Modeling Clay

Connor is sick as a dog on the couch and so I am trying to hurry~thus the really creative title. (o: I wanted to share an awesome modeling clay recipe. This week we are discussing the ocean and all that is in it. We decided for a science project we would make the clay and then for the art part we would make oceany things with the clay. It is from the 1997 version of Better Homes and Gardens Junior Cookbook. (http://www.amazon.com/Better-Homes-Gardens-Junior-Cookbook/dp/0696207087/ref=reader_auth_dp) I had the book out to get ready for the next couple of weeks because we are going to be discussing cooking, healthy eating etc. I saw the recipe and just had to try it.

It makes a gorgeous snow white dough that sparkles just a bit. Here is the recipe.
1 cup cornstarch
1 16oz box baking soda
1 1/2 cup water

Mix it all together in a sauce pan. Cook over medium-low heat~stirring constantly for-umm-ever until it thickens and forms a sorta ball, but mostly it's just really really super thick. Dump it out onto a lightly cornstarched counter and leave to cool for a bit. Once it's cool enough to touch, knead until smooth. Wrap with plastic wrap until fully cooled. Can be refrigerated for 2 weeks~kneading to soften. Can air dry for 1-2 days, or bake in 300 degree oven for 30 minutes, then turn oven off and leave in for about 1 hour. Baked clay will acquire a slight brownness during baking. When dry, use paints to decorate.

That is kind of a combo of instructions from the book and my own experience. We are going to let ours dry for a few days because I don't want the brownness. It's such a pretty white. Today we "sculpted" fish and used our giant gingerbread man cutout and made little men. Once they are all dried out the boys will paint the men to look like themselves. I will post pictures of the final results, but wanted to share the recipe. I have made a lot of homemade playdough in my day~being a preschool major and teacher and all, but this is a new one for me.

Enjoy and have a super great day!