what's with the cream of tartar?

Cream of Tartar, originally uploaded by Cinara's Place.

I just wanted to do a wee bit of clarification for you folks out there who want to whip up a batch of play dough but don't have any cream of tartar.

Guess what? You don't need it! Adding cream of tartar to your play dough assists it a wee bit in adding volume and elasticity, and it acts as a preservative so that you can keep it around for a week or so as long as you store it in a sealed container in a cool, dry place (there is all kinds of science involved but I want to make dough NOW). Other than that, yer play dough is just find without it (though it might be a smidge grainy). So, go ahead, make some dough and have at it!**

**if your dough is on the sticky-side, add a little more flour, one tablespoon at a time and knead it in until you get a consistency you like. Doughs that are cooked on the stovetop tend to be top notch but a hot water dough or a simple flour and salt dough are easy to make. To skip the worry over cream of tartar all together, whip up a batch of cornstarch clay, the texture is fantastic!