Fun Recipes

Homemade Play-Doh (12 containers)

7-8 cups all-purpose or bread flour
3 cups salt
3 tablespoons cream of tartar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
4 cups hot water
food coloring

If you want multiple colors, divide the dough and knead in the food coloring after the dough is made. If one color is sufficient, add the food coloring with the water and save the step of kneading in the coloring. 

Mix seven cups of flour together with the salt and cream of tartar in the bowl of your stand-type mixer. Add the oil and water and knead with a dough hook in your electric stand-type mixer for five to six minutes. (If you are kneading by hand, knead for eight to ten minutes.) Add more flour to get a soft, workable dough. Store the dough in a sealed container to keep it from becoming dry. If it becomes too dry, place it back in the mixer bowl and knead in a dribble of water.

Homemade Flubber
2 c. Elmers Glue

Food Coloring

4 tsp. Borax

Warm water

In one bowl mix in 1 1/2 cups of warm water, 2 cups of Elmers Glue, and food colouring. In another bowl mix in 4 tsp. of Borax and 1 1/3 cup of warm water. Pour the glue mixture into the borax mixture. Do not mix or stir, just wait. Then just lift out the flubber. Store in baggies. Keep the Flubber away from your carpet and hair, as it will stick! Use white vinegar as a solvent.

Fruity Putty
0.3 ounce package of sugar free fruit flavored gelatin
2 cups flour
1 cup salt
4 tablespoons cream of tartar
2 cups boiling water
2 tablespoons cooking oil


Mix the dry ingredients in a pan. Add the boiling water and cooking oil. Stir over medium-high heat until the mixture forms a ball. Place the ball on waxed paper and cool. Store in an airtight container. Use different flavors to make all different colors and smells.

Finger Paint
2 c. white flour
2 c. cold water
coloring

In a large bowl, slowly add the flour to the water while stirring with a wire whisk until thoroughly mixed. Divide into containers and add coloring.

Side Walk Chalk
A Mold
1 cup Plaster of Paris
3/4 cup Water
Medium Sized Bowl
Powedered Tempera Paint

1. Find a mold for your sidewalk chalk. Anything from a toilet tissue roll or small paper cup to fancy candy molds will work.
2. Mix together 1 cup of Plaster of Paris with 3/4 cup of water.
3. Add color to your mixture using powdered tempera paint.
4. Blend well and let stand for a few minutes.
5. Pour your mixture into the molds you chose.
6. Set aside and let dry completely.
7. Once dry you can remove your chalk from the mold.
8. Set it aside to dry for approximately 24 hours more.
9. Take your chalk outside and create fun masterpieces!

Tips:

1. Powdered tempera paint is available at most large craft stores.
2. Experiment with making swirled colors by adding the paint and stirring very little.
3. Drying time can take from several hours to a few days depending on the size of the mold you chose.

Watercolor Paints

3 Tbs. baking soda
3 Tbs. corn starch
3 Tbs. white vinegar
1-1/2 tsp. light corn syrup
food coloring

1. Mix vinegar, baking soda, corn starch and corn syrup together in a small bowl.

2. Divide the mixture into several small plastic tubs or jar lids.

3. Add six to eight drops of food coloring to each tub or lid then mix.
Store paints in ice cube trays or plastic bottle caps! 

Cup of Dirt
1. Crumble some chocolate cookies and put them in the bottom of each cup.
2. Spoon chocolate ice cream on top of the cookies.
3. Pour chocolate syrup over the ice cream.
4. Crush some chocolate cookies. Sprinkle the crumbs over the chocolate syrup until you have a cup of dirt.
5. Garnish with Gummy Worms.
 

Ice Cream In A Bag
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 cup milk or half & half
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
6 tablespoons rock salt
1 pint-size plastic food storage bag (e.g., Ziploc)
1 gallon-size plastic food storage bag
Ice cubes

1. Fill the large bag half full of ice, and add the rock salt. Seal the bag.
2. Put milk, vanilla, and sugar into the small bag, and seal it.
3. Place the small bag inside the large one, and seal it again carefully.
4. Shake until the mixture is ice cream, which takes about 5 minutes.
5. Wipe off the top of the small bag, then open it carefully. Enjoy!

Homemade Face Paint
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon water
1/2 teaspoon cold cream
2 drops food coloring

In a small mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients and mix well.

Non-Toxic Stickers
* Caution: This experiment uses heat and should be performed with adult supervision.
4 packets of unflavored gelatin
1/2 / 2 cup vinegar or water
1 tsp peppermint extract
1 cooking pan
stove or hot plate
small brush
pictures for sticking

Bring the vinegar or water to a boil. Add the packets of gelatin and reduce heat to low. Stir solution until gelatin is completely dissolved. Remove from heat and add peppermint extract. Brush sticker glue on the back of your stickers and let dry. Cut out your stickers. Lick and stick!

Glitter Wands

12-inch length of 1/2-inch diameter, clear, rigid plastic tubing
2 end caps or corks that fit snuggly around/inside tubing
glitter and/or sequins (ultra-fine glitter is especially pretty)
measuring spoon
water
(optional) liquid soap or detergent
(optional) toothpick

1. Place a cap or cork on one end of the plastic tubing. Add about 1/4 -1/3 teaspoon of glitter and/or sequins to the tube. Fill the tube with water to about 2-3 cm below the rim.
2. With your finger over the open end of the tube, invert the tube and observe. Does your wand have enough glitter? Add more if needed. Does the glitter swirl freely? If you want to keep glitter from clumping, dip the tip of a toothpick in liquid soap or detergent and then in the water within your wand.
3. When you are satisfied with your wand, place the other cap or cork on the open end of the tube. Invert your wand and observe. What can you infer about the densities of the different substances inside your wand?

Homemade Clay
Ingredients:
1 part salt
2 parts flour
1 part water

Method: Mix and knead all the ingredients for about 2 minutes. Mold the clay into creations. Place them on a foil-covered cookie sheet, prick larger areas with a fork. Bake at 275 degrees Farenheit (140 degrees Celcius) for about 1 hour or until golden and hard. Cool and paint. Preserve by spraying with clear varnish.

Giant Bubbles
 6 cups water
3/4 cup corn syrup
2 cups dishwashing liquid


Mix together and let sit 4 hours before using.

Crystal Writing
Water
One small spoon
One spoonful table sugar
Two small containers (such as cups or baby-food jars)
One spoonful kosher or table salt
Two small paintbrushes or cotton swabs
One piece black or dark-colored construction paper
One piece white or light-colored construction paper
One colored marker
One magnifying glass (optional)

1. Mix 1 spoonful of sugar and 2 spoonfuls of water in a small container. Stir well with the spoon. Mix 1 spoonful of salt and 3 spoonfuls of water in the other container. Stir well with spoon. Continue to stir both solutions occasionally for about 5 minutes.
2. Place one brush or swab in each container. Use each brush to write a word or two on each piece of paper. Set the papers aside to dry completely (about 10 minutes).
3. When the papers are dry, observe the writing closely. Use a magnifying glass if one is available. Can you see the crystals in the words your wrote? Are the crystals easier to see on the light or the dark paper? Do the salt and sugar crystals look different?
4. Use a colored marker to lightly rub over and around the painted area of the light paper. Can you see the writing more clearly now?

Rock Candy (link)
Making your own rock candy is a fun and tasty way to grow crystals and see the structure of sugar on a big scale. Sugar crystals in granulated sugar display a monoclinic form, but you can see the shape much better in homegrown large crystals. This recipe is for rock candy that you can eat. You can color and flavor the candy, too.

Moooo Paint

Ingredients: 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.

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.

Translucent paint

4 ounces school glue 1/4 cup liquid starch Food coloring This is a short-lasting paint that works well for easel painting. Mix together all ingredients and store in small glass jars. Make only as much as you will need. The paint will last for almost a week.

Artist Quality "Oil" Paint

Ingredients Tempera paint Liquid dish washing soap This paint has a smooth, glossy effect and holds color well. Mix together tempera paint and soap. Store in glass jars.

Crystal Paint

Ingredients 1/4 cup hot tap water 3 teaspoon epsom salts Sparkle and Shine! Mix hot tap water and epsom salts. Brush the mixture onto a dark colored paper. When dry the salt will form crystals that shine in the light.

Dazzling Paint

Ingredients White school glue glitter Food coloring Small zip type freezer bags. Pour glue and glitter into small freezer bags. Add food coloring if desired. Mix by squishing around in your hands. Snip off a small corner of the bag and squeeze to paint.