Do It Yourself #2: Playdough (Success!)

Playdough

1 C all purpose flour
1/2 C salt (Iodized or Kosher
1 tsp cream of tartar
1 C water
1 tsp vegetable oil
food coloring of your choice


You will also need

Air tight containers for each batch or different color of playdough you're planning to make.
1 or more saucepans
A heavy duty spoon. I recommend using a metal spoon. It cleans up easier.


Instructions:

In s saucepan (or medium sized bowl) mix flour, salt, and cream of tartar together. Add water and oil and stir well.

If you want to make more than one color of playdough, you should separate the mixture into different bowls or saucepans at this step. If you're going to make just one color, add your food coloring now and mix well.  I used the Wilton gel coloring and found that just under 1/4 tsp worked out really well.

Heat the mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly until it sticks together and is hard to stir (2-3 minutes). DO NOT turn your back on the mixture. It will scorch. Remove from heat allow playdough to cool. Knead until smooth and store in your airtight container.

I noticed that the red and green playdough was very tacky. I don't know if I messed up the measurements on those batches (it's possible) or if the food coloring I used caused the problem. I just added a drop or two of oil to the finished playdough and worked it in. Tackiness solved.

I would suggest washing the saucepan you made the playdough in by hand. That crud would probably gum up a dishwasher pretty bad. Clean up is super easy if you put some water in it and let it soak for twenty minutes or so. The stuff on the sides and bottom of the pan will fall right out (and clog your drain if you don't have a garbage disposal - so have your strainer in your sink when you pour out the water you've let soak the pan).

I was going to label the playdough for my son's class with Muppet names; Miss Piggy Pink, Kermit D. Frog Green, Gonzo Blue, Big Bird Yellow.  Since my son's class was working on plants and flowers that week I labeled them Pansy Pink, Leafy Tree Green, Daffodil Yellow, and April Showers Blue. According the my husband the teacher literally squealed when my son handed her each container of playdough. Score!

Do It Yourself #1: Fabric Softener (Success!)

Fabric Softener

(safe for use in HE Washers)

• 1 cup baking soda
• 6 cups distilled white vinegar
• 8 cups water
• 10 -15 drops of the essential oil of your choice
• 1 gallon container

Instructions:

1. Add the baking soda to the gallon container.
2. Next add 2 cups of water and swirl it around a little.
3. S L O W L Y add vinegar to the bottle. Pour a little and stop. Pour a little and stop. Repeat as often as necessary to keep the mixture from fizzing out the top of the container and all over the place. Yes, fizz is normal.
4. Add the rest of the water, cover and swirl (SWIRL not shake) it around, uncovering it every so often to vent top a few times.
5. Add 10-15 drops of essential oil.  (Next time I make it, I promise I will get an actual measurement for that)
6. Give give the bottle a good shake to stir up the essential oil before putting in your rinse cycle or dispenser. 1 c for standard washers. Fill to max line on HE washers. 

Additional Notes:

The next time I make this fabric softener, I am going to flip flop the amounts of vinegar and water to see if that improves the softness of the garments (particularly towels and washcloths) out of the wash.