# Sparkly Crystal Playdough
> Make a small batch of glittery homemade playdough, then set it out with colorful pantry-made 'crystals' for kids to press in, pick up and build into shiny gem treasures. It is great for sensory play or for pretend play with dragons, pirates and castles.
- URL: https://www.funlittles.com/crystal-playdough-recipe13136/
- Ages: 3–6 yrs · Difficulty: easy · Mess: medium
- Time: prep 15 min, activity 30 min
- Works for: one-on-one, small group, whole class · one batch serves about 1 kids
- Skills: sensory-exploration, fine-motor, creativity, pretend-play, colors
- Cautions: wheat-gluten, food-dye, ingestion-risk

## Materials (one batch)
- 0.5 cup All-purpose flour
- 0.25 cup Boiling water (household)
- 1 tbsp Cream of tartar
- 1.5 tbsp Salt (household)
- 1.5 tbsp Oil (household)
- 3 drop Gel food color
- 0.25 tsp Glycerin
- Glitter
- Colorful homemade 'crystals'
- 1 piece Mixing bowl (household)
- 1 piece Fork (household)
- 4 piece Small bowls for the crystals (household)
- Small toys or figurines (optional) (household)

## Safety
- The adult handles the boiling water. Let the dough cool before kids knead it.
- The crystals are small pieces and could be a choking hazard. Supervise closely and keep them away from children who still mouth objects.
- This playdough is not food. It is very salty and full of glitter, so don't let kids eat it, and keep glitter away from eyes.
- Supervise sensory play at all times.
- Gel food color can stain hands and surfaces.

## Before you start
- Make the colored crystals ahead of time. The post links to a recipe from Two daloo that no longer works.
- Make the playdough: one small batch per color.

## Steps
1. Mix 1/2 cup flour, 1.5 tbsp salt and 1 tbsp cream of tartar in a bowl.
2. Add 1 to 1.5 tbsp oil and 3 drops of gel food color.
3. Adult: pour in 1/4 cup boiling water and stir with a fork.
4. Once the dough has cooled down, add 1/4 tsp glycerin and knead it with your hands until the color is even.
5. Knead in a generous dose of glitter for shine.
6. Repeat with a new color for each batch.
7. Set out the playdough with small bowls of colorful crystals.
8. Press the crystals into the playdough to make sparkly models.
9. Or scatter the crystals on the table and roll the playdough over them to pick them up.
10. Make shiny gem treasures, stack them up, and add toys for pretend play.

## Tips
- Nervous about the glitter? Remember that playdough picks up glitter really well!
- Some kids would prefer to throw the crystals on the surface and run the playdough over it. Some would take the time to create with the crystals. Either way, this playdough activity will never fail to entertain.
- My kids love to collect shiny and sparkly objects, so these sparkly crystals sing to any crow's heart.

## The original post by TurkeyMom (2014)

We are very excited to share this simple [**playdough recipe**](https://www.funlittles.com/homemade-play-dough-recipe-spring-and-easter-theme/) and [**playdough play idea**](https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-kids-edible-sand-dough-recipe/) with you all simply because of the gorgeousness of it all! Well, we are lovers of all things shiny and sparkly. My kids love to collect shiny and sparkly objects { sometimes broken bits of glass, NOT sea glass, just bits of glass bottle. *sigh* }- yep, their *animagus (birdus?)* would probably be a crow { Harry Potter reference for the uninitiated!}
 More importantly I'd love to introduce these gorgeous, sparkly, shiny things that would sing to any crow's heart. These guys come straight from my pantry.



Follow the simple play dough recipe at the end of the post and add a generous dose of glitter. Yeah, well suck it up and throw a giant dose in haha..{ If you are too nervous remember that playdough picks up glitter really well!} Invite the kid to play with the "crystals" and playdough.  Watch them create gorgeous playdough models.  Some kids would prefer to throw the crystals on the surface and run the playdough over it. Some would take the time to create with the crystals.  Eitherway this playdough activity will never fail to entertain you.  Make shiny gem treasures for just sensory play or use them in pretend play { think dragons, pirates and castles}  Stack them up and enjoy their beauty!  Add toys to enhance the play experience.  The bunny looks so comfy on her sparkly crystal throne. 

### Playdough Recipe

- 1/2 cup flour
- 1/4 cup boiling water
- 1 tbsp cream of tartar
- 1.5 tbsp salt
- 1-1.5 tbsp oil
- 3 drops of **[Gel Food Color](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007EMYD8M/?tag=blmemo-20)**
- 1/4 tsp of glycerin
- large dose of **[Glitter](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000F8T4O0/?tag=blmemo-20)**

Add the flour, salt and cream of tartar and mix well. Add the oil, food coloring and boiling water and start mixing with a form. After the water cools down add glycerin and knead the dough with your hands. Once you get the desired color, add in a generous dose of glitter for shine.

### **Crystals Recipe { click below for the recipe}**

**Sparkly crystals** you can make with this simple kitchen ingredient from Two daloo. We have enjoyed

1. [**Mango Pladyough**](https://www.funlittles.com/mango-playdough-recipe/)
2. [**Tropical Fruits Playdough**](https://www.funlittles.com/summer-fruits-playdough-recipe/)
3. [**Chilled Playdough**](https://www.funlittles.com/playdough-recipes-for-play/)
4. [**Cardomom Playdough**](https://www.funlittles.com/homemade-playdough-recipe-cardamom-playdough/)
5. [**Rose Playdough**](https://www.funlittles.com/valentines-day-activities-rose-scented-playdough/)