Homemade Silly Putty is very easy to make, and the kids will absolutely love it.  This is the perfect DIY silly putty activity to keep the kids entertained.

Silly Putty in someone's hand.

Homemade Putty is one of those timeless items that kids of all ages love to play with. It never gets boring and is always a ton of fun. Silly Putty is perfect for little fingers and using fine motor skills.

There is just something about silly putty that kids go crazy about. It’s fun to play with and almost mesmerizing.

Learn how to make your own homemade silly putty for the perfect activity to beat boredom. Whether it is too hot outside or rainy, this DIY is so fun and great for sensory play.

We also love to make Color Changing Silly Putty and Color Changing Homemade Play dough Recipe for more fun kids activities.

Why You Will Love This

  • Fun Sensory activity. If you are looking for fun activities that are also useful, this is perfect to try.
  • It is so much fun. With only a few ingredients, it is so fun to make and great for stress relief.
  • Easy to make. This fun craft is one of the easiest kid’s activities. The whole family will love it.

Silly Putty Ingredients

Ingredients for silly putty - liquid starch, glue, food coloring.
  • 1 cup of Sta-Flo Liquid Starch
  • 1 cup of glue (We buy a gallon of white school glue because we are always making something.)
  • Paint or Food Coloring

Get the complete ingredient details at the bottom of the post.

Step By Step Instructions

Mixing bowl with glue.

Step 1. Pour approximately 1 cup of the school glue into a small bowl.

Food coloring added to glue in bowl.

Step 2. Mix in a few drops of food coloring or acrylic paint into the white glue. You can use the color of your choice.  Stir the glue mixture thoroughly with a spoon until the glue is the color of the paint or food coloring.

Food coloring combined with glue.

Step 3. Mix in 1 cup of the Sta-Flo Liquid Starch.  Let this mixture set for at least 5 minutes as the glue has to soak up the Sta-Flo Liquid Starch.

Liquid starch combined together with glue mixture.

Step 4. Mix the 2 ingredients together as best as possible. 

Mixture combined in a bowl.

Step 5. The mixture will look stringy and not well combined as you can see in the picture.

Silly Putty mixture on the counter.

Step 6. Put the mixture on a paper towel or your countertop if it’s a solid surface.  Again, let this combination set for at least 5 minutes.

Step 7. After this time, mix again with your hands and work the glue/starch mixture until the silly putty is formed. Continue kneading the putty until the desired consistency and texture for kids to play with.

Silly Putty stretched in hands.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to store?

This DIY Putty Recipe can be stored inside an airtight container or bag. Make sure kids wash their hands and keep the putty clean. This will help it to last longer.

How to make putty stretchy?

Make sure to follow the steps exactly. Letting the combination set for at least 5 minutes helps it to form the putty and make it stretch. It is very easy to make this 3-ingredient silly putty recipe.

How to make Silly Putty with baking soda?

Baking soda can be used to make silly putty but I find it harder to get the right consistency. Combine a bottle of Elmer’s school glue (4 oz) with 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda.

Then add 1 tsp borax to the mixture. Knead the mixture until it hardens and becomes the desired consistency.

More Easy Slime Recipes

Give this homemade silly putty recipe a try and watch the kid’s creativity flow. Then please leave a comment. I love hearing from you.

Homemade Silly Putty

Homemade Silly Putty is very easy to make, and the kids will absolutely love it.  This is the perfect DIY silly putty activity to keep the kids entertained.
Prep Time15 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Keyword: Homemade Silly Putty
Yield: 1
Author: One Crazy Mom

Equipment

  • 1 cup of Sta-Flo Liquid Starch
  • 1 cup of glue (We buy a gallon of glue because we are always making something.)
  • Paint or Food Coloring

Instructions

  • Pour approximately 1 cup of the glue into a mixing bowl.
  • Mix in a few drops of acrylic paint or food coloring, the color of your choice.  Mix thoroughly until the glue is the color of the paint or food coloring.
  • Mix in 1 cup of the Sta-Flo Liquid Starch.  Let this mixture set for at least 5 minutes as the glue has to soak up the Sta-Flo Liquid Starch.
  • Mix the 2 ingredients together as best as possible.  The mixture will look stringy and not well combined as you can see in the picture. You will likely think that this project has failed but don’t give up now!
  • Put the mixture on a paper towel or your counter top if it’s a solid surface.  Again, let this combination set for at least 5 minutes.
  • After this time, mix again with your hands and work the glue/starch mixture until the silly putty is formed.

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Comments

  1. Ellie says:

    Is it possible to make diy liquid starch? I am a really big fan of yours but I don’t have any liquid starch

    1. carrie says:

      I’m sure there is a good recipe for one but I haven’t tried it yet so I’m not sure which one works the best. If you try it out, please let us know how it turns out!