We love Playdough here at Paging Fun Mums so when I saw this recipe over at Kids Activity Blog which is not only a ‘no cook’ playdough recipe but is also made out of only 2 ingredients, we HAD to give it a try!
All you need is:
1 part conditioner
2 parts corn flour/corn starch
Food colouring (optional)
That’s it!
Pour your conditioner into a bowl (we used a home brand conditioner – note that not all conditioners are of the same consistency so you may need to add a little more or a little less corn flour to get the right consistency for you)
Step 2
Pour in the corn flour
Step 3
Give the mixture a good stir
Step 4 (optional)
Add a few drops of food colouring
Step 5
Mix well using your hands. This part smells delicious!
Step 6
Have FUN moulding, squishing, shaping and playing with your new Playdough!
Super fun and super easy!
*Please note, this recipe is not able to be digested, so please ensure the kids keep it out of their mouth.
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How fun and super easy! I really want to try this recipe
Thanks Elga! We hope you do give it a try
I just tried this and it worked out perfectly. My only advice is add the food coloring to the conditioner before adding the corn starch. The dough feels amazing!!!
That’s a great tip Bridget! Thank you so much for taking the time to message us! We’re so glad you’re enjoying your dough! Jenni x
loved your recipe. New version of the old cooked playdough I used to make for my children. I added a few drops of lavender essential oil to one mix. This night time playdough only came out after bath and dinner. The warmth of little hands soon released the lavender aroma tiring my little ones. Bed time was a delight for my cherubs!
That’s a GREAT idea Berit! I might have to try that & post it for our other Fun Mums to try
What a wonderful idea, i have a austic grandson and this would be great for him, thank you for sharing
We are so glad your grandson will like this idea! Thank you for taking the time to comment Gin : ) Jenni x
What a wonderful idea! I might try that with my stepson, he’s very active just before bed!
That should be a lovely calming activity for him before bed. Louise x
Wow never thought of adding the oil! I just made some today and it worked beautifully! Awesome stuff! I used one whole bag and approx 2/3 of a bottle of conditioner. Just add conditioner a little at a time til it’s done
I used one whole bag and approx 2/3 of a bottle of conditioner. Just add conditioner a little at a time til it’s done. I’m taking the ingredients to preschool for the kids to make! Awesome! Thanks!
Work in early childhood education, love your ideas.
Thank you so much for saying Jan!! Jenni x
I have a child in my preschool room that’s allergic to wheat so I’ve been trying lot’s of different cornflour playdough recipes. The children have had lot’s of fun helping but none have worked out yet. I’m looking forward to trying this with them on monday 🙂 thanks for sharing it
That’s great Janet!! It really is so easy to make, smells divine & is just like Playdough! My kids love it & we hope your preschool kids do too!
What is best wsy to store it
In an air tight container in the fridge : ) Jenni x
Hi Janet, I’m pretty sure you could use potato starch also called potato flour, for the child in your class with the wheat allergy! It has the same soft texture and can be used for the same purposes as cornflour. I buy it at coles 😉
Just wanted to say that potato starch and potato flour are two separate things. I would use the starch.
Thanks for the idea! My son is mildly allergic to corn, so I was a little worried about using cornflour and I really want to try this. I will look for some potato starch today at the store!
ha, never thought about using conditioner – very cool. the colors are lovely.
Thank you for saying iGameMom! Let us know if you give it a try : ) Jenni x
Just saw this , my 2 kids where being annoying so we made this up in under about 3 min , now they are both outside playing ahhhhhh thanks for the piece and quiet. .
Although I ran short of corn flour so I just topped it up with sr flour and it’s still beautiful and soft . And your hands feel nice and soft after playing with it .
So glad we could give you some peace Lisa! ; ) Thank you so much for taking the time to comment and thanks for the tip re the flour too! Jenni x
Is corn flour same things called corn starch?
It sure is Mary
Would flour work at all. I don’t have corn starch
I’m not 100% sure BUT I think the flour would get too sticky. Louise x
Wow awesome! Will definitely give this a go!
This is great!!! Just wondering if you keep it in the fridge or cupboard and how long it lasts for??? Thanks so much
Hi Deanne, if you store it in an air tight container, you will get about a week out of it. No need to put it in the fridge : ) Jenni x
That looks awesome! I wish I could try this recipe but I have a skin allergy to conditioner. I’ll bet the kids would love it.
Oh that’s a shame Kate!! You could get the kids to mix it perhaps? We are going to be trying out more Playdough activities in the future so there will be others you could try too
You could wear gloves while mixing.
Hi Kate, Just wondering if you have tried sensitive conditioner?
I have very sensitive skin. I use sorbolene based conditioner or there’s one called ‘simple’ or ‘tree tea’ those 3 are the only ones I can use for my skin but I always keep gojng to sorbolene. I get it from my local supermarket Coles or woolworths.
Kate, I saw a similar recipe using hand lotion. Maybe there is one that would work for you?
http://www.playdoughrecipe.com/cream-of-tartar-playdough-recipe/ no conditioner in this recipe
Cream of Tartar Playdough Recipe
Ingredients:
•2 cups of plain flour
•2 cups of colored water (food coloring)
•1 tbsp. of cooking oil
•1 tsp. cream of tartar
•1 cup of salt
cream of tartar playdough recipe
Directions:
•Place all of the ingredients in a medium size or large pan.
•Cook slowly on medium-high and stir it until the playdough thickens.
•Thought there would be more steps? Nope, we keep it simple.
Keep the finished playdough in a plastic container in the fridge, that way it lasts alot longer. This playdough recipe is similar to the traditional playdough recipe, make sure to take a look at that playdough recipe too.
This recipe takes less than 10 minutes, giving you more time to enjoying the finished playdough.
Just made this it’s so easy! Just wondering how to keep it. I’ve put it in a zip lock bag, but I’m wondering how others keep theirs and how long it keeps for?
A zip lock bag should be fine for a good few weeks – we are currently in Summer so we have refrigerated ours, it’s then nice and cool for the kids to play with :). It should last at least a couple of months in the fridge.
is this edible?
No Muriel, as it contains conditioner, it is inedible.
that is what I thought..thanks..
I’ve just made some of this and it was so easy to make, just have to work out the correect amounts as we are finding it difficult to use with cutters etc as it sticks. Added a bit more cornflour n a bit better, smells lovely and makes your hands soft too.
I am a new grandma and I am looking for ideas to collect for future use to play with Grand children. thank You!
What a fun Grandma you are Sandra! Thanks for taking the time to let us know : ) Jenni x
Is cornflour the same thing we call corn starch in the States? And does this dry out if left exposed to air? Thanks!
Hi Janet,
Both are the same…it’s called Cornflour in Australia & Cornstarch in the States. We stored ours in an airtight bag just in case.
Corn starch, conditioner and food coloring,,so how is this 2 ingredients?
As it reads in the blog Jose, the food colouring is optional. Jenni x
U don’t have to use colouring
Really? Why bother with a negative comment.
Even better, add the food colouring to the conditioner before you add it to the cornflour. It makes it way easier to mix the colour through.
Great idea! We’ll try this with our next batch : ) Jenni x
Thanks for that tip!!
Can u cook this and make it hard? Like so you cab keep a hand print or something?
We haven’t tried it but we do have this awesome Homemade Clay Recipe – http://pagingfunmums.com/2013/08/29/diy-baby-keepsake-using-homemade-clay/.
Louise x
Love this and you best bet we’ll be making this! I seriously love corn flour. I swear, mix is with anything and it makes for awesome sensory play!
So true! We always have loads of Cornflour in our pantry ;).
Louise x
Made it, playing with it, haven’t heard a peep for the last 2 and a half hours. LOVE IT.
Hi Kerian, that’s fantastic news :). I hope you’ve enjoyed those 2 and a half hours? lol.
Louise x
1 part conditioner 2 parts corn flour.. So exactly how much of each?
Would it be 1 cup cond and 2 cups corn flour?
Yes Lorinda – that will work perfectly. It really just depends on how much you want to make – ie. how many kids you have :). Have fun.
Louise x
Janet,
just check your cornflour is genuine corn flour and not wheat based. Some is labelled corn flour but made with wheat so would not be suitable for your child with the wheat allergy.
Cornflour also makes great ‘Ooblek’ an interesting medium that is neither solid or liquid but behaves like both (From the Dr Seuss Story – Bartholomew and the Ooblek).
Jen – Retired Early Childhood Teacher
Exactly what is conditioner?
Hi Vicky, It’s Hair Conditioner that you wash your hair with.
Louise x
Just discovered you. THANKS !!. I am one happy grandma, as there are so many things I can make and do with/for my grand children. Am going to keep this as my “secret”. LOVE IT !!!
Hi Sandy, We are so happy to hear that you love our page :). We have so many great crafts and activities to come :).
Louise x
This is a great recipe. Dollar store had everything I needed, so my playdough cost $2.00 to make 2 cups worth! What an amazing recipe! Thank you for posting!
That’s fantastic! Thank you for letting us know. $2 is a bargain!
Louise x
Just made some, 2 very excited littlies, thank you so much 🙂
To those of you who may experiencing ‘stickiness’ with you your play dough. There are so many factors that could contribute to this. It worked perfectly for us, using the ingredients pictured in a moderate climate. Perhaps high humidity climates could affect the dough consistency or different brands of conditioners.
As an alternative, you may like to try our very easy ‘No Cook Playdough Recipe’ (http://wp.me/p3Voxt-2Ft). Thank you to everyone who has given us feedback on this fun activity, it’s been great to hear that the majority of you have had such great success! Jenni & Louise : )
This looks like a really easy, fun recipe to make up for our gluten free kiddos. Thanks! Just as a note for those of us in the U.S. — corn starch and corn flour are NOT the same thing in the states. Corn starch is the stuff in the box that you use for thickening, and it is powdery and white. Corn flour is what you use in cornbread and baking, and it is more gritty and beige. 🙂
~Alicia
Wow Alicia! We didn’t know that! Thank you so much for clarifying! Jenni x
Re: States corn flour
It sounds like the corn starch is the one to use. It sounds similar to what Aussies call corn flour. Our cornflour is white and soft not gritty or beige
Actually they are the same, I just made it with corn starch and worked great. corn meal is what you make corn bread with.
I think you mean corn meal that is gritty.
Actually, there is a corn flour in the states that is still gritty, but a finer grind than corn meal. Just look for corn starch here and you will be set For this recipe. I bake gluten free so I’m pretty familiar with the different flour vs starch options available in the US. (Potato starch and potato flour are also different things).
Going to make this for the grandkids when they come at Christmas. They can make something cool for their Christmas Tree.
works better with home brand cornflour & home brand conditioner + as added benefit save $$$
How long will this last?
Hi Cassandra, it will last a few days in an air tight container : ) Jenni x
Nice recipe, but toxic. Is it edible? What do you think?!? Do your children normally eat conditioner?!? Craziness!!!
Thanks for this recipe! My allergy daughter will enjoy playing with it. When I make it soon, I will try using natural colour – a small amount of beetroot juice in with the conditioner. Thanks again! Donna
That’s a great idea!
Great idea. My daughter is sensitive to most fragrances in conditioners, do you think I could make it with sorbolene and add lavender oil for fragrance instead?
I don’t see why not Sam, that’s a great idea! Let us know how you go : ) Jenni x
I’m gonna try this for sure! Thanks so much 🙂
is corn flour different than corn starch?
can I substitute regular flour?
Corn starch would be the closest. Regular flour will not work. Louise x
Hi Melissa, we are based in Australia & we can only get corn flour. I have heard conflicting reports as to whether or not corn starch is the same in the US some say yes & some say no
I am from the States, but I live in Indonesia. The corn flour in Australia (and Indonesia) is the same as what we call corn starch in the States. (Corn meal is what we use to make corn bread. It is yellow or beige.) Both corn flour and corn starch are white. In a clear container, they look like powdered sugar (but of course, do not taste or act like powdered sugar!!).
So for those in the States… use corn starch and conditioner. =0)
Instead of food color I used sparkles. Ran out of cornstarch though, so I tried potato starch just to top it up. Worked great but I got a little too much in and it’s not quite as soft as it was. Breaks easily. I will be sharing this recipe with many. Thanks!
I like that you tried to many different things! Thanks for hanging with us Cathy! Jenni x
Add glitter! Im going to make purple clay with rose oil and pink glitter.
That sounds like a wonderful idea April!! I will have to give the glitter a try myself! Jenni x
Great idea, I just made some for my grandsons. Mine is not the exact consistency of playdough. It is more the consistency of between ooblek and playdough. Is it supposed to feel same as playdough, or kind of flowy like ooblek? I am sure my grandsons will like what I made, but just wondering.
Hi Elaine, yes it’s not an exact replica of the ‘normal’ playdough but it’s still very soft….it’s definitely not supposed to be flawy like ooblek, so I would add some more Corn Flour! I hope this helps! Jenni x
I am a daycare teacher in Canada and this will defanitely be a great science experiment. Thanks for sharing.
I’m always eager to try new fun ideas for my preschool students! Thanks for the great ideas!
That’s great Bonnie! So glad we could help! Jenni x
Does the food coloring come off on little hands?
Hi Cindy, I’ve had no stained hands to date : ) I always ensure I wash their hands thoroughly after play though : ) Jenni x
I have the opposite question- if this gets left out, does it dry nicely?
Excellent. Can’t wait to give it a try. But approxamitly how much shampoo would I put it to make a standard sized play dough?
Sorry I meant conditioner… Lol not enough sleep 🙂
Hi Yasmin, I used the whole conditioner bottle for one batch (which was 500ml) so you will need 4 cups of corns flour. It all depends on how much you want to make. As long as you use one part conditioner to 2 parts corn starch, you’ll be on to a winner : ) Jenni x
I am a Gr R teacher in South Africa and I will definitely try this recipe ,thanks for sharing.
Thanks awesome! Thanks Fiella! Jenni x
This is so neat. Me & my grand daughter will definitely be trying this next weekend. I absolutely love your site. We’ve tried several different things from your site and my grand daughter and I have had so much fun. Thanks so much for your posts.
Thank you Brenda, we love hearing lovely comments like yours! We hope to bring you plenty more crafts, activities & recipes in the future too!! Jenni x
Hi….in some comments you say keeps a few days in airtight container and others day zip lock bag in fridge for months? Just need to clarify. Cheers! Ps…your 3 ing lemon play dough…does this one keep better?
Hi Janelle, it will keep both in a zip lock bag and an airtight container : ) The Lemon Playdough keeps well in the same manner. Jenni
thanks for the idea
If there are concerns about a small child eating this, add a bit of alum to the mix. ( its the thing that makes u pucker that is in pickles). Most children will remove it from their mouth as fast as they put it in….although there is always an exception to that !
thanks for the great idea – we are currently in venice and missing some playdough time. these ingredients i can source from the local supermarket. can’t wait to make it! playing with playdough has alot of great benefits and i believe children should be exploring this medium everyday.
Does it keep?
Yes it keeps well in an air tight container in the fridge : ) Jenni x
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Hi, I just made a patch of this. It was great. However I used icing coloring instead of food coloring and my hands are now all pink :p. Just wondering would the same thing have happened with food coloring? Does it still stain when it is all dry.
Hi Maya, that’s a shame : ( We haven’t had any problems with the normal food colouring that you get from the grocery store : ) Jenni x
Thanks I’ll have to grab some the next time I in the store. Is there any particular brand you would recommend?
Yes food color stains hands as well. Lemon juice helps remove the stains
since icing colors are usually very concentrated, I imagine that is why your hands were colored also. I think the liquid coloring would be easier to remove.
I really like this but I only have corn starch. Is that ok to use?
It should be fine as long as it’s not the thick, grainy corn starch…. : ) Jenni x
I’m going to try this in my classroom! Thanks, sounds wonderful!
Corn Starch in the US is Corn Flour in the UK
You are correct. corn starch and cornflour are the same thing
Corn starch and flour are VERY different…it probably wont work with corn starch
I just made this today with cornstarch, and it turned out fantastic! I added a little extra cornstarch for the right consistancy, but I also some lemon essential oil as well as yellow food coloring. It smells and feels awesome! I’m so excited to share this with my niece! Thanks for the great idea!
Corn starch works just fine. 🙂
Thank you! Louise x
I LOVE this idea!! Too bad I didn’t find it in Nov. when we did our unit on Gingerbread, adding cinnamon to it would be amazing! I am excited to try this, though being a preschool teacher in a room with carpet on the floor & only mats under our tables, playdough sometimes isn’t our good friend. Has anyone had any experience with this getting on carpet? If so, did it come out easy and what did you do to get it out? Thanks for this wonderful idea!! 🙂
~ Blessings ~
Charity
Luckily we haven’t had any carpet incidents…yet…I dare say it would not fare too well : ( Thank you so much for stopping by!! Jenni x
dawn and water. brush the areas. or resolve carpet cleaner will get anything out . micro fiber couches especially when you use a brush and towel.or call me owner of Jefferson rug cleaning co. 573 301 2361
Probably using ice would harden it up like a candle and be able to scrap it off the carpet.
Hi Charity,
As a Sunday School Teacher of 2nd and 3 rd graders I can tell you I’ve had my share of playdoh on the carpet! Just let it dry! After 4 or 5 days take a plastic knife and just rub the knife back and forth to ‘scratch’ the playdoh out! Run a vacuum over the carpet and it’s clean again.
Hi
I’ve made something like this, but instead of using condition I used baby
So for the lady who has allergies (Kate@the craft train)
this hopefully would work for you.
I’ve also used it with baking flavours! like peppermint, cinnamon etc ( obviously not to eat, just smells yummy)
And the children love it xx
April
Oops should say baby oil x
I just made this with my daughter. We had fun making it and playing with it. The clean up was super easy too. Of course all of the colors were mixed together in the end. Lol. Watching her have so much fun and using her imagination was a blast for me. Thank you for this!
Cant wait to try it. Does it keep well like the cooked play dough?
Yes it keeps well in an air tight container in the fridge…for a few months…not that it lasts that long in my house lol! Jenni x
Tip for play dough in the carpet. Just let it dry out and then you can scrape it off.
Wow, this is cool!! I always made play dough for my Children and Child Care.. thought you had to have the alumn spice in it too, to keep it from getting hard.. A must try!!
This was alot of fun and I found if you use 1cup conditioner & 1cup of cornflower and desired amount of food color drops for darkness it works great 😉
Hi hun thanks so much for this…. just wondering could it be used to make a keep sake plaque of hand prints or would it crumble once dry
Hi Danielle, no you won’t be able to do that with this recipe. But here is a link for you to use : ) http://wp.me/p3Voxt-2DQ Jenni x
Thank you
My niece would really enjoy this she loves play dough…can’t wait to try it with her! 🙂
Is this conditioner hair?conditioner or laundry conditioner? I am from the UK
Hi Mary, it’s hair conditioner : ) Jenni x
Excited to try this with my kids. We’ve made other playdohs, but used dry koolaid as the coloring…..smells amazing.
Does it dry without cracking? I’d like to make it for art projects if so.
YOU SPEELED COLOR RONG
Hi Ryan, lol! We are Australian so colour is correct down under : ) Jenni x
Many Canadians also spell it ‘colour’. This is the British spelling it.
We Canadians are also known for being polite, so we would kindly say, I’m sorry but you spelled it wrong 😉
Great idea! Corn starch sweeps up easily once it dries up!
Actually Ryan Dunn…. we spell it right. Tyvm! Most disgruntled British Mummy and Teacher…. grrrr bring it on.. :O
…spell it correctly, Teacher…
This is so funny! My old English Granny raised me to spell it colour , labour, honour,etc. I never got it counted wrong in class!
Is it better to use conditioner that’s thick or thin in consistency?
i imagine that the two ingredients are not a hassle to clean out of carpet but the amount of dye used may stain to a degree. you can probably experiment with water soluble dyes or use a fine dry pigment to dye the dough
Can you make handprints in this dough and then let it dry to be kept as a memory of their little hands??
Hi Wanda, no you won’t be able to do that with this recipe. But here is a link for you to use : ) http://wp.me/p3Voxt-2DQ Jenni x
I made this for my boys all the time when they were young. We colored ours with an unsweetened package of koolaid. Made the playdough smell wonderful too.
hello, this was our preschool, home school project . She had lot of fun. Im looking for the hand print dough instructions. Do you happen to have?
Cant wait to do this thanks
I had my own catering business and made many wedding cakes so I have professional food colours. The kind you get at kitchen supply stores. They are more vibrant and concentrated than the food colours you get in grocery stores. Do you know if those work well?
I definitely think they will work well, but I’m not sure how the staining will go with little hands? Jenni x
I just made two batches; one green, the other peach colored. I added more corn starch and kneaded it until it did not stick to the surface of my counter. I also added color gels as well. I teach preschoolers with Autism Spectrum Disorders so I am excited to use tomorrow. Lots of sensory here: textures and smells. My only concern is the smell might be too strong. If so, I will look for non-scented conditioners. Thanks for the idea!
If you made a snowman, would it dry and keep its shape?
I don’t think it would Tori, sorry : ( Jenni x
Does this dry well? Like if I wanted to dry and lacquer a sculpture with it?
Hi Rachel, I don’t think it would be suitable for that
I think next time I’ll start with the cornflour and add the conditioner, ‘cos I ended up using equal amounts of both and it ended up very runny. Will try it again though 🙂
I know soft playdough that uses one ingredient…Ivory Snow…and some water of course
Didn’t work out quite like yours mind it is a very humid afternoon it turned out like solid slime. But my son loved it and we had fun too. My hands look slightly bruise like from the food colouring but hey it will wash out in the next couple of days. Cheap corn flour from Coles and fructis conditioner may need to have more corn flour but it is great fun to play with. My five year old is having a blast.
how much of both do you use
just tried this with cornstarch but mine turned out more like slime, it runs through the fingers. Can I fix this?
I love your ideas! Would you send me more please? Thank you.
Sure Jessica! We would love to! Please head to our home page & click on our button (on the right hand side of the screen) to join our newsletter subscription. You can also ‘like’ us on Facebook for every craft update! You can find us at: https://www.facebook.com/PagingFunMums Jenni x
I have no cornflour due to intolerance with kids. would rice flour or potato flour work?
I think that might work! Let us know how you get on
Ty for the share, I normally cook the dough, but that means the kids miss out on the best bits! With this method we can get grubby from the outset…. and it ticks so many development boxes, measuring, textures, colours, shapes, motor skills… ah the list goes on and on x
I just saw this posted on FB and only had Corn Starch on hand. It worked great! Just had to add a little more than the 2 parts to 1 part it called for. My kids are LOVING it! Thanks!
I had to look up corn flour, I had never heard of it! In the UK its corn flour, in the US its corn starch.
We made this recipe yesterday and would offer the following suggestions. 1 six oz box of cornstarch and one 12 ounce bottle of conditioner was just about the right consistency. If you are going to add coloring or additional essential oils to make it smell stronger, I would suggest adding that to the conditioner first before you add any cornstarch. It was a lot of fun, but very messy! 🙂 The bonus is how soft your hands are after handling it. I think my countertop is also especially conditioned too. 🙂
WE’RE HAVING A BIRTHDAY PARTY SOON AND THAT WOULD BE FUN. GOTA GIVE IT A TRY.
Hi I will be trying this with grandaughter at wkend but how much conditioner and corn flour do u need to use pks thnk u amanda x
I am an aunt of 6 little ones and can’t wait to try this with them!! Thanks for the wonderful ideas!
Just a note, this is NOT a non-toxic recipe, so be careful. I wouldn’t recommend giving this to a child who tends to eat things like this…
does this really need to be refrigerated? i work with a young man that is obsessed with playdoh. he doesn’t play with it much but needs to have several colors and takes them out of the container and looks at them, squeezes them occasionally. they dry out very quickly and if we don’t have replacements he does not understand why he can’t have fresh. this would be perfect to make for “replacement doh” but we don’t have a fridge near by.
It will last longer if refrigerated however you could always make smaller batches – maybe quarter the ingredients? Louise x
So, are you using corn FLOUR or corn STARCH, I am in the US
We have heard that both will work :). Louise x
I just made this dough tonight and my autistic son loves it. Works Awsome with cookie cutters. I was worried about food coloring transferring all over the place so I used lime jello and strawberry jello and it turned out great. I added the jello to the conditioner first.
Finally made it with my 2 kids last night and they loved it! But I supposed I put in a bit too much cornflour, so the dough dries up a bit after a while. we’re keeping it in the fridge for the night, hope it’s still ok when we want to use it again.
Thanks for the recipe!!
For people who have allergies I use Free and Clear Conditioner and Shampoo. Mix one part Con. or Sham. to two parts water. Shake before using. Otherwise is too think to use. There is nothing in this product containing anything that causes allergies. I will be trying this playdough recipe in the next week or so.
Has anyone used this recipe to make crafts to give as gifts? Beginning crafts to give away for gifts at Christmas 2014.
Thanks for that great suggestion.
Here is a dough/clay recipe that can be used for making keepsakes – http://pagingfunmums.com/2013/07/07/homemade-modeling-clay/
Louise x
I makes fondant just powdered sugar and marshmallows. My daughter likes to eat it that way no harm. but I might try this one with my son!
Where do you buy Corn Flour at and what does one usually make with corn flour? : ) This Play dough Recipe looks much better than the edible playdough I’m use to making which is a Kool-aid playdough. I’ve out of the pre-School age business for a long time now. So I’ve forgotten the different things kiddos enjoy!!!! 🙂 Like this recipe though will keep it in mind for Church Sunday school projects etc. 🙂
Carolyn, I am unsure where you live but you can usually by corn flour in the flour isle in the supermarket. It can be used to thicken sauces, make white sauces and you can use it in different craft activities
You can use simple corn starch instead of corn flour. Hope this helps.
Hi, just a minor correction to the recipe. I realised that I posted wrongly.
It is 2 parts plain flour,
1 part corn flour
1 part potato starch
Food colouring is optional.
Water is added to the mixture as one goes along mixing it.
I am from Singapore. I do know that the corn flour we know of here is used usually as the batter for fried foods.
It’s simply Corn Starch.
It’s probably called corn starch in your part of the world.
Corn flour in our household is used as a thickener
For gravys, sauces etc
We also use it in our baking to create a lighter cake, muffin and so on.
And we use it to make some things more crisp
Like sweet and sour chicken, waffles, parmas…
It has many, many uses 😉
in the us we call this corn starch instead of corn flour. you can purchase it in any store.
I used baby lotion corn starch, and then a little flour when I ran out of corn starch. Worked great!
I found corn flour in the Mexican food section of the grocery store. Should have used corn starch. Corn flour is to gritty. Kids don’t really care they love it. Smells great I used strawberry conditioner.
In the US, corn flour is called corn starch.
no it’s not. Corn flour is ground corn. Corn starch is the starch removed from corn. BIG difference.
I made this one today then got to thinking, “I have a lot of extra Bath & Bodyworks lotions just sitting around.” The lotion also worked and smells great. Loads of fun happening here in the freezing Wisconsin winter! 🙂 Thanks for the great ideas!
My son is allergic to cornstarch. Do you think this would work well (or have the same texture) if cake flour was used?
Hi Rene, I have never tried it, but I’d love for you to give it a go and let me know how you go!! Jenni x
If allergic to corn, try using arrowroot purchased at your local health food store.
I used arrowroot (tapioca flour) when I ran out of corn flour – worked great!
Great suggestion! Arrowroot is a perfect substitute for any recipe that calls for corn starch. And unlike corn, it is non-GMO.
You could try potato starch…I use it instead of corn starch for a lot of gluten free breads so it should work the same. =)
yes
You could try rice flour?
No, cake flour will not be the same. The starch factor needs to be high.
Try arrowroot/tapioca/cassava starch. Should work just the same.
Tapioca Starch would be a good sub for corn starch 🙂
potato flour works too
Just made this and as both my children have eczema I used normal aqueous cream, similer but thicker thank E45, worked fab but needed less of the cream!!! Thank you for the recipe x
That’s great Lorraine! We’re so glad you’re happy! Sounds like you came up with another great recipe! Thanks for sharing! Jenni x
What does it mean – 1 part… 2 part….
Does it mean 1 part equals half the container or 1 cup ? same with 2 (does it mean cups)
Please Let me know ASAP
I need to know for tomorrow !!
Thank You
It means equal amounts of each :). You might want to use two level measuring cups of each to make a larger quantity. Hope that helps. Louise x
…. No it’s relative. part implies a ratio rather than an amount. If using cup measures the resipe requires three parts total, devided into one cup of conditioner to two cups of flour. If you are making lots for a class you may want to multiply the recipe, keeping the ratio of one part conditioner to two parts flour. In this particular instance 1:2 means you’ll use double the flour (2 is double 1)
If the ratio was say 3:5 you would need to decide on a unit , eg, 1/3 cup. Making the required relative amount 1cup (3 x 1/3) : 1 2/3cup (5 x 1\3)
It just means pick a way to measure and use that for all ingredients, and use as many times of that amount as the recipe says… If I want a small amount I might use a tea cup – so one tea cup of the conditioner and two tea cups of the cornflour… but when I want a big amount I might use a cereal bowl (one of conditioner, two of cornflour).
1 part means like 1 cup and the same for the 2 parts means like 2 cups
i totally loved it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ( :
I gave the ingredients to the daycare to do with my 2 year old and apparently it went down an absolute treat. Thanks!
Looks fantastic! How long will it keep and where should I store it?
Hi Nicole, you can store this in an air tight container : ) Jenni x
Does this dry out if left out??
Looks fab, thanks!
xxx
I wonder if you used organic conditioner if it would be safer for if the little ones pop it in their mouths?
No safer or more dangerous than any other kind of conditioner. The ‘organic’ label only refers to the conditioner ingredients that are from plants. The other ingredients would be the same as in other conditioners, shampoos, etc. So, you still shouldn’t let kids eat the stuff. But if they did, they probably wouldn’t be in any more danger than if some got in their mouths in the bath when you were washing their hair. If you want the best information call a poisons hotline, or contact the manufacturer.
Yes, unless you store it in an airtight container.
Cornflour- buy this if yr in Australia.
Corn starch- buy this if yr in the US.
Easy!
Please be careful of making this for children with sensitine skin. My daughter is very sensitive to fabric conditioner and could definately not play with this. I used the following, well known alternative.
2 cups flour, 1 cup salt, a little edible oil (corn/vegetable oil), food colour from natural scources (beetroot or similar) and enough water to produce the dough you want. Various softness/stiffnes are great at different times.
It’s not fabric softener, it’s hair conditioner.
If you have super sensitive skin it doesn’t matter if it’s fabric softener or hair conditioner. I do, and I break out like crazy with certain brands of: dish soap, laundry detergent, soap, body wash, lotion, shampoo, conditioner, makeup. In other words, anything that goes on the skin… Just if your child has sensitive skin, be aware of what you are using in it and use something that won’t bother him or her.
Sounds like this recipe we made would be perfect for you and your kids Michelle – http://pagingfunmums.com/2014/04/25/natural-play-dough-recipe-sensitive-skin/
Louise x
Hi I made this the other day for the kids I work with at the daycare. It was awesome the first day, however the next day it just broke apart. Just wondering if there is anything else I could do. I did follow the recipe
Thanks
In my opinion, this is a “one day” kind of dough. I make it often with my daycare class of two year olds and it lasts through one day of playing and then gets really dry and crumbly. But it’s so cheap and fun that really doesn’t matter to us. We use fruit scented conditioners and little ice cream scoops, cones and bowls that I got at IKEA for about a dollar–instant ice cream party! And no, they have never tried to eat it. Have fun!
great idea….my kids loved it////keep sharing
There is a difference between corn starch and corn flour. They are made from different parts of the corn plant and have different properties. I tried corn starch and it didn’t work but the corn flour did but broke apart super easily – not as elastic as real playdough. I wonder what I’m doing wrong.
Hi,
The recipe I am currently using is 1 part each of potato starch, corn flour, plain flour and water. Would you by any chance know if salt is really needed to keep this mixture preserved in its state for about a month?
I was just wondering how long this playdoe last? how about if it stays in the refrigerator?
This thread is filled with ignorant people.
and you are one of them. oh, and you are mean too!!
I agree. :/
Love this idea
looks like great fun.
Im gonna make this now 🙂
Great sensory tool
Love this! My little girl is very excited to try!
ok, so its not two ingredients then. ive used cornflour/starch with oil and essence which turns out like a soft cream, very therapeutic. flour has to be used to form a dough which is malleable
Tried it and it worked brilliantly. My little boy loves it.
That’s wonderful Pauline!! Jenni x
Please help me! I’m making for tomorrow’s bd party. How long will the playdough last in a container?! Thank you!!!
Hi Lydnsey, it will definitely last over night for your party : ) Jenni x
hi ! Just needed your help.. : ) wat do u mean by 1 part can u write like tbs or something like that cuz i can’t really understand..It would be great if u could help.. 🙂
Parts refer to what ever measuring unit you use.
Example: one part of item A, 2 parts of item B and 3 parts of item c
If you use a tablespoon use 1 tbl A, 2 Tbl B 3 Tbl C
If you use a measuring cup use 1 Cup A, 2 Cups B , 3 Cups C
If you use the scoop that came in the lemonade or the kid’s play kit, use 1 scoop A, 2 scoops B, 3 scoops C.
Hope this helps.
Pick your measuring container and use the # of each that the recipe says.
This type recipe makes it easier to make the right size recipe.
Great! Got my own playgroup, and will use al the idea!!!!!
Used the recipe with my class of Year 1/2 students for a capacity/procedure lesson. They had a ball, the carpet is a bit messy but a great lesson. We each made our own using 1/2 cup conditioner and 1 cup cornflour. Found at the end that half used shampoo as I just grabbed containers off the shelf. Still worked.! 🙂
This is awesome loved the idea
I gave my 4 year old grandson the ingredients with cup measures and just watched him make it himself. He was super proud. So was I. Thanks Jenni for sharing.
Just wanted to say how much I LOVVVVVVVVVE this recipe! Made it tonight as a tester and it’s so great! The best thing is that I used some tea tree conditioner, so it smells gorgeous and is green so doesn’t need any colouring 🙂 thanks Paging Fun Mums!
Wow that was strange. I just wrote an really long
comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn’t appear.
Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Anyhow, just wanted to say
excellent blog!
i want know that abouth the ingreadents u use for this ,, 1st is wat u mean by conditioner? is it hair conditioner? and 2nd question is wat about the flour? no need to add flour for this?
Just found you. I am a grandmother of 3 boys…6, 4, 1. Where have you been all my life? Looks like so much fun. Can’t wait to try this “playdough” fun mixture. Look forward to future finds on your website.
Great idea…thanks for posting this recipe 😀
My daughter was very upset to find our playdoh had all dried out (at 8 am this morning). Google sent me to this post, and in a matter of minutes we had pink “playdoh” again. She loves it.
When my son woke up a bit later, we made some green for him. They are happily, and quietly, playing together!
(I used hair conditioner and corn starch as I didn’t scroll through the comments until later, worked great)
Thank you so much for this idea! We are Expats living in East Timor and good quality toys and activities are just not easily available here. My 2 year old loved this playdough and I am certain we will make it over an over again. 🙂 We used potato starch and conditioner and it came out perfectly!
Thank you! This is just what we needed post-Christmas, and with friends coming to visit this evening. 🙂
Also, I am a play therapist and will definitely be directing clients/patients to your site. Bless you!
Nice I use lotion and corn starch ☺
can i use reg plain old white flour
This is awesome I have a 3 year old, 4 year old and as you my know kids this age are impatient and busy…we mixed it up together and they have been playing and sharing their colors for over 45 minutes…no fighting
Don’t know what I did wrong but it just didn’t work 🙁 It just stayed a soft crumbly mess, wouldn’t come together at all 🙁
You gotta knead it and then, if it doesn’t work you’ve evidently done something wrong
We made this with my prek class today and ours was a mess too, at first. Then, We just dumped the rest of the corn starch in and gradually added more n more conditioner until it formed dough. We were telling the kids that scientists make mistakes too, and that not all experiments turn out the way you expect. Just keep trying. .. It will work (eventually…) Don’t give up!
add more conditioner
Hey, my daughters, Caitlyn and Freya tried this for their science expo! It was lovely and their teachers commented on how excellent it was! I love this site! My little baby is gonna love it when it’s born!
Caitlyn and Freya, my ten year old twins, loved it! Thanks SO, SO much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Can I use All Purpose flour or any flour instead of cornflour?
Only cornflour
You could probably use any starch powder–corn & potato are the easiest to find and the cheapest. Corn flour (UK) is same as cornstarch (USA).
Oh Luved it, the colors are fantastic. But it does not hold toguether and it smears a lot. What have I
done wrong girls?
For the child care centers who wanted the dough to last longer than one day, you would do better using the flour, salt, oil receipe and add Kool-Aid to the water you are using, this adds a nice scent and for some reason it makes it softer. Also the kids can add flour if it gets sticky, and they love using the flour, its like making real, but pretend cookies and cakes. The reason for using this receipe is you refridgerate in a large plastic storage bag and they love that it is soooo cold, warms up as they play and will last for about 2 weeks. My class has 18, 3 and 4 yr. olds and it comes out every day for play by at least 6 to 8 kids each day. Its good with rolling pins, cookie cutters and also plastic knives for cutting in pieces. For richer colors add some neon food coloring.
If you are having problems, you may be using corn meal instead of corn flour. In the US (and perhaps other places?) corn flour=corn STARCH. Make sure you are using the white, fluffy powder that is often used for thickening sauces. The most popular brand is Argo.
I would love to have new ideas to use with my sk/gr1 after school program.
Hi I’ve seen many different tyes of play doh recipes and wounderin of baby powder would work to.
Will it harden if left out like regular play dough? I’m trying to find a cheap alternative to sculpting clay…
This recipe would probably be better for that – http://pagingfunmums.com/2014/09/04/two-ingredient-clay/
How long does it last and best way to store it?.thanks
Hi Shabnum, you can store it in an air tight container or zip lock back for about 4 weeks! Jen x
Oh my god, this is too genius! Finally a play dough mix that doesn’t require me to cook and fridge anything!
I’m not a lazy parent, but come on, realistically I don’t have time to be cooking play dough every day >_< Thank you for making this easier! My kids play through play dough so much and it always dries and then we gotta buy more of that real-non toxic stuff. This way, I can use some of my organic hair conditioner and not be too worried.
Thanks girl! So far, your website has amazing ideas for crafts for my kids! 2 thumbs up!
This is awesome! Was looking for alternatives to Play-doh brand and came across this! I had both ingredients on hand, made it right up and it was a huge hit with my home daycare kids. Thank you! One question; If it ends up getting crumbly, would adding more conditioner and kneading it help? Or am I better off just making a new batch? I’d like to salvage what I can, when I can. Thank you!
Omg this is awesome I just made it
Is the dough supposed to be very powdery? mine keeps falling apart and every time i pick it up it gets my hands filled with cornstartch or some thing. and it falls every where. the tiny peices make a big mess. what do i do?
Hi everyone,
I just recently found this recipe and I think it’s amazing.
But I was just wondering how long does the dough last for?
I made it with my Girl Guide group but it seems it doesn’t last for long?
Thanks again 🙂
Hi Tamara,
We’re so glad you like this recipe…yes, it doesn’t last long, we always make a new batch for each play session…it’s probably better that way anyway – re germs etc. Have fun with your Girl Guide group! Jen x