September 16th is National Play-Doh Day, a day to enjoy the fun colorful modeling compound in an effort to rediscover the creativity we all had as small children. Hasbro’s Play-Doh, which is composed of flour, water, salt, boric acid, and silicone oil, was originally manufactured as a putty-like wallpaper cleaner in the 1930s. Two decades later when it was discovered that a teacher was using the non-toxic, non-staining substance for arts and crafts projects the compound was reworked and sold to schools in Cincinnati. With great marketing campaigns and a natural appeal, Play-Doh quickly became a popular children’s toy. Over two billion cans were sold between 1955 and 2005 in over 75 countries around the world.
My favorite way to celebrate Play-Doh Day is to sit down with my husband, kids and a few of our kid’s friends and create Play-Doh Sculptures. The Play-Doh Sculptures you see above are in honor of the 2013 Emmy Awards. Since I have an actor’s background (wish me luck on my “House of Cards” audition today), I thought I’d share them with you all! I’d also like to share some tips on how to create a Play-Doh Sculpture sure to last a long time. These sculptures make a perfect gift for the holidays.
Instructions
1
Allow your Play-Doh sculpture to air dry slowly. It may take several weeks for sculptures to dry fully–even longer for larger sculptures.
2
Choose a base on which to display the sculpture. This can be as simple as a piece of cardboard or paper plate, or you can choose something more elegant like a piece of wood or a glass candle holder.
3
Thin white craft glue in a cup with a little water, in a ratio of about two parts glue to one part water. Use the paintbrush to coat the bottom of the sculpture with glue. Set the Play-Doh sculpture on top of base, then continue to coat the sculpture with glue until it is completely covered. Try not to use more glue than is necessary or spill excess glue on the base.
4
Allow sculpture to air dry, then display. To keep the sculpture in good condition longer, avoid getting it wet, as the glue is water-soluble.
Do you have any memories about Play-Doh from your childhood or that you share with your children? Please share them in the Comments Below!
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