Homemade modeling clay is simple to make and inexpensive. Recipe-based play doughs where the ingredients are cooked hold longer and stay soft, but cold doughs can be made with similar results. Children can customize the dough with colors and shapes of their choice, and with little need for adult supervision.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Part One: Blend the Dry Ingredients
Step 1. Pour 250 g of flour into a fairly large bowl
Step 2. Add 300g of salt
Step 3. Add 20 g of cream of tartar (potassium bitartrate)
This is the ingredient that provides malleability and elasticity to the dough.
Step 4. Mix the ingredients thoroughly with a wooden spoon or whisk
Step 5. Make a hole in the center, as if you were making egg pasta
Simply move the ingredients to create a free zone in the center.
If you want to make doughs of two different colors, divide the ingredients and create two central free zones. Similarly, divide the water and oil into two parts in separate containers
Method 2 of 3: Part Two: Mix the Liquid Ingredients
Step 1. Boil half a liter of water
Step 2. Pour 30ml of seed oil into the center of the powdered ingredients
Step 3. Add the water
If you are kneading with the help of children, make sure they don't get scalded with boiling water.
Method 3 of 3: Part Three: Color the Dough
Step 1. Add liquid or gel food coloring
Mix and possibly correct the color according to your preferences.
- To get a completely natural dough, boil beets or blueberries in water for about an hour, and use colored water for the dough.
- To get a shiny dough, add some glitter to the ingredients before mixing everything.
Step 2. Stir thoroughly with a wooden ladle
Step 3. Let it sit for a few minutes
The dough will have an initial consistency that is too liquid, but after a few minutes it will start to thicken.
Step 4. Remove the dough from the container and form a ball
At this point everything is ready to start playing!
Advice
- To keep the dough soft for up to two weeks after making it, close it in an airtight container.
- This dough is ideal for modeling projects that need to dry partially or completely, such as bicarbonate volcanoes.
- If you want the dough to be shiny, add a few drops of glycerin in addition to the oil.
