* Chocolate modeling clay is made by combining melted chocolate and light 
corn syrup. American pastry chefs invented the recipe and have been 
using this delicious edible clay to make garnishes and unique 
decorations. Here is their secret!
Ingredients and Preparation:

•10 ounces of chocolate (chopped chunks or chips) •1/3 cup light corn 
syrup 

Note: the chocolate can be substituted with almond bark, or colored 
candy disks to create different colored flowers

•Melt the chocolate in a microwave for 1 minute. Stir. If chocolate is 
not completely melted, return to the microwave for 30 seconds at a time 
and stir until smooth. If you don't have a microwave, place the 
chocolate in the top of a double broiler over hot water and stir until 
melted.
•When the chocolate is melted, add the corn syrup and blend.

•Pour the mixture onto a waxed paper sheet.

•Spread the chocolate with your fingers until it's about 1/2 inch thick. 


•Cover loosely with waxed paper and let it stiffen for at least a couple 
hours or overnight. The chocolate will become very pliable. 
Making a Chocolate Rose:

•Have the kids roll 10 marble-sized balls out of the chocolate clay.
•Place the balls on a waxed paper sheet, about 1 inch apart.

•Place another waxed paper sheet on top. Big or little thumbs can press 
each marble into a flat disk (about the size of a quarter). Use some 
pressure! 
To form the rose:

•Remove 1 disk and curl it into a "teepee" shape, narrow at the top and 
wider at the bottom.
•Wrap the next disk around the opening of the teepee and the third disk 
at the back of the teepee. 
This is the rose bud. Continue adding disks which will look like petals. 
Continue to layer them to create a rose in bloom.

Roses can be used as edible decorations for a cake or to create a 
basketful of blooms. They will harden after a few days and can be saved 
by storing in a cool, dry place.

Since this recipe is the consistency of modeling clay, you can mold any
shape you want. 
Important note: Adult supervision and participation is required for this 
activity.


*   CHOCOLATE ROSES (Chocolate Modeling Clay)
  Chocolate modeling clay is made by combining melted chocolate and light 
  corn syrup. American pastry chefs invented the recipe and have been 
  using this delicious edible clay to make garnishes and unique 
  decorations. Here is their secret!
  
  Ingredients and Preparation:
  
  •10 ounces of chocolate (chopped chunks or chips) 
  •1/3 cup light corn syrup 
  
  Note: the chocolate can be substituted with almond bark, or colored 
  candy disks to create different colored flowers
  
  •Melt the chocolate in a microwave for 1 minute. Stir. If chocolate is 
  not completely melted, return to the microwave for 30 seconds at a time 
  and stir until smooth. If you don't have a microwave, place the 
  chocolate in the top of a double broiler over hot water and stir until 
  melted.
  •When the chocolate is melted, add the corn syrup and blend.
  
  •Pour the mixture onto a waxed paper sheet.
  
  •Spread the chocolate with your fingers until it's about 1/2 inch thick. 
  
  
  •Cover loosely with waxed paper and let it stiffen for at least a couple 
  hours or overnight. The chocolate will become very pliable. 
  
  
  
  
  Making a Chocolate Rose:
  
  •Have the kids roll 10 marble-sized balls out of the chocolate clay.
  •Place the balls on a waxed paper sheet, about 1 inch apart.
  
  •Place another waxed paper sheet on top. Big or little thumbs can press 
  each marble into a flat disk (about the size of a quarter). Use some 
  pressure! 
  
  
  To form the rose:
  
  •Remove 1 disk and curl it into a "teepee" shape, narrow at the top and 
  wider at the bottom.
  •Wrap the next disk around the opening of the teepee and the third disk 
  at the back of the teepee. 
  
  
  
  This is the rose bud. Continue adding disks which will look like petals. 
  Continue to layer them to create a rose in bloom.
  
  Roses can be used as edible decorations for a cake or to create a 
  basketful of blooms. They will harden after a few days and can be saved 
  by storing in a cool, dry place.
  
  Since this recipe is the consistency of modeling clay, you can mold any 
  shape you want. 
  Important note: Adult supervision and participation is required for this 
  activity.  


* 
  Ultimate Playdough I

2 C Flour
1 C Salt
1 t Cream of tartar
2 T Oil
1 t Food coloring
2 C Water

Mix all in saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly, until dough
leaves sides of pan.  Remove from pan, and when cool to the touch, knead for
a few minutes.

     Ultimate Playdough II

2.5 - 3 C Flour
½ C Salt
1 T Powered alum or 1 tsp. granulated alum (found in spice section) 
2 C water
3 T oil
Wilton's paste food coloring (using a third or half a jar makes the
brightest playdough you've ever seen)

Mix together dry ingredients.  Have kids measure 2 cups of water and 3 T oil
and the food coloring into a pot.  Put the pot on the stove to boil.  The
children measure 3 flour, salt and alum into a bowl (if you use granulated
alum, put this in the water instead so it can dissolve). The kids take turns
stirring the dry ingredients.  After the water boils, have the children stand
back, pour the boiling mixture into the dry mixture and stir quickly.  Roll a
small handful of HOT playdough between your palms until just barely cool
enough to touch (still pretty hot)  then give to a child.  Children LOVE to
feel the warmth and it's not hot enough to burn them.

Other options: add glitter (for fun sparkle) or unsweetened kool-aid powder
(for scented rich color). Let the kids just play with it one day; add cookie
cutters on another day. Try garlic presses, plastic knives and forks. Add a
few trays to display their baked goodies. Bring out the candy molds and
muffin trays on yet another day to extend the play!


* Cooked Playdough

1 cup flour
1/4 cup salt
2 tablespoons cream of tarter
1 cup water
1 tablespoon oil
1/2 teaspoon food coloring

Mix flour, salt, and cream of tarter.  Combine water, oil, and food coloring
and add to flour mixture.  Cook in a saucepan over medium heat until dough
follows spoon and leaves the side of the pan.  Cool and knead.  Store in
airtight container.


* Pasta Dye

      1/2 cup rubbing alcohol 
      Food coloring

Mix alcohol and food coloring in bowl. Add small amounts of any type of
pasta to
liquid and gently stir. Dry on newspapers covered with wax paper. Do not
allow
children to eat pasta or drink alcohol.

  



    Great Goop

      2 cups water 
      1/2 cup cornstarch 
      Food coloring

Boil water in saucepan - add cornstarch stirring until smooth. Add food
coloring
and stir. Remove from heat and cool. Child can play with the goop on any
plastic
covered surface.

    Whipped Snow

      2 cups warm water 
      1 cup pure laundry soap or flakes 
      Electric mixer

Put water and soap in large bowl and beat with mixer until very fluffy.
Add food
coloring if desired. This can be molded into shapes and left to dry.

    Homemade Silly Putty

      2 parts white glue 
      1 part liquid starch

Mix ingredients and let dry until workable. Add more glue or starch if
necessary.
May not work on humid days. Store in airtight container.

    Another Silly Putty

This is really kind of a tricky recipe because it's like making bread.
You gotta make
it a few times to get just the right texture. Also, cheaper brands of
glue may not
work as well because they have too much water in them.

Combine approximately 2 parts glue to 1 part liquid starch. Stir it up
and it will
stick to whatever you're stirring it with. If the mixture sticks to your
fingers, add
more liquid starch. If it won't stick to itself, add more glue. Store in
an airtight
container in the fridge. If you want the mixture to get tougher and
thicker, let it dry
out a bit in the air. If you get it just right (and I rarely do,) it
will pick up newsprint
like the store bought stuff.

Silly putty is lots of fun to cut with scissors. Also use some playdough
toys with it,
or ice cube trays, muffin tins, plastic strawberry baskets, etc.
Caution: This often
sticks to clothes, hair, furniture. Wear a smock and play with this
stuff in
uncarpeted areas! If you get it on fabric, use vinegar to get it out.
Submitted by
Jane Billman

    Blubber

Again, watch out for cheap glue that has too much water in it.

Mix 1/2 cup water with 1/2 cup glue In a separate container, mix 1/2 cup
water
with 2 T Borax (You'll find this hidden away in a tiny recess of your
detergent
aisle) Now, while stirring the Borax mixture constantly, add the glue
mixture. It
should immediately glump up and look like blubber (Or at least what we
imagine
blubber to look like.) If it isn't really glumpy and tough, mix up more
Borax
mixture and add that to it. Use the same toys as with silly putty. This
does not stick
to things as much as silly putty. Submitted by Jane Billman

    Ooblik

This one sounds dumb, but your kids will like it.

In a large pan with sides or on a tray with sides, pour in a bunch of
cornstarch.
Add a little bit of water. Let the kids mix it up with their fingers. If
it's too stiff to
mix, add more water until it's just a little bit stiff. Add toys like
funnels, measuring
cups, wooden spoons, spatulas, or be creative! To save this mixture, let
it dry out
completely, then put it in a plastic bag for another rainy day.


* Textured Paint
Materials:
             Flour, salt, bowl, spoon, tempra, water, squeeze bottles,
funnel, paper, smocks.

Direction:
             Mix flour and salt 1/2 and 1/2.  Add paint and water to the
right color and consistancy.  Fill squeeze bottles.  Squirt onto paper and
let dry.  Takes several hours to dry.  Will be a lighter color when dry. 


*      Finger painting with rice mixed in is great for texture... Salt painting
is lso a great texture paint.... 1/8 cup liquid starch
                        1/8 cup water
                         Tablespoon tempra paint
                         1/2 cup salt.........mix and paint... Dries very
rough and has a sparkle.