Craft Recipes for Year-Round Fun: Dough and Clay Recipes

This page features recipes for various art and craft doughs and clays. Click on the name of the craft dough or clay that interests you to be taken directly to that craft dough or clay recipe. All of the recipes use common household ingredients and are simple to make. Sometimes it feels like a Masters in Project Management is needed for craft projects, but not for these recipes. They are easy and fun, and the kids can help.

Basic Play Dough

If you have access to cream of tarter and a microwave, I recommend that you use Perfect Play Dough. In countries where these items are not available, however, the following recipe offers a pretty good substitute.

3 cups flour
1/4 cup salt
1 cup water
1 tablespoon oil
liquid food coloring

Mix flour with salt. Add water, food coloring, and oil slowly. If mixture is too stiff add more water. If it is too sticky, add more flour. Store dough in air tight container or zip-lock bag.

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Basic Modeling Clay

While this isn't my favorite modeling clay recipe, it's certainly functional--and it's easy to make in a country where other ingredients might be hard to find....

1/2 cup potato starch or corn starch
1 cup salt
1 cup boiling water

Boil the mixture until it is similar to a soft-ball; then knead on waxed paper. Wrap the clay in a wet cloth, and place in air-tight container to keep it moist.

Allow products to air-dry. Pieces may be painted after drying is complete.

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Cinnamon Cut-Outs

Recipes One
1 1/8 cup flour
3/4 cup ground cinnamon
1 cup salt
1 cup water
1 Tbsp. ground nutmeg (optional)
1 Tbsp. ground cloves (optional)

Mix dry ingredients with water to form smooth, stiff dough. Divide dough into three or four portions. Place each section between two sheets of waxed paper, and roll to 1/4-3/8 inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut Christmas shapes out of dough. While dough is still soft, use a straw to make a hole near the top of each shape where ribbon can later be inserted for hanging. Bake cut shapes at 350 degrees 15-20 minutes to dry. If desired, insert ribbon in hole, tie, and hang as ornaments.

Recipe Two
1 cup ground cinnamon
1 Tbsp. ground nutmeg (optional)
1 Tbsp. ground cloves (optional)
2 Tbsp. white glue
3/4 to 1 cup apple sauce

Mix cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves (if other spices are used) with glue and 3/4 cup apple sauce to form smooth, stiff dough. Additional apple sauce may be added if needed. Divide dough into three or four portions. Place each section between two sheets of waxed paper, and roll to 1/8 inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut shapes out of dough. While dough is still soft, use a straw to make a hole near the top of each shape where ribbon can later be inserted for hanging. Place cut shapes on flat surface to air dry for several days. Flip shapes daily to prevent curling. After shapes are thoroughly dry, insert ribbon in hole, tie, and hang as ornaments.

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Dryer Lint Clay

3 cups lint from the dryer
2 cups water
5 drops oil of wintergreen
1 cup flour

Put lint in a 2-quart saucepan and cover with the water and oil of wintergreed. When the lint is saturated, add the flour. Stir until smooth. Cook the mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the dough forms peaks and holds together. Pour it onto newspaper to cool. Model figures out of cooled dough, or use it to cover a form (balloon, paper bag, etc.). Allow the finished craft to dry about 5 days. Once dry, paint or decorate as desired.

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Edible Play Dough

1 cup peanut butter
1 cup honey (corn syrup or rice syrup may be substituted if necessary)
1 cup oatmeal
1 cup dry milk or unsweetened soy milk powder

Mix all ingredients until smooth.

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Jewelry Clay

1/2 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
warm water

Mix dry ingredients together. Slowly add warm water until the mixture sticks together and can be shaped.

To create bead jewelry, roll dough into small balls, pierce the balls with toothpicks, and allow to dry. Paint as desired, and allow to dry. Paint or spray painted balls with acrylic finish. After finish dries, string beads on jewelry thread, invisible fishing line, elastic cording, or safety pins.

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Kool-Aid Play Dough

1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
1 small packet unsweetened drink mix (Kool-aid or generic)
3 Tbsp. oil
1 cup boiling water

Combine dry ingredients. Add oil. Add boiling water. Stir well. Knead ingredients until soft dough forms. Store dough in air tight container or zip-lock bag. This dough is non-edible (harmless, but tastes awful); however, it smells great.

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Modeling Clay

2cup flour
1 1/3 cup salt
4 tsp. powdered alum or cream of tarter
2 cup boiling water
4 tsp. vegetable oil
food coloring

Combine dry ingredients in a mixing bowl. Add vegetable oil and boiling water. Stir until well-blended. Dough should not stick to the sides of the bowl and should be cool enough to handle. Add food coloring, and knead into dough until color is well-blended. Continue adding color, a little at a time, until dough reaches desired tint.

Dough will keep several months in an air-tight container. Projects will dry overnight.

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Perfect Play Dough

Although this recipe takes a little longer than some to make, I've found the final product to be well worth the added minutes.

2 cups flour
1 cup salt
2 cups water
2 tbsp. baby oil
2 tbsp. cream of tartar
liquid food coloring

Combine dry ingredients. Add water and oil. Stir well. Microwave on high 4 to 5 minutes. Stir again. Microwave another minute. Stir. Continue to microwave one minute, then stir, until dough is the consistency of mashed potatoes. Cool it enough to touch. Knead in food coloring until dough is desired color. Store dough in air tight container or zip-lock bag.

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Rock-Hard Sawdust Clay

2 cups sawdust
1 cup flour
water

Mix two parts sawdust with one part water. Add water, until the mixture is stiff, but pliable. If dough is too crumbly, add a little more flour. Dump the mixture on a newspaper-covered table. Knead until it reaches an elastic consistency.

The dough may then be molded into any shape desired, then dried in the sun. As it dries, it will become extremely hard. After drying, it can be sanded and painted, or simply painted, depending on preference. Once the paint dries, an acrylic finish will make creations shine.

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