This easy homemade silly putty recipe resembles the nostalgic original silly putty toy that bounces and transfers newspaper images. Let’s introduce a new generation to the squishy, stretchy, rubber-like fun of playing with silly putty that you can make with just a few ingredients and a few minutes.
Silly Putty Recipe
Making silly putty is a great way for kids to explore textures that they feel through squishing and stretching while also letting them find textures to imprint and watch them disappear.
Related: Best slime & putty recipes
I love to make silly putty in place of playdough as both are moldable, but homemade silly putty does not leave a residue, so clean up is a breeze.
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How to Make Silly Putty
It’s super easy to make silly putty, and you only need a few ingredients! It’s not only fun to make, but fun to play with. It can also be used as a sensory activity as well.
Supplies Needed To Make This Easy SIlly Putty
This Silly Putty Recipe makes 2 small baby food jars worth of putty.
Video: How TO Make SIlly Putty
Directions for Silly Putty Recipe
Step 1
Add the Borax to the water and set aside for a couple of minutes while it dissolves.
Step 2
Once the Borax has dissolved, add the cornstarch, glue and coloring to the mixture and mix thoroughly.
Tip: We like to put the ingredients into a Ziploc baggie to contain the mess. Freezer bags are best as the seal withstands the kids assault.
Step 3
Continue to mix. The mix will seem clumpy and stringy, but mix for several minutes, until all the ingredients are mixed.
Step 4
Then let it sit for half an hour or longer. Give the cornstarch time to absorb the moisture before kneading the bag again.
It takes about 20-30 min of kneading to gain a putty consistency…so hand it to a child!
Finished Silly Putty REcipe
Do not eat or put in mouth.
To store, dip the goop in water and place in airtight jar.
Or better yet, fill a balloon with your goop mixture. Now you have a toy that doubles as a yo-yo or stress-relieving ball… or you can break it open and have lots of goopy fun!
Active Time
15 minutes
Additional Time
20 minutes
Total Time
35 minutes
Difficulty
Medium
Estimated Cost
$5
Materials
- 1/4 cup warm water
- 1/2 teaspoon Borax
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 2-3 ounces of white glue (roughly half a 4 ounce container)
- (Optional) Food coloring (liquid kind)
Tools
- Ziploc bag – freezer bag is best
- Jar to hold Ziploc bag upright when mixing ingredients
Instructions
- Add the Borax to the water in an upright ziploc freezer bag and let it dissolve…takes a few minutes.
- Then add the cornstarch, glue and optional coloring to the mixture and mix.
- Knead or squeeze in the ziploc bag.
- Let it rest for awhile 30-60 minutes.
- Knead for awhile –> up to 30 minutes.
Notes
Do not put the finished silly putty in your mouth.
Try Some Slime Recipes from Kids Activities Blog
Leave a comment: Did your kids have fun playing with this homemade silly putty?