Play dough recipe

I never buy play-doh, it is so easy to make your own, and very cheap. Use the cheapest flour you can buy or you can use any out of date flour you might have. This is my tried and tested recipe, I have have found that the most important stage is you have to get the mix very smooth before you start to heat (sift your flour and use a whisk to mix). Once made the more you kneed it, the better it is.

Ingredients

1 Cup Flour

½ Cup Salt

1 Tablespoon of Cream of Tarter (found in the cooking isle of supermarkets)

1 Cup Water

1 Teaspoon (approx) Food Colouring

1 Tablespoon Oil

2 Teaspoon (approx) Vanilla Essence (optional – I think this makes it smell more like original play doh)

Equipment
Bowl
Jug
Whisk
Pan (an old non-stick one is best)

Method
Combine flour (you do not need to sift but I do), water, salt and cream of tarter in a bowl.
In a jug combine water, colouring, oil and essence (if using), whisk this into the flour mixture, the smoother this mix the better, which is why I sift the flour.
Cook over a medium heat stirring all the time until mixture starts to come away from the sides of the pan and forms a sticky ball
Remove from heat and kneed well for a few minutes, if it is too sticky add some flour.

Keep in an air tight tub

Variations
Add glitter for a sparkling dough
Try peppermint essence for a different smell
Substitute some of the flour with coco powder to give a brown colour and chocolate smell (obviously no food colouring needed with this)

PLEASE BE AWARE this has a high salt content, so watch you child whilst using

 The mix ready to heat

 Looks like this whilst cooking

Ready when it starts to come away from the sides of the pan

This recipe makes just the right amount to fit in one of those chinese takeaway containers you get

HAVE FUN AND ENJOY!

Little Mr wants to make some with sprinkles in so we will try that one later today - I am not sure how it will turn out - I will post later with the results

Anyone like to add any of their tips for making playdough?

I made my first solid shampoo

I managed to get the shampoo made, I was a bit concerned as when I did the soap it set really quickly but the shampoo took ages. It still hadn't set when I went to bed. I had to get up in the middle of the night to let the cat out so checked on it then and took it out of the moulds, luckily it was ok. You can see from the picture I do not have any professional moulds I just use silicone cupcake cases. The little bits are camomile as this is suppose to make your hair blonder.

If you have never tried solid shampoo I recommend you do, I have been using it for ages and would not go back now. I am not suggesting that you make your own you can find some lovely homemade bars on folksy or lush do them. Don't be put off by the price they do last a lot longer than liquid shampoo.

Unfortunately I did not get my other project started and I won't have time tonight as I really need to get some housework done this evening, but I will get there in the end.

Trip into town

Today I took Little Mr to have a look around the local museum. It is very child friendly and they have lots of activities for children to do. Whilst in town I looked around the charity shops. I want some teacups to make into candles but unfortunately they only had ones in sets and not any loose individual ones, maybe I will have to take a trip out to a car boot sale at the weekend. I did however buy this karlsson clock, it was only £3 and I just love it. My original thought was it would look good in the bathroom and handy to as I always spend too long in the bath. I failed to remember this would be no good for me as I wear glasses and will not be able to see said clock whilst sitting in the bath.  Never mind I am sure it will find a home soon.

I have also gathered a few bits and pieces together for my next project, hopefully I will be able to make a start on this tonight but first I have to make myself some shampoo, I am nearly out so this is a job that must be done. I have not attempted shampoo yet but I have been making my own melt and pour soap.

Back to blogging

I haven't blogged in ages, well it seems that way but when I checked it is only 4 weeks, but it blogger land that is probably a long time. Being new to this I am still finding my feet and hope to blog more regularly.
In that 4 weeks Little Mr and I have been busy - he has had his 4th Birthday, we have been to Legoland, been to a dinosaur park and generally had lots of fun.
I have been neglecting my shop lately as life gets in the way and I am seem so tired all the time, Little Mr gets up at 5 I put him to bed at 7 but he never goes straight to sleep, by the time I have put the house back together after his days playing I am ready for bed myself. Really must stay up later and get some jewellery made.
This has just been a quick post to get me back into the swing of things, I will post again soon and next time I promise there will be pictures.