Making Your Own Play-Dough:

The Best Homemade Play-Dough Ever

Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

Round up the following items before you begin:

• A kid or two to help.  I chose Casey and Tatum.  They were willing, handy, are hard workers and are photogenic.  What more could I ask for?

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

And these ingredients:

• 2 cups water

• 2 cups flour

• 1 cup salt

• 2 tablespoons of shortening

• 1 tablespoon of powdered alum (found in the spices section at the store).  You can substitute cream of tarter for the alum if you want to.  

• Food coloring

• A good, heavy duty pot

1.  Add food coloring to the water in a large measuring cup and stir. Put it aside until the time comes.

2.  Place the dry ingredients in the pan, and mix well.

3.  Add shortening to dry ingredients, and mix well.

4.  Add colored water to the pan, and cook over low heat.

5.  Stir constantly until the mixture thickens into a ball.  I use a big wooden spoon.  The ball of hot dough will is going to be heavy!

6.  Dump the dough on to a floured counter-top and knead until smooth.  Add a bit more flour if you think the dough is too sticky.

7.  Let the play-dough cool off a bit and then put it into a Ziplock freezer bag.  Keep the corner of the bag open so that it can cool and let extra condensation out.

8.  Store in a Ziplock bag that is placed inside a plastic container.


After your helpers have taken a break, and have gone outside to get their ya-ya's out, let them enjoy their play-dough and then send them home with a big bag each:

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

This play-dough will last for a month or two, if you put it back in the plastic bags when you are all done.

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