Rainbow Playdough Recipe

I am excited to share our favorite homemade playdough recipe.  My favorite part is that this recipe doesn’t use much salt.  Meaning, this dough does not leave your hands feeling all dry and coated like a play dough traditional recipe.  It is moist and feels very similar to a store bought Play Doh which I love.  Most recipes have double or triple the salt, so I was surprised when I discovered that it was unnecessary.  I hope you enjoy our Glittery Rainbow Playdough Recipe (recipe at the end of the post).

We love making homemade play dough.  Although this is the first time that we have make such a variety of colors all at once.  It was a total hit with the kids.  There is something about all the bright colors that just draws a person in (or maybe that was all the sparkly glitter).  It feels like we are celebrating something.  I may just need to pull out the party hats and make up something to celebrate.

We have created a few St. Patrick’s inspired Leprechauns and rainbow crafts so far this year. Although I have to say, I think this was one of the kids favorite projects.  Squishing, building and creating all combined with a sprinkle of glitter is my kiddos perfect combination.

The kids had so much fun building playdough rainbows and colorful icing for the pretend cupcakes.  If you house is anything like ours, you can loose track of time when you are creating with play dough.

To make the rainbows, the kids piled graduating circles on top of each other.  They then cut the circles in half, producing adorable half circles or rainbows.  The kids were totally amazed by this simple discovery.  They had no idea that if you cut a circle in half, you would create a rainbow shape.  I love looking like a genius, since all too soon they will realize that they are smarter than me.  I am soaking up being amazing (in my kids eyes) while I still can.

Kids love squishing and mixing playdough colors.  This is the perfect activity for that.  I mean, what is a play dough rainbow if you can’t squish all the colors together?  The swirls of color were simply beautiful.

 I love all the wonderful layers of color.  It almost looks like sparkly taffy.  Beautiful!

I acquired these vintage tins a while ago and I am completely in love.  Although I only just recently discovered that they are the perfect size for pretend play.  We are excited to have a few added to our play dough bin.

Now on to our glittery rainbow play recipe!

Glitter Rainbow Playdough Recipe

This recipe is easy to make, and very similar to store bought Play Doh.

• 1 cup Flour
• 1/4 cup Salt
• 2 tsp Cream of Tartar
• 1 cup Water
• 1 1/2  or 2 TBSP Vegetable Oil ~ I have used both measurements successfully and love how soft it makes the dough feel.
• Food Coloring ~ adding it to the wet ingredients helps to help get even color
• Gold Glitter ~ we used a larger glitter flakes, but any glitter will work (Thanks to Craft Project Ideas, who gave us a wonderful pack of free craft supplies, including the glitter we used.)
• Sauce pan, wooden spoon and a stove

How to make Playdough

• Mix all ingredients in a sauce pan~ I like to mix the dry ingredients and the wet ingredients separately, but I know lots who just dump and pour.  It is no really that technical so just go with what works for you.
• Stir until you have most of the lumps out and the mixture looks similar to cake batter.
• Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly.
• It will not take very long for the mixture to start thickening.  Make sure that you continue to stir.
• Stir, stir and stir some more.
• Once the mixture forms one large “clump” (I’m sure that is the technical term) you are good to go.
• Remove from the heat, and knead by hand.
• Caution…let cool before you let little fingers touch it.  It will be very hot at this point.

You can add sprinkles to the cooking dough, but my kids love to add them later.  Both methods work great.  Although my kids love pouring and mixing the glitter on their own.  I am sure by letting my kids do it, we end up using more glitter but I also know that they love doing it.

Playdough Tips and Tricks

• Each recipe produces about 1 1/2 cups of playdough.  I generally make one batch per color.
• If the dough is looking to wet/sticky; you may not have cooked it long enough or you did not measure the ingredients correctly.
• If the dough is stored properly, it will last up to 6 months.  Store the dough in a plastic Ziploc bag and remove as much air as possible.  This will help to prevent the dough from drying out.
• Store your sealed dough in the refrigerator.
• Glitter, glitter and more glitter (according to my kids) made this the best playdough recipe ever.  You can never have too much glitter.

For more rainbow activities, check out our:

Rainbow Bubble Snakes

Paper Plate Rainbow

Rainbow Q-tip Painting

Credit Card Art

Art Birthday Party