Play Dough!

1 cup of flour
2 t cream of tartar
1/2 cup of salt
1 cup of water
1 T vegetable oil
1/4 t food coloring

Combine flour, cream of tartar, and salt together in a saucepan. Combine water, vegetable oil, and food coloring together in a small bowl. Slowly stir liquid into flour mixture, stirring constantly. Cook over medium heat for three minutes, until mixture pulls away from side of pan. When mixture is cool enough, you can mix it more with your hands. Play a little! See what you can make! When finished, put into plastic bag to keep it fresh. Store at room temperature.

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Kool Aid Play Dough
The color and fragrance are great!

2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup salt
2 packages of Kool Aid (the no-sugar kind)
3 tablespoons cooking oil
2 cups of boiling water

Mix dry ingredients. Add oil and water and stir. When cool enough, knead by hand until smooth. Store in an airtight container.

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Pretzel Animals 
Also try letters and numbers!

1 package yeast
4 cups flour
1 1/2 cups warm water
1 egg
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon salt

Mix together yeast, water, sugar, and salt. Stir in flour. Knead on table until dough is smooth. Shape dough into animal shapes. Make sure they are not too thick. Brush with beaten egg and sprinkle with salt. Bake in a 425 degree oven for 15 minutes or until brown.

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Finger Paints!

1/2 cup of flour
2 cups of water
food coloring

Mix the flour with a little water, stirring out the lumps. When smooth, slowly stir in the rest of the water. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until the mixture gets thick and shiny. Pour some of the mixture into small containers (yogurt or baby food work well). Stir in the drops of food coloring until the paint is bright and the color you want. Let cool.

Salt can be sprinkled into the wet paint to create a sparkling effect when dry. Use this technique on dark-colored paper for snow scenes or eerie ghosts.

(from EcoArt! by Laurie Carlson)

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Creative Clay!

1 cup of cornstarch
1 cup of baking soda
1-1/4 cups of cold water

Mix ingredients together in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly. Stir, about 5 minutes until it's very thick -- like mashed potatoes. Cool on a plate until you can work with it with your hands. Roll, cut, or shape as you wish. Let dry for about 2 days. Paint with acrylics, tempura, watercolors, or markers.

If you are making ornaments, press a paper clip into the soft clay for a hanger, or punch holes with a nail before the clay dries.

(from EcoArt! by Laurie Carlson)

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Slime

Mix together 3/4 cup warm water, 1 cup glue and several drops of food coloring in the first bowl.  In the second bowl, mix together 4 teaspoons borax and 1 1/3 cups warm water.  Pour the contents of the first bowl into the second, but don't stir. Let it sit for 1 minute, then lift the now-congealed slime out of the bowl.  Divide slime so that each child has a piece to play with. The glue   in slime can make it stick to certain fabrics. To minimize accidents, give each child a zip-top bag to store it in.

SAFETY NOTE: Since borax is toxic in large doses, be sure to keep the slime
away from kids younger than age three.
(From Family Fun)

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Bubble Brew!

1 cup liquid dishwashing detergent
2 cups of warm water (not to hot!)
3-4 tablespoons of GLYERINE (you can find this at drugstores)
1 teaspooon sugar
food coloring (you choose your favorite color!)
a bottle for storage

Directions:
1. Mix together gently all the ingredients in a big container.
2. Use a container with a tight fitting lid or cap for storage.
Note: You can use almost anything to blow bubbles: pipe cleaners shaped into a circle at one end, plastic six-pack beverage holders, paper cups, plastic coat hangers, straws, and funnels.

(from Gamekids)

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Yummy Pumpkin Seeds!

Mix cleaned and dried pumpkin seeds with a small amount of oil and seasoning salt. Bake spread out on cookie sheets at 325 for 20 minutes. Yum!