Things You'll Need
White craft glue
Water
Paintbrush
Disposable cup
Play-Doh sculptures may not last forever, but with a little time and effort (and some glue) you can keep your Play-Doh creations intact for a long time. Preserve your children's artwork or keep your own Play-Doh art for display. Choose an attractive base for display and keep them in a safe, dry location, and you should be able to enjoy them for several years.
Step 1
Allow your Play-Doh sculpture to air dry slowly. It may take several weeks for sculptures to dry fully--even longer for larger sculptures.
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Step 2
Choose a base on which to display the sculpture. This can be as simple as a piece of cardboard or paper plate, or you can choose something more elegant like a piece of wood or a glass candle holder.
Step 3
Thin white craft glue in a cup with a little water, in a ratio of about two parts glue to one part water. Use the paintbrush to coat the bottom of the sculpture with glue. Set the Play-Doh sculpture on top of base, then continue to coat the sculpture with glue until it is completely covered. Try not to use more glue than is necessary or spill excess glue on the base.
Step 4
Allow sculpture to air dry, then display. To keep the sculpture in good condition longer, avoid getting it wet, as the glue is water-soluble.
Tip
For more protection, use clear varnish instead of white glue.
To dry a sculpture in a hurry, use a food dehydrator. Do not bake it; this is likely to cause cracks to form.
For an alternative to drying Play-Doh items, Hasbro sells plastic "Make 'N Display" Domes meant for preserving your creations.
Even carefully preserved Play-Doh art won't last forever; if you need to make sure your artwork will last, use modeling clay instead.
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