Recipe to Make Clay Play Dough

There are a number of recipes that can be used to make homemade play dough with the consistency, color and even smell of the store-bought version. However, few of these easy-to-make doughs have the malleability or texture of sculpting clay, making them fun to play with but difficult to create with. If you're looking for the ability to use clay play dough for more serious, carefully-sculpted projects, using a recipe specifically for clay play dough will make a big difference.

Things You'll Need

• Saucepan
• Whisk
• Wooden spoon
• Small bowl
• Food coloring
• Basic Sculpting Clay:
• 1 cup cornstarch
• 2 cups baking soda
• 1 1/4 cups water
• Bread Clay Dough:
• 3 slices soft white bread
• 3 Tbsp. white glue
• 1/4 tsp. dish detergent
• Salt Clay:
• 2 cups salt
• 1 cup and 2 Tbsp. water

Instructions

Basic Sculpting Clay Play Dough

1. Combine 1 cup of cornstarch and 2 cups of baking soda in a saucepan, using a whisk to sift them together and break up any lumps.

2. Add, a little at a time, 1 1/4 cups of water, stirring the mixture as you pour the water. Continue stirring until all the cornstarch and baking soda have dissolved and the mixture is smooth.

3. Place the pan on a medium-heat burner and cook, stirring constantly, until the clay dough thickens to a doughy consistency.

4. Add a drop of food coloring if desired and let the mixture cool slightly before use.

Bread Clay Dough

1. 

   Tear the crusts off 3 slices of white bread. Put the the crustless bread in a small bowl.

2. Add 3 tablespoons of white (or school) glue to the bowl along with approximately 1/4 teaspoon of dish detergent.

3. Knead the mixture until the dough is pliable, but not sticky.

4. Color with food coloring as desired and sculpt with the clay before the dough begins to harden.

Salt Clay

1. Mix 2 cups of salt and 1/2 cup of water in pan. Over a medium-heat burner, stir the mixture continuously until all the salt has dissolved, at which time remove the pan from the heat.

2. Combine 1 cup of cornstarch and the remainder of the water (1/2 cup and 2 tablespoons) in a small bowl. Use a whisk to remove any lumps.

3. Add the cornstarch mixture to the salt mixture and return the pan to a low-heat burner. Cook until smooth and thick, which shouldn't take very long.

4. Remove the salt clay from the pan and let it cool.

Tips & Warnings

• All of these clays will eventually harden in the air, so they must be stored in airtight containers. Salt clay dough is frequently used to make clay beads.