1 cup flour
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup water
1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla, if you like
food coloring
Cook all ingredients in a 1 1/2 quart saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly, about 4 minutes or until mixture forms a ball.
Remove from pan and let stand on counter 5 minutes.
Knead dough about 30 seconds or until it is smooth and blended. Cool completely. Store in airtight container in refrigerator.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
I made five individual batches of this dough on Tuesday evening. Rich was away on a business trip and I had to find something to keep the kids occupied during the last remaining hours before bedtime.
Rich got back late last night from his trip to New Jersey. I am feeling overwhelmed, Ethan has the stomach bug now and I’m not getting much sleep at night…Seth wakes up every three hours during the night and this morning he was up at 4:30 with a stuffy nose that was making him frustrated, poor thing.
At this moment, Seth is napping, Ethan is sleeping on the couch, Jacob is reading a book, and Grace and Caleb are watching a Thomas the Tank Engine video. David is at school until 11:30. Rich is at work but is going to try to come home early (which means around 5, instead of 6:30/7pm).
I don’t want to write, because I’m afraid I would come across as complaining. Things are just really busy for me right now and there’s nothing to do except keep going (and Rich says I’m doing great, so that makes me feel good). . . . . .and now it’s time for me to shower and get dressed. One thing at a time!
I hope you all have a great day! Love, Shanda
Good to be Home 
The colors are so pretty!
Hugs. Hang in there. Rich is right. You are doing a good job! Pray that health comes to all soon.
Whew! Just one of those things would be enough. You are a wonder! Please go to be as soon as Rich gets home! Love the play dough colors. I still remember when I made some for my daughter in a bunch of gorgeous colors and she mixed them all together to create a lovely…. er…. poop brown color.
Oh Sweetie, you ARE doing good. You are a busy momma with some amazing, beautiful children. Your job is a hard one but you are stronger than you know are. Remember today that you are loved, by your family, by your friends, and by God. You ARE doing good.
Shanda,
You are doing great! (This is life with a new born, I remember having to nurse Weston ever 2hrs round the clock because he was a premmie….and feeling like I was in a dream!)
I am sorry you are not getting a lot of rest at night hang in there! Tomorrow is Friday and then you will have the weekend with Rich to catch up! The play dough was a great idea it looks so soft I want to touch it 🙂 Love Ya Amanda
You are doing a wonderful job!! It is hard having a newborn, and then to have sick kids also is even harder. You do a wonderful job with your children and family. The play dough looks so fun to play with:) I’m going to have to make that! I will be praying for you and that the sickness leaves your family.
How did you know that I was searching online for a Play Doh recipe this morning?? I’ll trust yours! You are an amazing Momma, Shanda! Your blog never sounds like complaining… it’s your real life. It’s not ALWAYS a peaches and cream life. This Momma finds that extremely refreshing! It also allows you to have prayer warriors all over the world! Please know that you’re in my prayers! Blessings to you, friend!!
The colors are beautiful….
You’re such an inspiration and a wonderful mother!! You’re a great example of what true motherhood is really about. Get rest.
Isn’t it wonderful! Good job momma! Soon there will be a sixth color to add for Seth! What a darling! What a beautiful family! hugs
I never think you’re complaining…I know I’ve told you before, but one of the reason’s I love reading about your everyday going-on’s is because it’s real life! All of us mother’s experience the same highs and lows and I know I’m comforted by you when I read your up’s and down’s, it makes me know and feel that I’m not the only mother out there experiencing the same trials and tribulations!
If I was with you, I would give you a great big hug! We love you Shanda!
Keep up dear! You are handeling things great ❤
Shanda,I am pretty sure you are handling this great. I think we all understand what you are going through.
Have a great day~Cindy
What a great idea. Thanks for sharing. I’m amazed by your positive attitude – we all go through rough days but you keep moving forward. have a great day
I’ve never once felt like you were a complainer. You aren’t even sarcastically witty (like me) about your “in the pits” times. I’m VERY SARCASTIC and have a DRY WIT. Some periods in our lives just aren’t happy go lucky! You’d be a liar if you wrote, “Bless my children’s precious little hearts . . . I was up all night with them but I felt “so blessed” and “so happy” each time my sleep was interrupted . . . LOL!!!But, feel free to message me and unload if you need to! No problem on my end if you need to dump!!!
okay. been over here several times to comment, but can’t seem to put something coherent together in between school questions from across the room! 😮 So – simply, thinking of you. love your transparency. and I’m sending you a message cause there was more I wanted to say!!! 😀
You ARE doing GREAT and I love hearing of your ups and downs as well!!!
Shanda, you never come across as complaining. On the contrary- you are an inspiration and encouragement to me. You are real, and you have real ups and downs. I am always “spurred on” to be a better mom after visiting your site. Hang in there, and get some rest! Love you bunches!
WOW, what a busy life you’ve got!! Such long days too. I love the play-doh idea. Homemade is the best–it stays soft longer and the children just love it so much more than store bought. They get so creative too.
You, my dear Shanda are an awesome Mom and woman of the Lord. Having a new little guy and one that is sick is hard. I can remember sitting holding my two oldest in my arms, so in love with them, but so tired, and crying when Daddy walked in the door from relief. The play dough is so pretty and soft looking. I have a weakness for playdough Maybe we will whip some up too. We have actually been talking about giving out some kind of modeling dough during Youth Bible study because we have some very antsy boys that need something to keep them quiet while we teach.
You are doing an awesome job, Shanda. You know if we didn’t complain once in a while we wouldn’t be real, would we? I think Xanga is one of the best places to spill the beans so to speak because everyone on here is so understanding and most can relate to what you are going through. Sending up extra prayers for you my friend. (((((((((HUGS)))))))))
Shanda, stop a minute and listen to the song that is playing on this page, okay? Everything is gonna be alright! Like you said, one thing at at time. Sleep every chance you get ~ pray bunches ~ and remember you are loved. I love the bright colors of the play dough.
I did that once with a class room of kids. I made it too thin. Well that’s why I’ve only done it once -lol
I don’t have much to add to the sweet and compassionate comments you have already received….except to pace yourself.It is OK to not do all that your creative mind wants to do. When you are overwhelmed, the childrenwill make their own entertainment…as you have so diligently have taught them to. You are doing well, Shanda. Love you.
You ARE doing great! Hang in there. Man…you are a FUN mom. My mom never made me playdough.
This may sound ridiculous or maybe not so much since I have a 3 1/2 and 22 month old! Is the play dough edible? Thanks for being so real. I know that I am going to be a bit overwhelmed myself in about 6 weeks……baby due April 13th!!!!!!!!!!!
Just one day at a time, Ms. Shanda… in fact, one MINUTE at a time! You can do it 🙂 Don’t let yourself get overwhelmed by everything ahead of you, just look at NOW, and when you have finished ONE thing get excited!! You’re doing a GREAT job… you even made your kiddos home-made, special vanilla scented play dough 😀
I hope that you ended up having a wonderful day and are snug in bed! Speaking of going to bed – I had a dream about you last night! I was at your house and got to meet Seth and Grace. Seth was still a baby but kept talking to you, saying he wanted more milk. Grace looked as gorgeous in my dreams as she does in the pictures and I could actually feel myself hugging you still when I woke up. How weird, huh? LOL Good night my friend!
Playdough looks pretty cool. I love all the colors. You’ve been through the ropes so many times Shan but this is a whole new way to play the course because Seth is his own unique little bundle of joy. Just because things are going all that smoothly doesn’t mean you are doing a bad job. Shan you are a wonderful mother, truly. I know the Lord thinks so too. Why else would he put the dream of being a mother in your heart from the time you were young? He chose you that many years ago to have this special and oh so fulfilling calling. I am proud of you.
Lord, I pray that you give Shan the extra dose of whatever she needs. You know her heart, her life, her struggles, her joys, and I praise you that she is able to praise you through all of the ups and downs. I thank you for who you’ve made her to be. I thank you for the impact she is making in the world, through parenting her beautiful children. I pray you protect Shan and Rich and that you guide and direct them, walking close to you. You are awesome. You’re love never fails, you listen at our every beck and call, you value a relationship with your children. I pray that you put a special embrace around Shan, that she would feel your loving care so very closely. In Jesus name, Amen
You are doing great. I complain and I have three! Take one day at a time, one moment at a time! Breath…. Hugs dear friend. Love the play dough. I am copying the recipe for the boys.
wowza…thatsa lotta dough!your pretty little baby song has me tappin’ my toe this morning….happy weekend, Shanda!
Now I want to make playdough your image is so pretty too