Recipes for homemade fun
Bubble solution
1 cup water (use distilled if you have hard water)
2 tablespoons liquid dish soap
1 tablespoon light Karo syrup
Mix ingredients together slowly. For stronger bubbles, let the mixture sit for 24 hours.
Sidewalk chalk
Plaster of Paris
Powdered tempura paint (food coloring also works)
Warm water
Waxed paper
Toilet paper tubes
Masking tape or duct tape
Trim toilet paper tubes to make skinnier. Line with wax paper cut longer than tube and fold over ends. Tape tube shut, then cap by taping wax paper over one end.
Mix 2 parts plaster of Paris with 1 part water (1/2 cup plaster to 1/4 cup water fills one tube) and enough powdered tempura to get desired color. Be very careful to stir slowly to avoid air bubbles.
Spoon mixture into tubes. Tap to release any extra air bubbles. Let harden in upright position.
(The blog says peel off tube in one hour and let air dry. I left them in the tubes for 48 hours and they were plenty dry.)
Source: Happily Domestic on blogspot.com
Sponge balls (makes 3)
6 sponges
Floss or string
Scissors
Cut each sponge lengthwise into four strips. Stack in two rows of four, alternating colors. Tie tightly in center, making a pom-pom shape.
(I used six strips each instead of eight and it worked fine.)
Source: www.playcreateexplore.com
Cloud dough
4 cups flour (any kind)
frac12; cup baby oil
Mix flour and baby oil in large container. Double the recipe for two kids.
Source: www.playcreateexplore.com
Cooked playdough
2 cups flour
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
2 cups water
1 cup salt
Food coloring
Add food coloring to the water until you get the color you want. Mix ingredients in a pot. Cook over low heat and stir until playdough thickens and is no longer sticky. Let cool before handling.
Baked cotton balls
1 cup flour
1 cup water
Cotton balls
Food coloring
Mix flour and water.
Pour flour-and-water mixture into separate bowls (if you are going to make different colors #151; you can also paint them after they have baked). Add food coloring and stir. (I used a muffin tin and it worked well.)
Dip cotton balls into mixture. Coat completely and place on greased baking sheet.
Bake for 45 minutes at 300 degrees.
Source: www.playcreateexplore.com