On this page you will find recipes for homemade art supplies. I have collected these recipes from many sources.

Please email me any additional recipes you would like to share.

Thanks.

Please feel free to contact me.

Art Teacher: Kyle Williamson
kwilliamson@eyork.k12.pa.us

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Peanut Butter Play Dough

Materials
1 C Peanut Butter
1 C Powdered Milk
1/2 C honey

Directions
Mix all ingredients in a bowl

Kool-Aid Play Dough

Materials
2- 1/2 C flour
1/2 C Salt
2 packs of unsweetened Kool-Aid
2 C boiling water
3 T. vegetable oil

Directions
1. Mix all the dry ingredients together.
2. Add water and oil.
3. Mix with hands.
4. When cool put in a Ziploc bag or a container with a lid.

Argo Clay

Materials
2 cups baking soda
1-cup Agro cornstarch
1 1/4 cups water

Directions
Mix all ingredients in a saucepan stir until smooth. Bring to boil, stirring constantly. The mixture will thicken to hold shape. Form clay into shapes. Dry covered w/damp cloth about 36 hours, then paint and seal.

Gluey Dough

Materials
1-cup flour
1-cup cornstarch
1/2 cup white glue
1/2-cup water

Directions
Mix flour, cornstarch and glue. Slowly add just enough water to make dough. Knead until pliable.

Cotton Ball Dough

Materials
1-cup flour
3/4 to 1 cup water
1 bag of cotton balls (any color)

Directions
Mix flour and water together until you get a smooth paste. Dip the cotton balls into the paste. Form
Into desired shapes. Place on cookie sheet and cook at 325 for 1 hour until lightly brown and hard.
Let cool. Paint creations with tempera paint.

Salt Modeling Clay

Materials
1-cup flour
1/2-cup salt
1 t. alum
1/3 to 1/2 cup boiling water
Food coloring

Directions
Combine dry ingredients. Add water a little at a time, and stir into flour. Knead until smooth.

Salt and Alum Modeling Dough

Materials
1-cup flour
1-cup salt
1 rounded tsp. of alum
1/3 to 1/2 cup water at room temperature

Directions
Mix dry ingredients. Slowly add the water until you get a desirable consistency. Knead until clay-like.

Kool-aid Playdough

Materials
1-cup flour
1/4-cup salt
1 pkg. Kool-aid
2-tblsp cream of tartar
1-cup warm water
2-tblsp vegetable oil

Directions
1. Combine all dry ingredients in saucepan. Add water and oil.
2. Stir over medium heat for 3-5 minutes, until it forms a ball.
3. Work with your hands until cool.

Cornstarch Clay

Materials
1-cup baking soda
1/2-cup cornstarch
2/3-cup warm water
Food coloring
Saucepan

Directions
1. Mix the baking soda and cornstarch into the saucepan
2. Add the food coloring to the water and stir until all the lumps are gone
3. Cook until the mixture boils over medium heat (mixture should look like mashed potatoes)
4. Knead when cool

Cornstarch Clay 2

Materials
1/2 C salt
1/2 C hot water
1/2 C cold water
1/2 C of cornstarch
Saucepan
Bowl

Directions
1. Mix salt and hot water and bring to a boil in the saucepan
2. In the bowl, stir the cold water into the cornstarch
3. Add cornstarch mixture to boiling salt water and stir
4. Cook over low heat
5. Stir until the mixture looks like pie dough
6. Cool and knead

Cooked Dough

Materials
1 cup of flour
1 T. vegetable oil
1-cup water
2 t. cream of tartar
Food coloring
Saucepan

Directions
1. Mix the food coloring into the water.
2. Heat all the ingredients over low heat until the mixture forms a soft ball.
3. Knead when cool to the touch.

Sand Dough

Materials
1 cup of sand
1/2 cup of cornstarch
1 t. alum
3/4-cup hot water
Food coloring
Bowl
Saucepan

Directions
1. Mix sand, cornstarch, and alum in the bowl
2. Add food coloring to hot water then add to sand mixture
3. Cook over medium heat until thickens
4. Knead mixture when cool

Sugar Clay

Materials
1 cup of sugar
1 cup of flour
1 cup of cold water
5 cups of boiling water
Food coloring

Directions
1. Mix food coloring into cold water
2. Mix sugar, flour, and cold water together
3. Add boiling water and cook for 5 minutes stirring constantly
4. Knead when cool

Oatmeal Play Dough

Materials
2 cups rolled oats (any type)
1-cup plain flour
3/4-cup water

Directions
Place all ingredients in mixing bowl. Stir with wooden spoon to moisten. Turn out on floured surface and
knead well. Add flour and knead until no longer sticky.

Modeling Goop

Materials
4 C baking soda
2 C cornstarch
(2) 3/4 C water

Directions
1. Cook over medium heat.
2. Stir constantly until it thickens and pulls away from pan.
3. Let cool then knead to soften.
4. Store in Ziploc bag.

Pumpkin Pie Playdough

Materials
5 1/2 cups flour
2 cups salt
8 teaspoons cream of tartar
3/4 cup oil
1 (1 1/12 ounces) container pumpkin pie spice
Orange food coloring (2 parts yellow, 1 part red)
4 cups water

Directions
1. Mix all of the ingredients together.
2. Cook and stir over medium heat until all lumps disappear.
3. Knead the dough on a floured surface until it is smooth.
4. Store in an airtight container.

Fruit Putty

Materials
1 small package sugar-free fruit-flavored gelatin
2 cups flour
1 cup salt
4 tablespoons cream of tartar
2 cups boiling water
2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Directions
Mix the dry ingredients in a pan. Add boiling water and vegetable oil. Stir over medium-high heat until the
mixture forms a ball. Place the ball on wax paper to cool. Store in an airtight container.
Cut the fruit picture from the gelatin box and paste it to the lid. Use different flavors to make all different
colors and scents.

Memory Hand print

Materials
1-cup flour
1-cup salt
Water
Food coloring (optional)

Directions
Mix flour and salt. Add enough water to get a firm clay-like mixture.
Remove 1/2 cup of dough and press it into a circular shape on a lightly greased cookie sheet. It should be
large enough for a child's hand or foot to fit onto with the fingers or toes spread out. Push child's hand or foot firmly into dough. Let dough dry for several weeks or put in oven at 225 degrees for 2 to 4 hours, depending on the thickness of the dough.

Oobleck

Materials
Cornstarch
Water
Food coloring (optional)

Directions
Put cornstarch in bowl. Add enough water to make a paste. If desired, you may also add food coloring. This
makes a messy slime that goes from liquid to solid, and is great fun to play with.

Slime

Materials
1/2-cup white glue
1/2 cup liquid laundry starch

Directions
Measure glue and liquid starch into a bowl. Stir thoroughly. Let sit 5 minutes. The mixture will be extremely
watery. Knead and play with the mixture ten minutes and it will resemble store bought Gooze. Use a straw to
blow air into the mixture to make bubbles.

Whipped Snow

Materials
2 cups warm water
1 cup pure laundry soap or flakes
Electric mixer

Directions
Mix water and soap in a large bowl. Beat with mixer until very fluffy. Add food coloring, if desired. This can be molded into snow sculptures for areas of the country without snowfall. It does take several days to dry if left to air dry.

4-Ever Hand print

Materials
1 Cup Argo Cornstarch
1 Pound (2 cups) baking soda
1 tablespoon Mazola Oil
1 * cups cold water
1 Tablespoon food coloring

Directions
In a sauce pan stir cornstarch and baking soda together. Add water and oil all at once and stir until a smooth constancy. Stir
mixture constantly. Mixture will come to a boil, thicken and hold shape. Turn out on a plate and cover with damp cloth.

Dust counter with cornstarch. When the mixture becomes easy to work with, have children place their hands in it. Air dry or
preheat oven to 350 degrees and turn OFF. Keep repeating last oven step until dry.

Flubber

Materials
Iron starch (liquid)
Elmers glue white
Paint (liquid)

Directions
Mix starch and glue until it becomes stiff almost like flubber or rubbery. Using
more glue than starch maybe a half of cup. Hand mix well, sticky ha.
Now mix your paint until desired color. Always use smocks for children ages 3 and over.
Homemade Silly Putty

Materials
1/2 cup white glue (i.e. Elmer's glue)
1/4 regular liquid starch

Directions
Mix ingredients well and let sit for several hours or overnight until the mixture has dried a bit into a "silly putty" type consistency. Use on a smooth surface to pick up pictures.

Non hardening No-Cook Play Dough

Materials
2 cups self rising flour
2 T. alum
2 T. salt
2 T. cooking oil
1 cup, plus 2 T. boiling water

Directions
Mix and knead.

Cooked Play Dough

Materials
1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
1 cup water
1 T. vegetable oil
2 tsp. cream of tartar

Directions
Heat until ingredients form ball, add food coloring.

Potter's Clay

Materials
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup cornstarch
1 cup salt dissolved in 3 3/4 cups of boiling water

Directions
Blend flour and cornstarch with enough water to make paste. Boil water and salt. Add to cornstarch mix and cook until clear. Cool overnight then add 6 to 8
cups of flour and knead until you have the right consistency.
Keep a metal salt shaker full of flour handy for the children to keep their clay from sticking.

Play Dough 2

Below is a play dough recipe similar to the commercial type and more durable. Keep in a plastic bag or closed container when not being used.

Materials
1 cup of flour
1 cup of water
1 T. of oil
1 T. alum
1/2 cup salt
2 T. vanilla
food coloring for desired intensity

Directions
Mix all dry ingredients. Add oil and water. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until it reaches the consistency of mashed potatoes. Remove from heat
and add vanilla and color. Divide into balls and work in color by kneading.

Instant Finger Paint

Materials
Shaving cream
Tempera paint
Paper or table top

Directions
Spray shaving cream on your table top or on each child's paper. Add a couple of drops of tempera paint of your choice.

Thick Paint

Materials
1 cup powdered tempera paint
2 Tbs. wallpaper paste
1/2-cup liquid laundry starch

Directions
Mix dry tempera paint with wallpaper paste. Add starch a little at a time until the mixture is thick enough to spread. Use Popcicle sticks to spread.

Face Paint

Materials
1 tsp. cornstarch
1/2 tsp. water
1/2 tsp. cold cream
Food coloring

Directions
Mix cornstarch and cold cream together until smooth. Mix in water and food coloring. Use a small brush to
paint designs on the children's faces. Store in an airtight container.

Face Paint 2

Materials
1 Tbs. Crisco shortening
2 Tbs. cornstarch
Food coloring

Directions
Mix all ingredients together until smooth. Use sponge to apply to face. Washes with soap and water.

Finger Paint with Oatmeal

Materials
2 Cups Water
Food Coloring
6 Tbs. Quick rolled oats

Directions
Pour two cups water into cooking pot and add several drops food coloring.
Add 6 tablespoons quick rolled oats and bring to boil over medium heat.
Cook for 1 1/2 minutes; remove from heat and cover. Cool the mixture and your ready to use the finger paint.

Puffy Paint

Materials
Flour
Salt
Water
Cake Food Coloring
Squeeze bottles

Directions
Measure equal parts of flour, salt and water. Measure out dry ingredients in a bowl. In another bowl mixture
food coloring to the water and add to dry ingredients. Spoon mixture into squeeze bottles. As the mixture
dries on paper it will take on a puffy appearance.

Corn Syrup Paint

Materials
Corn syrup
Food coloring
Foam plates
Disposable plastic cups
Old paint brushes

Directions
Pour corn syrup into plastic cups, add food coloring. Stirring until mixed thoroughly. You may make as many
colors as you wish in different cups. When the corn syrup dries it turns translucent.

Condensed Milk Paint

Materials
1 cup condensed milk
Food coloring

Directions
Mix 1 cup condensed milk with a few drops of food coloring. This makes a very bright, glossy colored paint.

Homemade Washable Paint

Materials
Liquid Tempera Paint
Dreft Liquid Detergent

Directions
1. Mix 3/4 cups of paint to 1/4-cup liquid detergent
2. Stir well

Homemade Watercolors

Materials
1 T. white vinegar
2 T. baking soda
1 T. cornstarch
1/4 tsp. glycerin
Liquid food coloring
Plastic bottle caps from 2 liter bottles

Directions
1. Mix vinegar and baking soda together in a small bowl
2. When mixture stops bubbling, add cornstarch and glycerin. Mix well
3. Pour mixture into bottle caps
4. Add several drops of food coloring to the mixture in the bottle caps
5. Let dry overnight

Puffy Paint 2

Materials
one part shaving cream
equal parts of white school glue
food coloring (optional)

Directions
Mix shaving cream and glue till well mixed add food coloring if you what. Can divide to make differ colors if you wish. Let the
kids paint on paper with fingers or paint brushes.

Finger Paints

Materials
1/2 cup dry laundry starch
1/4 cold water
1 1/2 cups boiling water
1/2 cup soap flakes
1 tsp. glycerin natural vegetable food coloring

Directions
Mix starch and cold water in a medium sized pot, Add boiling water and continue cooking over low heat until slick looking and shiny. Remove from heat and add soap and glycerin. Mix completely. Add vegetable food coloring. Make one big batch of single color paint, or separate and make several colors. Making just three primary colors is a wonderful way to discover simple color theory.

Salt Paint

Materials
1/3 cup salt
1/4 tsp. food coloring

Directions
Spread in pan to dry before putting in shakers.

Finger Paint 2

Materials
2/3 cup elastic dry starch
1 cup cold water
3 cups boiling water
1 cup Ivory Soap Flakes
oil of cloves, a few drops (preservative) calcimine pigment or vegetable coloring

Directions
Dissolve elastic starch in cold water. Smooth lumps and add boiling water. Stir constantly. Thicken but do not boil more than one minute. Add rest of
ingredients (hot or cold). Use oil glazed paper, newsprint, or wrapping paper.

Sand Paint

Materials
1/2 cup sand (washed, dried, and sifted)
1 T. powder paint

Directions
Shake onto surface brushed with watered glue.
Empty plastic vitamin or soap bubble bottles make excellent containers.

Soap Paint

Materials
1 1/2 cups soap flakes
1 cup hot or warm water

Directions
Whip with an eggbeater until stiff.

Homemade Paste

Materials
1/2 cup flour
Cold water

Directions
Add cold water to 1/2 cup flour until a thick cream forms. Simmer on stove for 5 minutes. Takes longer than regular glue to dry.

Paper Mache Paste

Materials
1 cup water
1/4 cup flour
5 cups lightly boiling water

Directions
Mix flour into one cup water until mixture is thin and runny, stir into boiling water. Continue to boil and stir for 3 minutes. Cool before using.

Homemade Colored Glue

Materials
Tweezers
Dried out felt tip markers
White glue
Containers

Directions
1. Remove the felt tip out of marker with tweezers.
2. Add felt to any amount of glue desired.
3. Let sit overnight.

Thin Paste

Materials
1/4 cup of sugar
1/4 cup of non-self-rising wheat flour
1/2 t. alum
1 3/4 cups of water
1/4 t. of oil of cinnamon
Saucepan

Directions
Mix sugar, flour, and alum in the saucepan add one cup of water and stir until you have a smooth mixture.
Bring to a boil over medium heat until the mixture turns clear--stirring constantly. Stir in remaining water and oil of cinnamon, remove from burner. Store in tightly sealed container. Alum should not be ingested so watch children closely.

Paper Paste

Materials
1/3 cup of non-self-rising wheat flour
2 T. sugar
1 cup of water
1/4 t. of oil of cinnamon
Saucepan

Directions
Mix flour and sugar in a saucepan, add water and stir until smooth. Cook over low heat until clear, stirring
constantly. Remove from heat add stir in oil of cinnamon.

Engrudo

Materials
2 cups water
1 white flour

Directions
Mix flour and water in a small pot over medium heat. Mix constantly, keeping mixture smooth. Add water if engrudo becomes too thick (like a pudding). Cook until mixture becomes translucent. Use immediately for best results.
Engrudo is the Latin American, homemade glue used to make piñatas, crepe paper flowers, Easter "cascarones", or any other craft where a light- weight, clear glue is needed . Engrudo will spoil in about 7 days.

"GUM" for Stamps and Paper Labels

Materials
1 (1/4 3 ounce packet) of unflavored gelatin
1 T cold water
3 T boiling water
1/2 tsp white peppermint extract
2 drops boric acid solution

Directions
Sprinkle the gelatin into the cold water to soften. Pour into the boiling water, stirring until dissolved. Add the remaining ingredients and mix well.
To use glue, brush thinly onto the back of a stamp or some paper and let dry. When applying to paper, just moisten it a bit. To keep, store in a small jar or bottle with a lid. Warm in a pan to turn into a liquid again.

Sugar Flour Paste

Materials
1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
1 qt. water (2 cups cold /2 cups hot)
1 T. powdered alum
3 drops of oil of cloves

Directions
Mix flour and sugar together. Slowly stir in 1 cup of water. Bring remainder to boil and add the mixture to it, stirring constantly. Continue to cook and stir (1/2
hr. in a double broiler) until fairly clear. Remove from heat and add oil of cloves. Makes 1 quart of paste. Paste keeps a long time. Keep moist by adding small
piece of wet sponge to top of small jar of paste.

Bookbinder's Paste

Materials
1 tsp. flour
2 tsp. cornstarch
1/4 tsp. alum (powdered)
1/3 cup water

Directions
Mix dry ingredients. Add water slowly, stirring out lumps. Cook in a double boiler over low heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat when paste begins to
thicken; it will thicken more as it cools. Keep covered. Thin with water when necessary.

Glue

Materials
3/4-cup water
2 T. corn syrup
1 tsp. white vinegar
1/2-cup cornstarch
3/4-cup cold water

Directions
Mix water, syrup and vinegar in a saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat. Mix cornstarch and cold water in a
separate bowl. Add the cornstarch mixture SLOWLY to the first mixture. Stir constantly. Remove from heat. It's best to let mixture stand overnight before using.

Iridescent Soap Bubbles

Materials
1 cup of water (hard or soft)
2 T. Liquid detergent
1 T. glycerine
1/2 tsp. sugar

Directions
Mix all ingredients.

Bubbles

Materials
1-cup dish washing detergent (Joy, Dawn or Ajax are best)
1 tablespoon glycerin
1 gallon water

Directions
Mix all ingredients and let bubbles settle.

Bubbles 2

Materials
1/4-cup Dawn brand dish washing detergent
3/4-cup water
1 1/2 tablespoons light corn syrup

Directions
Mix all ingredients and two days.

Rainbow Crayons

Materials
OLD non-stick muffin pans
Old crayons

Directions
Preheat your oven to 250
1. Peel the paper off the crayons
2. Put 5-10 different colors in each muffin space
3. Place the muffin tins in the oven until the crayons melt
4. Let the new crayons cool overnight
5. Remove the crayons the next day