• 2 parts Elmer's regular white glue (not school glue)
• 1 part Sta-Flo regular liquid starch

Mix well. Putty must dry a bit before it is workable. It may be necessary to add a bit more glue or starch; you will have to experiment. Some suggest equal parts; others have success with starch to glue 2:1. Recipe may not work on a humid day!

from Meaning in Crafts by E. L. Mattil

• 1 c. salt
• 1/2 c. corn starch
• 3/4 c. cold water
• 1 T. vegetable oil

Mix dry ingredients and then add wet ingredients in the top of a double boiler over hot water. Cook until very thick and about the consistency of bread dough. This takes only a few minutes. Turn out onto a piece of foil and cool until the dough can be handled. Knead 3-5 minutes, wrap in waxed paper. Dough can be stored for several days. Store in a plastic bag and seal well. Food coloring can be worked in to add a tint or hardened dough sculptures can be painted.

• Measuring cups
• Pan
• 1 cup baking soda
• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 2/3 cup warm water
• Food coloring
• Clear nail polish (optional)

Mix baking soda and cornstarch in pan. Add water and stir until smooth. Place pan over medium heat. Boil and stir until the consistency of mashed potatoes. Pour mixture onto cutting board and let cool. Knead dough when cool. For color, knead food coloring into clay. Explore and create with clay. Let dry to harden *Makes 1 1/2 cups of dough. *Stores in an airtight container for several weeks, but will dry if exposed to air.

• 1 cup white flour
• 1/2 cup salt
• 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon alum
• Food coloring
• 1/2 cup water

Mix first four ingredients. Add food coloring to the water. Gradually add small amounts of water until mixture attains the consistency of bread dough. You may not use the entire 1/2 cup of water. You can make colors not commercially available, such as purple, by creatively mixing colors. Store in an airtight container or plastic bag. It lasts a long time. (If you can't find alum at the grocery store, look in the drugstore.)

• A Handful of flour
• Water
• A pinch of salt

Gradually add water to flour and mix until gooey. Add salt. This recipe can also be used as a quickie finger paint by adding some food coloring and working it on heavy paper or cardboard. Also works well as a paper-mache paste.

• One part cornstarch
• One part water food coloring (optional)
• Plastic tub

Mix cornstarch with water in bowl. Add food coloring. Pour mixture into tub. Experiment with utensils spatula, whisk, etc. DO NOT POUR DOWN SINK!

• Bowl and spoon
• Measuring cups and spoons
• 1 package of dry yeast
• 1 1 12 cups of very warm water
• 1/4 cup of honey
• 1/4 cup shortening
• 5 cups of flour
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp. salt
• Baking sheet
• Towel

Mix yeast and warm water in bowl. Add egg, honey, shortening and salt. Slowly add flour until ball of dough forms. Add a little more flour if dough is sticky. Knead dough by hand on a floured board. Begin sculpting making only flat figures since dough will dry. Cover sculptures with towel and place in a warm place for 1/2 an hour to rise. For puffy sculptures let rise longer. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until brown. Eat sculptures.

• 1 cup peanut butter
• 1 cup Karo Syrup
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 cup powdered milk

Mix all of the above ingredients. Children can make patterns and shapes and then eat!

• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup salt
• 1 package of unsweetened kool aid
• 3 tablespoons oil
• 1 cup boiling water

Mix dry ingredients thoroughly. Add oil and water and stir quickly. When cool, mix thoroughly with hands. Store in an airtight container.

• 2 cups plain flour
• 1 cup salt
• 4 tablespoons cream of tartar
• 2 cups water
• Your favorite color of food coloring
• 2 tablespoons oil

Stir flour, salt and tartar in a saucepan, and then add water, food coloring and oil. Cook over a low heat for 3-5 minutes, stirring well until it starts to form a ball. Any lumps should come out as it is kneaded. If this play dough is kept in a lidded plastic container (preferably in the fridge) it should last several months if not longer.

• 1 cup salt
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 cups flour

Mix salt, water, and oil. Add flour. After shaping, the clay can be baked at 250 for several hours.