My plan
Fun Littles

Fun and easy kids activities

Sparkly Crystal Playdough

Jul 17, 201411,659 views
Play Doh
Crystal Playdough Recipe Save
make glittery playdough for kids Save
crystals on playdough Save
picking up the crystals with playdough Save
pink crystals playdough Save
playdough recipe with edible crystals for play Save
crystals and playdough Save

by TurkeyMom in Play Doh

Ages3–6 yrs
Prep15 min
Activity30 min
Leveleasy
MessMedium
Works for1:1 · Small group · Class

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.

⚠️ Safety first

  • 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 the kids arrive

  • 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!from the author
  • 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.from the author
  • My kids love to collect shiny and sparkly objects, so these sparkly crystals sing to any crow's heart.from the author

Make it your own

  • Use the gem treasures in pretend play: think dragons, pirates and castles.
  • Stack the crystal-studded balls and enjoy their beauty.
  • Add toys, like a bunny sitting on a sparkly crystal throne.

The story behind it

By TurkeyMom · July 2014
make glittery playdough for kids
We are lovers of all things shiny and sparkly. My kids love to collect shiny and sparkly objects; their animagus would probably be a crow!
1 / 9

Sparkly Crystal Playdough: the original post

We are very excited to share this simple playdough recipe and playdough play idea 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!} make glittery playdough for kids 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.

materials needed for play dough recipe

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. crystals on playdough Watch them create gorgeous playdough models. crystals playdough 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. picking up the crystals with playdough Eitherway this playdough activity will never fail to entertain you. pink crystals playdough Make shiny gem treasures for just sensory play or use them in pretend play { think dragons, pirates and castles} playdough recipe with edible crystals for play Stack them up and enjoy their beauty! playdough with crystals Add toys to enhance the play experience. crystals and playdough The bunny looks so comfy on her sparkly crystal throne. recipe for playdough with crystals

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
  • 1/4 tsp of glycerin
  • large dose of Glitter

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
  2. Tropical Fruits Playdough
  3. Chilled Playdough
  4. Cardomom Playdough
  5. Rose Playdough

Sparkly Crystal Playdough Recipe

What readers say

💬 1 comments

🎉 Worked for us

Reader loves the recipe-plus-play ideas

A reader was amazed by how many play ideas come alongside the playdough recipes, calling it imagination central.

“am amazed at the wealth of play ideas you present with your recipes! Imagination central!”
Marlene, Aug 2014

Tried it?

Reviewed before it appears. No links, and please no children's names.

Read all 1 comments

  1. Marlene · Aug 2014

    WOW! I love these both, and am amazed at the wealth of play ideas you present with your recipes! Imagination central! THANKS SO MUCH FOR SHARING YOUR CREATIVITY, RECIPES AND IDEAS!

Similar activities

Chilled No-Cook Play Dough

40 min3–7 yrs

No-Cook Marshmallow Playdough

45 min2–6 yrs

Taste-Safe Sand Dough

50 min2–5 yrs

Beach Dough Creatures

40 min2–5 yrs
🛒 Materials