Here is one of the great ideas you’ll find in our free Gifts in a Jar eBook. If you haven’t downloaded your free copy (no catch!), you can go do that here. This idea was sent in by Kristy at Little Natural Cottage and is a wonderful, inexpensive gift idea for a child, babysitter, parent or friend!
Homemade Playdough Mix
1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
Mix all ingredients until thoroughly combined. Place in a pint-sized jar and cover. This makes a cute gift for a child when coupled with a cookie cutter or two!
To Make Homemade Playdough:
Dump entire contents of jar into a bowl. With your hands or a wooden spoon, work in 1 Tablespoon olive oil and 1/3 cup hot water. Knead dough by hand until a soft, smooth dough forms. Adjust flour and water ratio until dough reaches desired consistency.
To color the dough with natural, safe coloring – add about 1 Tablespoon of any of the following to the water before you work it into the dough: beet juice (pink); paprika (orange); turmeric (yellow); blueberry juice (lavender); cocoa powder (brown).
Within the pages of our Gifts in a Jar eBook, you’ll find printable tags you can make so that you can attach these directions to the gift jar.
What ideas do you have for homemade gifts for kids?
What a cute idea! I guess I need to download this.
Thanks Laura! This will totally help with our “no buy” gift giving that starts immediately!
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I made this last year for my sons preschool class friends. I added some peppermint extract and silver glitter to it. It smelled good and was sparkly! :).
So cute! I think I’ll throw in some turmeric, paprika, or cocoa powder first so that kiddo will have pre-colored play dough once it’s kneaded…love this one!
Thank you so much for the great ideas and making your e-book available to all. This has become a new gift giving way for our family.
Any ideas how long it last once made? I have never made it before.
How sweet to give that ebook for free!! I love it!! I already want to make the diaper ointment and sugar body scrub for my sister for Christmas!
Sounds like a great gift idea! I have to make gluten free playdough for my little girl…not hard at all!
I love the natural coloring ideas and agree that I will add the colors before giving. Thanks and this does inspire me to download the book.
here’s a link to candy cane playdough!
http://artfulparent.typepad.com/artfulparent/2010/12/candy-cane-playdough.html
When you give these as gifts, do you seal them as you would in canning? (I don’t know how, so I was wondering if I’d have to learn.) :)
No, it isn’t necessary to seal these. Just put on a lid and call it good!
Thanks!! :)
Does this dough dry hard or stay soft? I am looking for a dough recipe that will air dry hard.
Sheri, the play dough will dry hard if it is left out! Kept in an air tight bag or container, it will stay soft. Otherwise, it gets hard, which sounds like a good thing for you! ;)
Thanks for featuring my recipe, Laura!
I was going to make playdough to give, but this is even better! Thanks for sharing!