Homemade Playdough - DIY

I'm gonna be honest here - I love the smell of store bought Playdoh.

BUT I don't like how fast it dries out. Here's how to make your own that will last much longer before it dries out.

How to Make Homemade Playdough

Add all ingredients into a pan. {Recipe is at the end of the post} If you would like all the play dough to be the same color then add the food coloring at this point. We like to make several different colors, so we add the food coloring at the end.

 Mix together.

Now cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon.

 After a few minutes it will look like this. It's NOT done yet. Keep stirring.

When it forms a ball, I always stir an extra minute or two. If' it's under cooked it can be sticky - you don't want that.

This is what it should look like. {And don't worry about the dough that sticks to the bottom of the pan, just soak it and it will come right off}

Now let it cool a few minutes so you don't burn your hands. Then separate the dough into sections and add food coloring. I poke holes in the ball and add drops of food coloring in the holes. Then I squish it with my hands until it the color is uniform throughout.

Store in an airtight container - I use zip top bags.

I usually double the recipe.

Homemade Play Dough Recipe

Click Here For Printable Version

1 c. flour
1/2 c. salt
2 t. cream of tarter
1 c. water
1 1/2 T. vegetable oil
food coloring
Combine all ingredients {if you want several colors of play dough leave out food coloring at this point} Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until dough forms a ball.  Let cool a few minutes. Add food coloring now if you want several colors. Store in an airtight container.

Some fun add in's:
glitter, extract, or koolaid

 Now go get something done while the kids are busy playing with their new play dough.

 
Linking up at Lady Behind the Curtain,  Tidy Mom,  Life as a Lofthouse, Or so she says..., Homemade Ginger, 
Whipperberry ,  Adorned From Above, and at these parties

Mod Podge Wooden Music Notes Decor

Are you a music lover? Or do you know someone who is? My mom is a HUGE music lover. She has played the piano her whole life. As a kid, I always remember her practicing. I'm not sure she's ever missed a day. She has always been the organist at church since I was a little kid. She now has an organ in her home that she plays all the time. So I made her some music notes with her favorite music to hang on her wall.

This is a fairly simple project. With a jigsaw, wood and some basic supplies you'll have these whipped out in no time.

How to Make Wooden Music Notes

Terrific Tuesdays #52

As promised, I've got extra features this week. You guys are amazing! There were so many great posts linked up.

Terrific Tuesdays #51

My head hit the pillow at 2:07 am last night after flying home all day. I am so NOT ready for real life again. We had an amazing trip to the Caribbean. {And thank goodness we weren't on the Triumph cruise ship} We visited the Bahamas, U.S. Virgin Islands, San Juan Puerto Rico, and Grand Turk.

I'm not sure if I'll be getting much blogging done this week {I think I need a little time to ease back into reality}, but I thought I'd at least get the party up, since I missed it last week.

I haven't had time to look through the links for features - I'll try to feature extra next week.

Chocolate Covered Pretzels

I made these chocolate covered pretzels for Christmas, but I think they would be perfect for Valentines or any other special occasion. They are so easy!!

You will need:
Chocolate
Pretzels
sprinkles {optional}

Crocheted Winter Hat

Do you have a hard time making things for yourself? I do. I'm always making things for my kids, and for the house, but I rarely make things just for me. Do you know how many years I've gone without a winter hat? I don't either, it's been too long. At least my coat has a hood when I need it.


I've been wanting to make this hat for two years now, and I finally did it. Now two months later I'm finally sharing it with you!

Terrific Tuesdays #50

I'm not sure if there will be a party next week or not.  I have a HUGE to-do list to tackle before my husband and I leave on our cruise on Saturday. I'm starting to feel a little stressed about getting everything ready for the kids and everything packed. Fortunately, I've got a couple posts already scheduled so I don't have to worry about that this week.


Here are some of my favorites from last weeks party:

Chocolate Raspberry Pretzel Bites by What's Cooking, Love?

Valentine Bookmarks by Jerry and Kay

 

Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake by Semi Homemade Mom

DIY Scratch Off Valentines by The Chirping Moms

Free Valentines Tic Tac Toe Printable by JodieFitz.com

If you were featured grab a button!
Also check out my facebook page, I post additional features there from time to time.

<center> <a href="http://adventuresofadiymom.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i1173.photobucket.com/albums/r587/rchlnielsen/DIY-Mom_buttons-3.png"/></a></center>

Here's what I shared this week:
Winter Dresses
Peek-a-boo Pattern Shop
Patterns - How I get them Cheap
and
Something to Think About Sunday

Now let's see all the terrific things you've been up to.

Here are my guidelines:

1. Link up any projects, crafts, or recipes you have blogged about recently. You can definitely link up several projects. No shops, or link parties please.

2. Comment, comment, comment.  My vision for this link party is not to link and go. Please comment on two other links.

3. I'd love for you to follow my blog.{This is not required, but I’d love for you to take a minute and check it out.} Also if you're so inclined, you can follow me on facebook and pinterest as well.

4. Display my button somewhere on your blog - in the post, the sidebar, or on a party page.

<center> <a href="http://adventuresofadiymom.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i1173.photobucket.com/albums/r587/rchlnielsen/DIY-Mom_buttons-2small.png"/></a></center>

Something to Think About Sunday

 I'm glad I'm doing this series, it's making me think a little bit about things and not just going through the motions. I feel like it's totally for me. If it benefits someone else, then great, but I think I benefit the most.

I've been spent a lot of time blogging last week, trying to get this week all set up so I can spend my time getting things ready for the cruise. When I spend too much time blogging, I tend to start getting  in a zone that's not always the best. I tend to start looking at all the big blogs and wishing I was where they are at. {Although, I do not have the time or want to spend the time that I'm sure it takes to maintain that} Instead of focusing on the wonderful readers I have and the things I have been able to accomplish, I get a little envious.

So this quote today is just for me.

"May I plead with us not to be hurt—and certainly not to feel envious—when good fortune comes to another person? We are not diminished when someone else is added upon. We are not in a race against each other to see who is the wealthiest or the most talented or the most beautiful or even the most blessed." - Elder Jeffrey R. Holland {emphasis added}
 Click here to read the full article

I'd like to point out the highlighted part. Just because some one else has greater success at something does not make me any less of a person {or blogger}. 


This can be applied to so many parts of our lives. I encourage us all to not compare ourselves to others. When we do it's like comparing apples to oranges, since we all have differing talents and abilities.


I hope you all have a great week!

Patterns - How I get them cheap.

I was at Joann's a few weeks ago, and the lady in front of me was going to buy a pattern. She asked how much it was. The cashier told her it was $15 but if she could wait two days it would be on sale for $2. {I have no affiliation with Joann's by the way.}

That got me to thinking that a lot people might not know how cheaply you can buy patterns for. Most of the manufactured patterns I have, I got for a dollar on sale at Joann's or sometimes at yard sales. Every few months Joann's will have a sale where a certain brand of patterns will be on sale for a dollar; sometimes they are two dollars. {You'll want to sign up for their mailer so you know when these sales are happening} Most recently Simplicity patterns were on sale for a dollar. I'll head over, preferably without the kids, and browse through the catalogs. Anything that catches my eye that I think my girls would like I write down the number. They usually have a limit of either 5 or 10, so sometimes I have to narrow down my list.

Even though I don't buy patterns every time they are on sale and I don't always get the full limit, I have quite a stockpile of patterns. When it's time to make a dress, my daughters and I go through the pattern box and find something they like in their size. Some of the patterns I've used several times and others we haven't used yet.

The downfall of buying manufactured patterns is that they don't come out with new stuff very often. Lots of times I go and look, but I've already bought the ones that I like.

Click here to find out where I buy patterns online. 




Linking up at Lady Behind the Curtain,  Tidy Mom,  Life as a Lofthouse, Or so she says..., Homemade Ginger, 
Whipperberry ,  Adorned From Above, and at these parties