Upcycled, Recycled, Reusable, DIY Playdogh Containers

playdough_containers
We make a lot of homemade playdough at our house. After years of trial and error, we’ve found the absolute best recipe, it’s even better than the store bought version and we always have the ingredients on had to make it. However, I find that storing it can be difficult. Baggies work well for a while but tend to get holes leaving you with dried up dough. Tupperware is great but sometimes the lids are hard to remove for little hands. The best option? Coffee cans! They are the perfect size for a 1/2 batch of dough with plenty of room for a few cutters in the can a well and they seal perfectly. The only downside? Well, they aren’t the cutest things, are they? Enter chalkboard paint. This is a simple way of dressing up old coffee cans and as an added bonus you can write the color of the contents inside right on the jar. New color? No problem, just erase and re-write!

Things you’ll need:
Coffee Cans
Chalkboard Spray Paint
Newsprint

Things to do:
1. Wash and dry your cans, making sure all coffee is removed and that there are no sharp edges inside the can (Sand a bit if there are)
2. Turn the cans upside down on the newsprint and spray all over with three coats of paint, allowing each to dry in between layers.
3. Allow the paint to harden for 24 hours before using the cans, then load them up and play away!

Playdough recipe:
1 c. flour
2T cream of tarter
1T vegetable oil
1/2 cup kosher salt

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl and then add 1 cup of boiling water. You can add food coloring to the water to add color to your dough. Stir until well blended and then turn out onto a floured work surface, knead in more flour until the dough is cool and is no longer sticky.

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2 Comments

  1. Baby food jars are also awesome for any type of upcycling. Almost any glass or plastic jars. If working with polymer clay remember to place in a glass jar or the clay will eat away the plastic. Also don’t forget pill bottles. Pringle containers make awesome storage for knitting needles.

  2. I love upcycling it is good for the environment, good for kids, good for the pocket and good for the planet. Great as a gift for other kids as well when birthday season is coming lol. What mother would not prefer home made play dough she didnt have to make herself and was nasty chemical free.