Fall Fun: Pumpkin Pie Playdough & Gift Jar

A lovely scented playdough gift.  

Materials

• Felt (orange, brown & green)
• Fabric glue
• Fabric scissors
• Sewing marker (or a white pencil crayon)
• Sewing materials (optional)
• Mason jar
• Ribbon, Twine etc.
• Single hole punch
• Scissors
• Watercolour paint
• Swallow tray
• Watercolour paper or cardstock
• Craft tray
• Drying rack
• Playdough recipe materials (see below)

Directions

JAR

• Take the lid off the jar, turn it upside down and trace a circle on the orange felt to make your pumpkin.  Cut it out with fabric scissors.  We sewed on a bit of detail to make the ribs of the pumpkin. Cut out a stem and a leaf. Glue them onto the pumpkin and glue the pumpkin onto the jar lid.  Later when you screw the top on, lift the stem and leaf over (so they don’t get smushed!)

TAG

• Cut a rectangular piece of watercolour or cardstock paper.

• Put a bit of diluted watercolour into a small container.

• Dip the paper into the paint and allow it to dry overnight on your drying rack over your craft tray.

• Punch a hole in one end.

• Write a little message on your tag and attach it to your jar with your ribbon or cord.

• Have an adult make the playdough, using our favourite recipe below:

PUMPKIN PIE PLAYDOUGH

Ingredients:

• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup salt
• 3 tbsp cream of tarter
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• Orange food colouring (or mainly yellow with a bit of red)
• Pumpkin pie spice 

Directions:

• Combine all of the dry ingredients in a medium pan.
• Add water and oil.
• Cook on medium heat, adding the food colouring and spice.
• Stir continuously.
• When the dough mix pulls away from the sides and forms into a large ball, the dough is ready to be placed in a small bowl to cool.
• Store in a plastic container or re-sealable bag.

* Because of the large salt content this play dough is not recommended for children 0-3 or those that tend to put things into their mouth.*

Source: Japer Place Child and Family Resource Centre

• Place (really it is more like squish!) your playdough into your jar and give it to a friend!

• Alter your jar lid to suit any theme that you might like- for example you could make a black cat for Halloween and fill it with something like cookies or candies!

Purpose

• Playdough is great for developing one’s hand muscles which lends to future use in writing, cutting etc.
• Thinking of others

Safety Notes

• An adult should make the playdough as it requires the use of a stove.
• Be sure to wear a smock to protect your clothing form paint and fabric glue.
• Use fabric scissors and sewing materials with care.
• Because of the large salt content this play dough is not recommended for children 0-3 or those that tend to put things into their mouth.