1 c Flour
1/2 c Salt
2 tb Cooking oil
2 tb Cream of tartar
1 c Water with desired color of food coloring
HOMEMADE PLAY DOUGH
Cook the above mixture over medium heat stirring until stiff. Cool and knead out lumps. Store in airtight container.
FINGER PAINTING
For young children, prepare instant chocolate pudding and let them do creative finger painting with no danger if some finds its way to their mouths!
MACARONI PICTURES
Have various shapes of pasta to choose from. Let children glue these onto colored paper for creative pictures.
PLACE MATS
Let children draw their own pictures on fairly heavy paper. Use clear contact paper to cover the front and back of the drawing. They now have their own personal placemat. These make fun presents for Mom and Dad for special occasions.
CHRISTMAS TREE ORNAMENTS
1 cup cornstarch
2 cups baking soda
1 1/4 cups cold water
Mix and cook over medium heat stirring constantly about 4 minutes or til mixture thickens into a moist mashed potato-like consistency. Cover with a cloth while it cools enough to knead it.
Roll out dough and cut into shapes using a straw to put a hole in the top for a ribbon to hang on the Christmas tree.
Dry 24 hours. Paint with tempera paints.
PAPIER MACHE
Dry laundry starch
cold water
Mix the starch and water in equal amounts. Stir completely. Let stand. This will thicken. Tear newspaper or tissue paper into strips. Dip these strips into mixture. Shape over a balloon or into a mask shape, figures, animals, etc. Let dry 3 days or so, depending on thickness. Paint with acrylic paints.
ARGO DO-IT YOURSELF CLAY THAT'S SAFE FOR KIDS
2 cups baking soda
1 cup Argo Corn Starch
1 1/4 cups water
Mix cornstarch and baking soda, add water, mix. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Thicken to consistency of mashed potatoes. Form clay into desired shapes, let dry for 36 hours, color with paint or felt-tip marker, and coat with shellac or clear nail polish.