Make Your Own Play Dough and a Porcupine Too

I've tried a few dough recipes, but they always seem a little too gritty. This one is smooth and soft - fairly close to the store-bought version - and stays amazingly soft and pliable even after being left out for hours (or overnight in our case).

Here's what you need:

1 cup flour

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 cup water

1/2 cup salt

2 teaspoons cream of tartar

optional:

food coloring

glitter

scent - (you can use an extract like lemon or vanilla)

Combine all your ingredients in a large saucepan. Stir with a wooden spoon over medium heat. Stir constantly. It will be very soupy for several minutes and then suddenly it will start sticking together and can be stirred into a ball. It will look very lumpy too - don't worry. Remove from the heat and keep stirring briefly. Turn the whole lump out on a floured surface and knead as it cools. Just for a few minutes - you'll see when it's the perfect consistency.

It will store nicely in Ziploc bags or of course, old play-doh containers (we've only got about 30 or so laying around). If you're not going to use it for a while, storing it in the fridge or freezer will make it last for a long time.

Here's an easy project for the little one's to make with their new dough.

You will need:

play dough

2 small beads or button (for eyes)

round toothpicks

1. Roll a handful of play dough into a ball.

2. Pinch one end to form a nose.

3. Press your beads into the clay to make eyes.

4. Cover with toothpick "needles".

 Here is my 3-year-old's version, (completely unassisted). I love that this is so easy, and yet adding the toothpicks takes a bit of time, so you'll have some peaceful moments as your kids are thoughtfully placing each one.

Here's another my 5-year-old. Don't you love the big eyes and goofy smile?

Have fun!