Homemade Scented Playdough

Each year for Christmas, I try to give a little gift that demonstrates the essence of who I am. And who I am is the Crafty Stretch Mark Mama.

Okay, so that's not true at all. My entire "craft bin" is a small box loaded up with smaller boxes of 24-count crayons. I mean, those babies go on sale every August for twenty-five cents! Twenty! five! cents! I am weak.

I am also frugal, and do get my "craft on" in the kitchen. So when I first saw this recipe for scented playdough, I knew, kneeeew that way down deep in the depths of my crotchety crafty heart that that it was meant to be.

So I made a big ol' batch and decided to color my dough green, scent it with peppermint, and cut into Christmas tree shapes (with a cookie cutter! my word! not by hand!). I then put the little trees in small ziploc bags and added some cute beads for over-the-top fun. Don't even try and stop me. I made at least 30 of these trees from one batch of dough. Thirty cutesy-wootsy little gifts, cha-ching!

Here's the recipe. 

Homemade Scented Playdough

2 cups flour*
1 cup salt
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
2 tablespoons oil
2 cups water
food coloring
1 tablespoon peppermint** extract

Place all ingredients in a saucepan and heat on the stove over low to medium heat until the dough becomes thick, making sure to constantly scrape the bottom. When dough becomes too hard to stir, turn out onto a floured surface and knead until playdough consistency. (Don't worry--the white flour blends in with the colored dough.)

*If you're making this dough for someone sensitive to wheat, be sure to use gluten-free flour which can be found in the specialty aisle of your store. 

**Other flavors of extract include vanilla, cinnamon, banana, lemon, orange, coconut, almond, raspberry, strawberry, cherry, maple, anise, aaaaanddd... wait for it... rum and brandy. See? You can have your scented playdough and a fake buzz too.

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