Store-bought play dough and slime add up fast, but you can make them from flour, salt, cornstarch, and other basics. Some slime recipes use contact lens solution or saline, so supervise children and skip slime for kids who still mouth things.
Play Dough Recipes
1. Classic cooked play dough. Flour, salt, water, oil, and cream of tartar cooked on the stove gives a soft, long-lasting dough.
2. No-cook play dough. Mix flour, salt, oil, and boiling water for a quick batch.
3. Kool-Aid play dough. Drink mix adds color and fruity scent.
4. Glitter play dough. Knead in a spoonful of glitter for sparkle.
5. Cinnamon play dough. Add ground cinnamon for a warm, spicy smell.
6. Chocolate play dough. Mix in cocoa powder and let kids pretend to bake.
7. Gluten-free play dough. Use cornstarch and baking soda.
8. Conditioner play dough. Two ingredients, cornstarch and hair conditioner, make a silky dough.
9. Lavender calm dough. Add a few drops of essential oil for a bedtime activity (adults only handle the oil).
10. Marshmallow dough. Melted marshmallows and cornstarch make a stretchy, edible dough.
Slime Recipes
11. Basic glue slime. White glue, water, baking soda, and contact solution.
12. Fluffy slime. Add shaving cream for a light, airy texture.
13. Clear slime. Use clear glue and let it rest for a few days.
14. Glitter slime. Stir in fine glitter before activating.
15. Saline solution slime. A borax-free option using saline solution and baking soda.
16. Jiggly gelatin slime. Gelatin and warm water form a jelly-like texture.
17. Rainbow layered slime. Layer colors in a jar and swirl gently.
18. Chia seed slime. Soak chia seeds for a sensory experience with tiny bubbles.
19. Cornstarch and water oobleck. A classic that acts as both liquid and solid.
20. Edible cornstarch slime. Cornstarch and sweetened condensed milk make a taste-safe slime.
Other Doughs and Textures
21. Cloud dough. Eight parts flour to one part oil creates a silky, moldable texture.
22. Moon sand. Sand or flour mixed with oil for a moldable “lunar” texture.
23. Salt dough ornaments. Bake into keepsakes and paint once cool.
24. Coffee dough. Used grounds, flour, and salt create a rustic scented dough.
25. Fizzy dough. Baking soda dough that fizzes with a squirt of vinegar.
Final Thoughts
Store play dough in an airtight container or zip bag, and it will last for weeks. Start with one recipe and let kids help measure. It’s a fun kitchen lesson as well as a play activity.
I’m Grayson Watson, your frugal companion and the brain behind this money-saving extravaganza. Strap yourself in, because we’re about to embark on a wallet-friendly adventure like no other. Learn More!