Silly Putty, with its stretchy and squishy texture, has been a beloved toy for generations. Whether you want to relive the nostalgia of your childhood or create a fun activity for kids, making Silly Putty at home is a simple and rewarding process.
In this article, we will explore various DIY recipes using common household items, providing step-by-step instructions for each. Get ready to embark on a colorful and creative journey with Silly Putty!
Silly Putty has been captivating children and adults for decades. Its unique properties, like the ability to stretch, bounce, and even copy images from newspapers, make it a fascinating and entertaining toy. While Silly Putty is readily available in stores, creating your own opens up a world of possibilities. You can experiment with different colors, textures, and ingredients to customize your Silly Putty to suit your preferences.
How to Make Silly Putty with Glue and Borax
One of the most common and easy ways to make silly putty at home is to use glue and borax. This method produces a putty that is most similar to the commercial product and has a smooth and stretchy texture. Here’s what you need and what you do:
What you need
- A small bottle of clear or white school glue (4 ounces or 118 milliliters)
- Food coloring (optional)
- Extra-fine glitter (optional)
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) of water
- 1 teaspoon of borax
- A bowl
- A spoon
- A measuring cup
- A measuring spoon
- A plastic container or a zippered bag
What you do
- Squeeze the glue into the bowl. Make sure that you use the basic, all-purpose kind of school glue and not the washable kind. The washable kind does not work as well.
- Add some color and glitter, if desired. Squeeze in a few drops of food coloring, and add in a few spoonfuls of extra-fine glitter. Stir everything together until the color and glitter are evenly distributed. Skip this step if your glue already has color and glitter in it.
- Stir in the water. Add 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) of water to the bowl, and stir until the glue and water are completely mixed together. Set the bowl aside.
- Mix the borax with warm water. In a separate cup, pour 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) of warm water and add 1 teaspoon of borax. Stir until the borax dissolves. If you are a child, have an adult supervise you during this step.
- Stir the borax water into the glue water. Slowly pour the borax water into the bowl with the glue water, and keep stirring until the glue starts to turn into gel. You will have a clump of gel in your bowl, with some water, glitter, and color around it.
- Knead the putty. Pick up the glob of gel from the bowl and knead and squish it with your fingers for about 5 to 10 minutes. There may still be some water and glue in the bowl, which is fine. The borax will have picked up as much glue as it could. If you have sensitive skin, you may want to wear plastic gloves during this step.
- Enjoy your silly putty. You can stretch it, bounce it, and copy images with it. When you are done playing with it, store it in a plastic container or a zippered bag.
How to Make Silly Putty with Glue and Liquid Starch
Another easy way to make silly putty at home is to use glue and liquid starch. This method produces a putty that is softer and more pliable than the glue and borax method and has a silky texture. Here’s what you need and what you do:
What you need
- A small bottle of clear or white school glue (4 ounces or 118 milliliters)
- Food coloring (optional)
- Extra-fine glitter (optional)
- 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) of liquid laundry detergent
- A bowl
- A spoon
- A measuring cup
- A plastic container or a zippered bag
What you do
- Pour the glue into the bowl. Make sure that you use the basic, all-purpose kind of school glue and not the washable kind. The washable kind does not work as well.
- Add some color and glitter, if desired. Squeeze in a few drops of food coloring, and add in a few spoonfuls of extra-fine glitter. Stir everything together until the color and glitter are evenly distributed. Skip this step if your glue already has color and glitter in it.
- Stir in the liquid starch. Add 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) of liquid laundry detergent to the bowl, and stir until the glue and starch are completely mixed together. You will have a sticky and slimy mixture in your bowl.
- Knead the putty. Pick up the mixture from the bowl and knead and squish it with your fingers for about 5 to 10 minutes. The putty will become less sticky and more smooth as you knead it. If you have sensitive skin, you may want to wear plastic gloves during this step.
- Enjoy your silly putty. You can stretch it, bounce it, and copy images with it. When you are done playing with it, store it in a plastic container or a zippered bag.
How to Make Silly Putty with Cornstarch and Dish Soap
A third way to make silly putty at home is to use cornstarch and dish soap. This method produces a putty that is firmer and more crumbly than the glue methods and has a matte texture. Here’s what you need and what you do:
What you need
- 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) of cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) of dish soap
- Food coloring (optional)
- Extra-fine glitter (optional)
- A bowl
- A spoon
- A measuring cup
- A measuring spoon
- A plastic container or a zippered bag
What you do
- Mix the cornstarch and dish soap. In a bowl, pour 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) of cornstarch and add 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) of dish soap. Stir until the cornstarch and soap are well combined. You will have a thick and doughy mixture in your bowl.
- Add some color and glitter, if desired. Squeeze in a few drops of food coloring, and add in a few spoonfuls of extra-fine glitter. Stir everything together until the color and glitter are evenly distributed. Skip this step if you don’t want to add any color or glitter to your putty.
- Knead the putty. Pick up the mixture from the bowl and knead and squish it with your fingers for about 5 to 10 minutes. The putty will become more smooth and elastic as you knead it. If you have sensitive skin, you may want to wear plastic gloves during this step.
- Enjoy your silly putty. You can stretch it, bounce it, and copy images with it. When you are done playing with it, store it in a plastic container or a zippered bag.
Conclusion
Making silly putty at home is a fun and easy DIY project that you can do with just a few simple ingredients. You can make silly putty with glue and borax, glue and liquid starch, or cornstarch and dish soap, and customize it with different colors, glitter, scents, and textures. You can also enjoy playing with your silly putty and exploring its amazing properties. Making silly putty at home is not only cheaper and more eco-friendly than buying it from the store, but it’s also a great way to stimulate your creativity and relieve stress. So, what are you waiting for? Grab your ingredients and start making your own silly putty today!
