Naturally Dyed & Scented Playdoughs

Naturally Dyed & Scented Playdoughs

2 cups of flour
1 cup of salt
4 tablespoons of cream of tarter
2 cups of water

Cook, stirring constantly, in a medium pan, over low heat, until thick, and rubbery. Remove from the pan, and knead, as the dough cools, until smooth. Store in an airtight container.

Natural dyes can be added by boiling something colorful in water so that the color is part of the water in the recipe. Cover the material with water and simmer until the water has turned a colorful shade. It may take up to 20 minutes. 
Just make sure it is cooled before you start to mix the playdough together.

  • Avocado pits create a light peach color. Just save the rinsed off pits from 2-3 avocados.
  • Heating the liquid from canned beets can make a pretty pink.
  • A handful of blueberries create a pastel pinkish-purple shade.
  • Coffee, tea or cocoa powder makes a light shade of brown.
  • Cranberries also can make a pink color.
  • A teaspoon or two of turmeric creates a bright yellow shade.
  • A natural shade of light green can be made using a couple teaspoons of Matcha tea powder.
  • An orange can be made from 1-2 teaspoons paprika.
  • Purple Cabbage can make two different colors. If you just add a couple handfuls of the cabbage and simmer for about 20 minutes, you will get a purple. But if you add 1 teaspoon of Baking Soda to the recipe when you mix it up, you will get a natural light blue color instead. If you choose to make the blue, leave the Cream of Tartar out of the recipe. 

The most fragrant way of adding scents is to use essential oils (any scent you like, but you may want to research what you use, in case of toxicity), kitchen extracts (just about any -raspberry, peppermint, lemon, lime, orange, anise, and, of course, vanilla) or spices (pumpkin pie, cinnamon, nutmeg, paprika, turmeric, etc.) but they are best added at the end so the heat will not degrade the scents. Add a little at a time until it is pleasant to you. Note that the spices may add some flecks in the playdough, but children usually don't mind this.

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