How to Make Sparkly Playdough

Playing in the snow is fun, but the aftermath of cold, red fingers, sore bottoms (from all the slips and falls) and the piles of wet laundry isn't fun.

So when your kids are itching to make snowballs, or if just want to they can't wait for the winter months to come so they can play in the snow, substitute some sparkly white playdough and perhaps you'll save yourself from frozen fingers.

Okay, so you don't have to wait until winter hits to make this mixture; this basic playdough recipe is great any time of the year! Adding the glitter to the mix just lends a playful (and sparkly, snow-like) aspect to the play time.

• bowl
• saucepan
• spoon
• wax paper
• resealable plastic bag (or container with lid)
• 2 cups flour
• 1 cup salt
• 2 tablesppons cream of tartar
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 cups water
• glitter

1. Combine dry ingredients in the empy bowl. Stir with the spoon until well-combined.
2. Transfer dry ingredients to the saucepan, and stir in the wet ingredients until everything is incorporated.
3. Turn the burner on low, and continue stirring until the mixture is very thick. (This should take about 2 minutes. Be careful not to burn it!)
4. Move the suacepan off the hot burner, and allow the mixture to cool.
5. Transfer the cooled dough to the wax paper. (Using wax paper keeps the playdough, and your counter clean, and is an easy-clean up for stray glitter pieces too!)
6. Sprinkle some glitter over the cooled mixture, and knead the glitter in. As you knead the dough you'll incorporate the mixture. Add more glitter as needed. Continue kneading until the dough has a smooth texture.
7. Store the dough in a resealable plastic bag, or plastic container with a lid. (Rehydrate drying dough with a few drops of water.)
8. Enjoy playing with the dough frequently.

While the snow-like dough looks like snow (because it is white and sparkly) you may also want to add some food coloring to make jewel-like playdough for your kids as well. Anf frankly, what girly-girl wouldn't want some sparkly playdough?! Add a few drops of food coloring to the mix at the same time you add the liquid ingredients. For a darker color, add food coloring during the kneading step.