doughy creativity.

The boys love making dough, and we haven't made any in awhile. Another cold rainy day and super spunky boys -- play dough here we come!

Play Dough

1 c flour
1 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 c water
1/2 c salt
2 tsp cream of tartar
Food coloring

Stir all ingredients in a saucepan and heat, stirring the whole time until a ball forms, and then remove from heat. When it is cool enough to handle, knead until smooth.

My boys really really wanted green - so we used a colorant that I had in the cabinet. You can also use juiced veggies for color - replace the water with fresh beet or carrot juice (freshly juiced - not sugary bottled stuff or you will get gunk) for a natural color. I also like to add a few drops of essential oils - green was perfect for peppermint!




With the cold and rain over the past few days, we have been inside reading, playing games, making up plays and stories, and painting. I have been less than motivated to work on any of my sewing or embroidery projects - so while the boys read or paint I have been doodling with watercolors too. My painting medium has always been acrylic, so watercolor is all experimentation for me. I also had a tendency to paint darker things, usually people. So even doodling vegetables, flowers, fish, or hands is enough to help my mind slow down a bit and just paint and mess around with it and not worry about results or realism or composition. I need a lot more practice. I also think I need to stick to people. It has helped me jump start my creative juices this week, though, which was the plan!


G has become very very interested in my watercolors. We have good quality puck watercolor paints for the boys, but he knows that my little case of super pigmented colors are special, so whenever I have opened my notebook to dabble, he has asked to paint too. He quietly sits next to me, swishing, dipping, and then stroking big blobs of color. I think he likes red as much as I do!