I have always loved babies. When I was dragged to church as a tween (even though that term didn’t exist then) and a teen, I hung out in the nursery with the babies and the ladies that worked there. I was just about everyone’s go-to babysitter and I just knew that my life was meant to include babies and that I wanted to work in daycare and preschools when I got older. I took child development college courses and worked at a number of preschools and daycares. Everything from a major corporate run preschool that was full of children who’s parents were doctors, lawyers and bank presidents, to a home daycare, to a couple of small independent preschools, and most of the kids sucked at each and every place. No manners, mean, disrespectful, etc. I guess some of them were just kids, but some of them were the devil incarnate and you can’t convince me otherwise. Anyway, after a few years (maybe as many as 7, but who’s counting, really) I realized that if I ever wanted to have my own kids I would have to find a different career path or I was going to hate kids so deep in my core that my eggs would shrivel up and I’d never get pregnant. So I went into credit unioning banking and loved it and when I was finally ready to get pregnant (like 6 years later) I got pregnant three months after we started trying (if you were wondering).

As a once-upon-a-time preschool teacher, I try to do some kind of craft or fun activity with Lily at least once a week (and feel like I should do so much more). Unfortunately, as time seems to fly by a week at a time, it’s often two or three weeks between crafting fun. But at least I’m trying, I keep telling myself.  Just about every time we do a craft I take about a million pictures and always mean to share them here, but as with all of my blogging lately it hasn’t been happening, but I’m going to try changing that.  So here’s my start:

Playdough is one of our favorites and a go-to activity around here.

Here’s my go to playdough recipe. I wish I remembered where I got this recipe from, sorry. I’m sure there are other great ones out there, but this is the best out of the three or so I’ve tried.

Velvet Play Dough:
1 cup flour
1 cup warm water
2 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp oil
1/2 salt
food coloring (optional)

Mix all ingredients, adding food coloring last. Stir over medium heat until smooth. Remove from pan and knead until blended smooth. Place in plastic bag or airtight container when cooled. Will last for a long time.

I don’t keep normal food coloring around so Lily usually just plays with this in it’s natural beigh-ish glory. Also I’d been too scared of natural dyes, that they might stain our hands so I hadn’t tried any yet.

This time when I got into the spice cabinet for the cream of tartar I noticed some turmeric and remembered that it could be used as a yellow dye. I added about 1 tsp to the warming water and it worked out great. The old white paint on the garlic press that Lil uses with the dough got a bit stained as did the cutting board I used to knead on, but those things will fade with time I’m sure. No yellow hands though so I was happy.

I don't love playdough on clothes, can you tell?

Daddy got asked to make a star, he made two. 🙂

My sad little playdough guy.

Let me know how it goes for you guys.