added a bit at a time so as not to over glue the
dough
Light corn syrup
Food coloring (liquid works best)
Paper plates for mixing
Newsprint or other paper for painting
1.For each portion, pour 1 tablespoon (15 ml) corn syrup onto paper plate.
2.Squirt food coloring into the puddle.
3.Mix and paint with fingers.
Non-Edible
Liquid Starch Finger paint
1/4 cup liquid laundry starch
2 drops food coloring
or 1 tsp. tempera paint
Mix ingredients in small plastic bowl until blended.
Cornstarch Finger paint
3 tbsps. sugar
1/2 cup cornstarch
2 cups cold water
Food coloring
Soap 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.
Flour Finger Paint
1 cup flour
2 tbsp salt
1 1/4 cup hot water
1 1/2 cup cold water
Food coloring
or tempera paint
Put flour and salt in a saucepan and add add cold water. Beat with a whisk or rotary
beater until smooth. Add hot water and boil until mixture is thick. Beat until smooth.
Keep in refrigerator and add food coloring as needed.
Laundry Starch Finger Paint
1 cup laundry starch dissolved in cold water
1 qt boiling water
1 cup pure white soap flakes or powder
Food 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.
1/2 cup dishwashing detergent (500 ml)
4 1/2 cup water (4.5 liter)
4 tablespoons glycerin (available at pharmacies) (60 ml)
container with a tight fitting lid in which to keep the bubbles
1.Measure out the water, detergent and glycerin into container.
2.GENTLY stir the mixture together. If a foam forms gently skim it off the top.
3.Find something with which to blow bubbles and begin to have fun.
Note: The longer you let the mixture set, the larger the bubbles are and the longer they
seem to last.
1 cup salt
1 1/4 cups warm water
3 cups flour
1 plastic bag
1.Pour 1 cup salt into large bowl.
2.Add 1 1/4 cups warm water, mix well.
3.Add 3 cups flour, mix well some more.
4.Knead into ball, seal in plastic bag and refrigerate for 24 hours.
5.Mold into anything you want!
6.Let dry for 24 hours.
7.Paint
Poster Paint
1/4 cup flour
1 cup water
3 tbsps. powdered tempera paint
2 tbsps. water
1/2 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 had liquid detergent.
Condensed Milk Paint
1 cup condensed milk
Food coloring
Mix one cup condensed milk with a few drops of food coloring. This makes a very bright,
glossy colored paint.
Frosting Paint (non-edible)
1 cup powdered tempera paint
2 tbsps. wallpaper paste
1/4 to 1/2 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.
Face Paint
1 tsp. corn starch
1/2 tsp. water
1/2 tsp. cold cream
Food 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 shortening
2 tbsps. cornstarch
Food 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.
Egg Yolk Paint
1 egg yolk
1/4 tsp. water
Food coloring
Mix egg yolk with water and lots of food coloring. Use a paint brush to paint on baked
cookies. Return cookies to oven until egg has solidified.
Oatmeal Playdough
1 part flour
1 part water
2 parts oatmeal
Mix all ingredients until smooth. Knead. Non-edible but not toxic if eaten by mistake.
Uncooked Playdough
1 cup cold water
1 cup salt
2 tsp. vegetable oil
3 cups flour
2 tbsps. cornstarch
Tempera paint or food coloring
Mix water, salt, oil and enough paint to make bright colors. Gradually work flour and
cornstarch to consistency of bread dough.
Koolaid Playdough
1/2 cup salt
2 cups water
2 tbsps. salad oil
2 cups flour
2 tbsps. alum
Koolaid for color
Boil salt in water until salt is dissolved. Add Koolaid for color. Add salad oil, flour
and alum. Knead or process until smooth. Keeps for two months or longer.
Colored Playdough
1 cup flour
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 cup water
1/2 cup salt
2 tsp. cream of tartar
Food coloring
Mix all ingredients in saucepan. Heat, stirring constantly until ball forms. Knead until
smooth.
Salt Playdough
1 cup salt
1 cup water
1/2 cup flour
Mix ingredients and cook over medium heat. Remove from heat when thick and rubbery. As
mixturecools, knead in enough flour to make a workable dough.
Peanut Butter Playdough
18 oz. peanut butter
6 tbsps. honey
Non-fat dry milk
Cocoa for flavor
Mix all ingredients, adding enough dry milk to give make dough pliable. Shape, decorate
with edible treats, and eat!
Simple Playdough
3 cups flour
1 1/2 cups salt
6 tsp. cream of tartar
3 cups cool water
3 Tbsp oil
Food 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.
Potato Dough
4 or 5 potatoes
1 - 1 1/2 cups flour
Bake 4 or 5 potatoes, in the skin, until soft inside. Peel, and disgard peel. Mash
potatoes, I use a potato ricer, so I get a nice fine, even texture. Combine 1 - 1 1/2 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 you make it, you won't even notice. If you have extra, roll it is
balls and press your 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.
Creative Dough
1 cup flour
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon slat
1 cup water
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla, optional
about 15 drops of food coloring, color of your choice
Cook all ingredients in a medium sauce pan, over medium heat, stirring real hard until
mixture forms a ball. About 4 mins. Remove from pan and let sit for about five mins. Knead
briefly and the dough is ready to use. Store in airtight container in refrigerator. I
usually half the recipe, and make two different colors.
No-Bake Craft Clay
1 cup cornstarch
1 1/4 cups cold water
2 cups baking soda
Food coloring
Paint
Mix all ingredients except paint in saucepan over medium heat for 4 minutes until thick
(like mashed potatoes). Add food coloring to water before mixture adding for color. Remove
from heat, turn out onto a plate and cover with a damp cloth until cool. Knead like dough.
Store in airtight container.
Cookie Clay
2 cups salt
2/3 cups water
1 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup cold water
Mix salt with water in saucepan. Stir and boil. Add cornstarch and cold water. Keep
heating if it does not get thick. Roll out dough on board floured with cornstarch. Dry and
decorate ornaments.
Baker's Clay
4 cups flour
1 cup salt
1 tsp. powdered alum
1 1/2 cups water
Food coloring
Mix all ingredients in bowl. If too dry work in extra water with hands. Color by dividing
and adding food coloring to each portion. Roll or mold as desired. Once molded or rolled
bake on ungreased cookie sheet for 30 minutes in 250 degree oven. Turn and bake another 1
1/2 hours. Remove and cool. When done, sand lightly if desired and paint.
Bread Clay
6 slices white bread
6 tbsps. white glue
1/2 tsp. detergent or 2 tsp. glycerine
Food coloring
Remove crusts from bread and knead with glue. Add either detergent or glycerine. Knead
until no longer sticky. Separate into portions and add food coloring if desired. Shape and
brush with equal parts of glue and water for a glossy coat. Allow to dry overnight to
harden. Paint with acrylic paint.
Seal with clear nail polish.
Modeling Clay
2 cups salt
2/3 cup water
1 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup water (cold)
Stir salt and water over heat for about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in cornstarch
and cold water. Mix until smooth, return to heat and cook until thick. Cool before using.
Store in plastic bag.
Glue
3/4 cup water
2 tbsp. corn syrup
1 tsp. white vinegar
1/2 cup cornstarch
3/4 cup cold water
Mix water, syrup and vinegar in small saucepan. Bring to a rolling boil. In small bowl,
mix cornstarch and cold water. Add this mixture slowly to first mixture. Stir constantly.
Let stand overnight before using.
Homemade Paste
1/2 cup flour
Cold water
Add cold water to 1/2 cup flour until a thick cream forms. Simmer on stove for 5 minutes.
Add food coloring or flavoring if desired. Wet messy paint that takes a while to dry.
Paper Mache Paste
1 cup water
1/4 cup flour
5 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).
Library Paste
1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. alum
4 cups water
Oil of cloves
Mix all ingredients in saucepan and cook until clear nd thick. Add 30 drops of Oil of
cloves and store covered.