Do you want to make some fabulous-smelling and amazingly soft play dough for the kids?
This play dough smells so good!!! Also if your kids accidentally eat it, it won’t matter. It would just be a little salty.
I do have a secret ingredient that makes this play dough super awesome.
It’s raspberry jelly crystals
The recipe is below:
1 1/2 cups of flour
1 cup of salt
1/4 cup McCormick® Cream of Tartar
2 cups of hot water to melt the jelly crystals
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Jelly Crystals – instead of food dye
BE CAREFUL WITH THE HOT WATER, ONCE MIXED WITH THE FLOUR THE PLAY DOUGH WILL BE NICE AND WARM
Method:
Mix all ingredients and knead to make a dough. Might need more flour if too sticky.
After you play with the play dough put in air tight containers or in a resealable plastic bag.
Enjoy and have fun with this great new smelling play dough.
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Note: First published July 2014..although this is great no matter what year.
Have you wondered what to do with the kids these school holidays? Worried that if you take them somewhere or do anything it will cost you? Well, I have a list of fun things to do that will not break the bank. Yes, these fun things will keep the kids happy as well as your bank balance.
1. Playdough Fun
The night before I made a whole batch of playdough. I created multiple colours and also some had glitter in them as well. I added the food dye to each batch and made sure they were very bright vivid colours to make it even more fun. (Make sure you wear gloves as my hands were stained for a couple of days – yes I had green and red hands)
Playdough – In resealable bags so that the dough remains fresh and does not dry out.
I gave the kids cookie cutters, rolling pins, toothpicks and more so they could make patterns and be as creative as they wished.
I made the playdough recipe from McKenzie’s Cream of Tartar for playdough as it gives a nice smooth fluffy feeling. If you use this way to make playdough it will come out so nice and soft, just like the ones at the store. Yes, you heard that right! Give it a go and see. Make a big batch and put it all in containers for a rainy day. The kids loved this and played with the dough and their creations for hours.
All the kid’s playdough creations drying. Once all is done we can have them on our shelves to display. Don’t they look amazing?
2. Baking Fun
My girls love to make cakes and of course, after the cake is in the oven, they love to lick the mixing bowl and spoon. I did that as a kid and it is the best as the mixture always tastes wonderful and is so chocolatey!
I created a marble cake and added a vanilla cake mix to a chocolate one that had chocolate bits added to it as well. Once mixed in it created a marvellous marble mixture and looked great once it was cut into. Sorry I did not get any other pictures than the one before it was all eaten. Yes, it was that good. Maybe I should be a Masterchef????
Yummy Marble Cake – Get your little chefs busy with this easy-to-make cake
If you have a packet of cake mix this keeps things easy and all you need to do is add the eggs/egg and milk, stir and then put it in the oven. Simple cake made! You can ice it or add chocolate bits as we did, the choice is yours. Enjoy!
3. Painting Fun
I wanted to get the kids painting, and I did not want paint that causes issues with clothes or bad if you accidentally eat it. So I made my own paint. How do I hear you ask??
These are the ingredients I used:
Cornflour
Water
Food dye
I started with 1 cup of cornflour and enough water to make a paste. I created all the mixture before I added the colour as I wanted different colours that would allow the kids to paint a picture and not be restricted to two colours only. I added the mixture without the colour into a cupcake tin and then added the colour to each area of the tin.
I decided to make, yellow, purple, orange, blue, green and red. I ended up using more cornflour as it was not quite a paste consistency and I used more water than I should have as it was my first attempt at making this. To make each paint set I put it in the freezer to set. I am not sure if that is the done thing but it worked out quite well.
It might have been in the freezer for a bit long but after adding a bit of water with the paintbrush the colour melted a bit and it was just like real paints but with cornflour and water.
Having fun painting. Such creative artists.
Great paint mummy! What else can I paint?
4. Movie Fun
It is always fun to watch a film you have never seen before and to have lunch. I fed the kids some food while they all sat and watched Frozen. Yes, we are late to the party and have just seen Frozen.
Mesmerized watching Frozen
Now all the kids are singing is, “I want to build a snowman!” AHHHHH Oh well, so glad they loved it and sat still to watch it. Winning I think!
So grab a film that no one has seen as it will capture their interest for longer. If you want why not make a bed on the floor of the living room and make a treat of the film. You can even popcorn if the kids like that.
5. Park Fun
Around the corner of the house is a park. So I walked the kids to the park and they all ran amok at the park. One went on the swing, the other on the monkey bars and one other was going down the slippery dip. Fresh air and exercise always help keep kids happy.
The park is free and if you are not near one you can drive to one and bring the bike/scooter the child can get more enjoyment out of playing with their toys.
Swinging is fun! I am doing it all by myself now mummy!
Look at me, I can do the monkey bars all by myself. How clever is she!
I hope this list of some fun things to do with kids helps while they are on school holidays or for the weekends. Enjoy!
Do your kids love to play with play dough? Mine just adore it, they get very creative and it does get messy. So expecting mess I set them up in the backyard with the dough and things to play with the dough, cutters and rolling pins and so on.
One of my girls decided not to play with any of the extra things I provided, she decided to get bits of plants and put them into balls of play dough. This creation was called a gum tree. I know it was not a gum tree but it was very clever none the less. My little creative girl was very insistent that it was a gum tree, I did explain, but decided to leave her to her creations.
So if you would like to do this to keep your kids entertained this is what you need to do:
1. Have play dough, it is so easy to make your own and you can create any colours – You can find a great recipe from Mckenzie’s Foods, I think the magic ingredient is their Cream of Tartar. Adding Cream of Tartar seems to make the play dough nice soft and gives it a great texture, try it you will see the difference.
2. Once you have the play dough give to kids to create balls to place things in it to resemble trees or flowers.
3. Kids can pick things from the yard, flowers, weeds, or leaves to stick in the playhouse.
4. Imagination is key, anything is possible. How about getting sticks, glitter, or anything that you think would work will add magic to the play dough gum trees.
Now leave the kids to create a forest with their new weird and wonderful trees and flowers. How about keeping your creations to create a town or even as gifts. This creative task had the twins busy for hours. I managed to get a bit done without interruption and I was happy as well as the girls so a win win.
Do you kids create great works in play dough? What are some of the great things that have been created? Send in your comments and why not continue the discussion on our Twitter or Facebook pages.
Today the girls are having one of their friends from school over. Yes they are very excited about having a play-date. I made glitter play dough late last night and they have no idea, it is going to be a great surprise for all three girls. Yesterday I tidied and did a lot of work, still heaps more to do but got a lot done. Now to put finishing touches on things. Wish I made it to the shops yesterday but maybe we can go this afternoon. Hope that we have enough for the play date, think it will be o.k.
Think the weather will be o.k but if not the kids can play in the living room. Have you had many play dates these holidays? Have not had any? Rather go to the park? Parks and kids is easier as they have more space. What activities if you have had play dates did you organise for the kids or did you let them run and create their own fun. I usually let them create their own fun but the girls want to play with play dough.
Send in your comments and why not continue the discussion on our twitter or facebook pages.
Today the kids and I have been busy with activities. First it was building blocks in the living room; we now have a fine looking tower and castle. Then we moved on to having a band with kitchen made instruments – pots, pans, and wooden spoons – I can tell you that it was a very noisy band that has no idea what the song was, but we had fun! After our music the girls decided to turn the instruments into pretend cooking, I got many pretend items made for me and they were all delicious.
Now you might think that is enough, and kids might be tired for a rest or possible sleep? Well no! They played in the backyard while I hung clothes out on the line (it is sunny here so best strike while we have sunlight), then the pots and pans were transferred to the dining room table for our feast (pretend feast). Lillian set the table and she was very clever doing so. We feasted on porridge, coconut, chips and some other things that I can’t remember.
I have also had my hair done by Lillian, you will see from my picture that I am show casing many stunning clips, very pretty indeed. Lilly was very happy with herself and thought I looked lovely, and she said so.
We have now made pink play-dough and they are in the living room playing with cookie cutters with the play-dough while watching Beauty and the Beast for the fourth time. Finally it is a time that they are so entranced in the film and what they are doing. Mummy can do mummy things, however mummy would like to have an afternoon nap, however hubby has come home very ill so the bedroom is off limits as he is resting.
Have you been busy with activity today? With your child/children or just with what you are doing? Hope you are having a good time. I am very tired, but will continue on.
Send in your stories about what activities keep your little ones occupied, and if they are ones that are not messy they are even better. 🙂
Why is it when you think of doing something, you then think of the other thing that you need to do? Currently I am finding it hard to juggle, I know I can, and I can do it. However mentally you seem to never really get to complete things. I have stated this before, life before kids was easy. If you wanted to do a task, you get up early and just do it. No interruptions or issues. Now I have other priorities.
Namely the first two are my girls, and then how to keep them entertained without spending a fortune. Play dough, parks, playgroup, going for walks, reading, watching films, and visiting friends come to mind. However after all this activity and action out of the house, who feels like cleaning or doing chores. Not me! Do you?
Today for example, the girls got up at about 7am, used to be around 8-8.30am, but daylight savings ending and the wakeup call for school has changed things. I did think that with no school this might change, but not the case.
Activities that kept kids entertained were:
Played with them.
Watched a movie.
Did a puzzle.
Played in the backyard while I hung out some laundry.
Play dough fun.
Took pictures and video on my mobile phone – this was good to a point. Then Julia dropped my phone, I think on purpose as I wanted it back. It is unhurt, and will live to see another day. Very pleased with that.
Danced to music.
Did some gardening – the girls helped daddy and mummy plant some bulbs, cannot wait to see them in spring.
As the girls were dirty from gardening they had a bath.
You now see why I get tired from the entertainment, it is a big list. Do you have a list that is like mine, or are there more things on your list.
What made matters worse for the day was discovering drawing on the wall, cupboard, and fitted sheet of Lillian’s bed (on the wall was a picture of a person with four eyes and weird arms and legs, and the same type of thing on the fitted sheet). The girls managed to have pens in their room and decided they wanted art on the wall. I only discovered this when I went into tidy the room and get clothes ready for their bedtime. The pens have been removed and all offending items quarantined.
My first choice for removing pen from the wall, and cupboard was not working; however Jif Lemon Cream Cleanser was the winner. It worked a treat. The pen is all but gone and if you look closely you might see a mark or two but it is a great result.
Once girls were in bed, Julia and Lillian wanted their favourite book, “Where Is The Green Sheep, by Mem Fox and Judy Horacek.” Julia loves to read it to you, however you have to make sure Lillian gets a turn, she is just as good as Julia, however is happy to let Julia do the reading. It is so cute to see them both read it to you, and then say in a big happy voice, “Where is the green sheep?”
So now I have some time, I really don’t feel energized to do any of my things on the to-do list. I am sure it can wait until tomorrow. The activities for the day have done there magic, as no noise is coming from the girls room and they looked so tired. The same could be said for mummy and daddy; l personally am looking forward to bed.
Do you find that by the time, you get time for you; you cannot be bothered with your plans? Does this annoy you? I for one, am looking forward pre-school starting again, bring on the 23rd of April. How do you deal with entertaining your kids/child? I am sure I am not the only one that feels like this, I am winning, but there are times and days when I just feel like I have failed. Send in your comments. Remember to vote for us for Best Australian Blog
Why is it when you think of doing something, you then think of the other thing that you need to do? Currently I am finding it hard to juggle, I know I can, and I can do it. However mentally you seem to never really get to complete things. I have stated this before, life before kids was easy. If you wanted to do a task, you get up early and just do it. No interruptions or issues. Now I have other priorities.
Namely the first two are my girls, and then how to keep them entertained without spending a fortune. Play dough, parks, playgroup, going for walks, reading, watching films, and visiting friends come to mind. However after all this activity and action out of the house, who feels like cleaning or doing chores. Not me! Do you?
Today for example, the girls got up at about 7am, used to be around 8-8.30am, but daylight savings ending and the wakeup call for school has changed things. I did think that with no school this might change, but not the case.
Activities that kept kids entertained were:
Played with them.
Watched a movie.
Did a puzzle.
Played in the backyard while I hung out some laundry.
Play dough fun.
Took pictures and video on my mobile phone – this was good to a point. Then Julia dropped my phone, I think on purpose as I wanted it back. It is unhurt, and will live to see another day. Very pleased with that.
Danced to music.
Did some gardening – the girls helped daddy and mummy plant some bulbs, cannot wait to see them in spring.
As the girls were dirty from gardening they had a bath.
You now see why I get tired from the entertainment, it is a big list. Do you have a list that is like mine, or are there more things on your list.
What made matters worse for the day was discovering drawing on the wall, cupboard, and fitted sheet of Lillian’s bed (on the wall was a picture of a person with four eyes and weird arms and legs, and the same type of thing on the fitted sheet). The girls managed to have pens in their room and decided they wanted art on the wall. I only discovered this when I went into tidy the room and get clothes ready for their bedtime. The pens have been removed and all offending items quarantined.
My first choice for removing pen from the wall, and cupboard was not working; however Jif Lemon Cream Cleanser was the winner. It worked a treat. The pen is all but gone and if you look closely you might see a mark or two but it is a great result.
Once girls were in bed, Julia and Lillian wanted their favourite book, “Where Is The Green Sheep, by Mem Fox and Judy Horacek.” Julia loves to read it to you, however you have to make sure Lillian gets a turn, she is just as good as Julia, however is happy to let Julia do the reading. It is so cute to see them both read it to you, and then say in a big happy voice, “Where is the green sheep?”
So now I have some time, I really don’t feel energized to do any of my things on the to-do list. I am sure it can wait until tomorrow. The activities for the day have done there magic, as no noise is coming from the girls room and they looked so tired. The same could be said for mummy and daddy; l personally am looking forward to bed.
Do you find that by the time, you get time for you; you cannot be bothered with your plans? Does this annoy you? I for one, am looking forward pre-school starting again, bring on the 23rd of April. How do you deal with entertaining your kids/child? I am sure I am not the only one that feels like this, I am winning, but there are times and days when I just feel like I have failed. Send in your comments. Remember to vote for us for Best Australian Blog
Today the girls and I went off to playgroup. Last Tuesday at playgroup Lillian told a little boy, Nicholas that she was not sharing her toy, a bilby but called Macca Pacca. Not sure why other than the influence of the show, “In the Night Garden.” This boy was rather taken with Lillian and stared her as he seemed fascinated. She then got a bit nervous and said, “Mummy he is looking at me”. I told the mother of Nicholas that I will make sure she is nice about her toy. Then I got assured that is not the toy it is her that took his fancy, according to her he is interested in girls from 2-25 years who are blonde. Well it has started early, and more will come I am sure, boys fancying the girls.
At playgroup today the girls played in the much-loved sandpit, did craft with a lovely lady Trish – they made butterflies that get airborne by straws, all very clever. They ate fresh carrots from the veggie garden, played with toys, had story time, and played with the play dough.
We then went off to return our library books, borrowed more books, and then off to K-Mart to buy plants that flower to plant. I want to spruce up the entry to the house with some pot plants. The girls helped me choose 4 plants in total, all for $2.00 each and we have one that flowers red, yellow, pink, and purple. Will plant them with Julia and Lillian’s help tomorrow.
Julia has been very clever today, she drew a near perfect circle with a smiley face, she had a wonderful conversation with her Aunty Kay on the phone (my sister) and the girls had great story time with Daddy with the new books from the library. Lillian seemed to not be interested in talking to anyone on the phone, whenever you asked her she would make a funny noise and turn her head or run away. She even refused to kiss Daddy goodbye this morning as she said “she was eating breakfast and could not kiss him then”.
Yesterday I woke up with a bit of a sore throat again and a bit ticked off that it has come back. Off to the doctors to hopefully put an end to it for good, also will make sure to some things checked out that I am concerned about but sure it is nothing antibiotics can fix.Was hoping today to get into some things that I wanted to do but ended up having a much-needed rest due to not being well.
Daddy lately has been playing with the girls a lot in the evening which is good. Lillian was being thrown around and laughing, then she said to daddy, “I am not a backpack”. It is so cute some of the things that the girls say, it is sometimes very hard to keep a straight face. Sometimes when they see that you are laughing or about to, we have been told, “Don’t laugh mummy/daddy”.
I hope all you day was good. Tomorrow off to the park with the playgroup crowd. Now if only the weather would cooperate and stop raining so that we might enjoy our summer. One of my friends on facebook posted a photo of a close up of her feet in her ugg boots. The caption to the photo was “A lovely summer”. This summer has been wet and cold and really not what I was looking forward to. As a Queenslander I really miss the summer days and the beach.
Good night all, off to rest for another active day tomorrow.
PS> Earlier today I noticed an advertisement for Kleenex – Free eBook: 101 tips to control the chaos. I thought that sounded like something I needed to look at. It is a great resource and think it is something that must be shared.
