So Silly!: Make Your Own Putty

The perfect activity for a rainy day, or any time your little one moans, “Moooo-oom, there’s nothing to do!”  

If you use Elmer’s Glue-All (not the school glue), your putty should bounce and transfer pictures just like the store-bought stuff.  Add food coloring or even a few sprinkles of glitter for your own take on the gooey original!

What You’ll Need:

1. White all-purpose glue (not school glue)
2. Sta-Flo liquid starch
3. 1-2 tablespoons Borax powder dissolved in 1 cup water
4. Strong mixing spoon
5. Resealable sandwich bags or other air-tight container
6. Food coloring (optional)
7. Glitter (optional)

Combine equal parts glue and liquid starch, mix well.  Add Borax solution (plus food coloring and/or glitter if you’re using it) to the glue/starch mixture.  Mix very well.  When the mixture becomes too stiff to mix with your spoon, use your hands to knead it into a rubbery blob.

Your putty will probably need to dry a little before you can play with it.  Cooling the putty slightly should make it more “bouncy,” but if it gets too cold it will shatter.  Store your funny putty in a resealable sandwich bag or other air-tight container.  Funny putty usually lasts about two weeks.