Looking at a bin of “leftover” crayons that have lost their usefulness when it comes to coloring books or drawing paper? Instead of throwing them out, give them new life as play dough. Crayons create vibrant colors of homemade dough, perfect for an afternoon of fun!
Adapted from a recipe found on Sugar Aunts
Ingredients:
- 2 cups flour
- 1/2 cup salt
- 2 tbsp cream of tartar
- 2 tbsp oil
- 1 1/2 cups water
- Crayons ... the more you have the more vibrant your colors will be
- 2-3 drops of baby oil (or glycerin)
Instructions:
First, prepare the crayons. This is the most tedious part. Peel the paper off the crayons, then break them into chunks. No need to chop them up as they melt easily.
In a saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat. Put the crayons in and stir until melted.
While the crayons are melting, add the salt to the water and give it a nice stir. Once the crayons are melted, remove from the heat and SLOWLY pour the salt mixture into the crayon mixture. Be careful! It will bubble and splatter if you pour too quickly! Return to the stove and stir until salt is dissolved.
In a small bowl, mix flour and cream of tartar together. Slowly pour the flour mixture into the crayon mixture. Stir until it all clumps into a messy ball.
Remove from heat and place on a heat resistant mat. Allow the mixture to sit for a few minutes until it is cool enough to knead. Now, the workout! Add just a few drops of glycerin or baby oil to make it nice and soft. Knead until the consistency is just right.
Store in an air-tight container when not in use. Hours of fun ahead!
So...what do you do if your kiddo doesn't want to give up his precious crayons? Ask his teacher to save her leftovers and broken bits. Bring her a fresh box. I’m sure she will be thrilled with the exchange!
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