Microwave Kiln
Trying to come up with good toys for your children to play with can be tough. Any parent knows that those expensive and elaborate toys that are advertised on television often are not good long-term toys. The best toy for the child is something simple that the child can then use his or her imagination to turn that toy into whatever wild fantasy that comes up during playtime. That is why play dough is such a great toy. It is relatively inexpensive, easy to store and the child can "go wild" with play dough creating just about any creature, vehicle or imaginary friend they wish. Then when they are done with that fantasy, the play dough can collapse back to soft dough again and be ready for tomorrow's adventures.
Every once in a while, though, your kiddo will make something really meaningful, artistic or just plain "cool" with her play dough and you think, "I wish I could keep that as artwork." Or it might be a gift your little one thinks to give you such as a play dough figurine of herself. Even if it looks nothing like her, that figurine is a memory you want to preserve forever. But even if you save that piece from the normal play dough clean up process, to just let it dry will only result in a crumbling pile of dough.
You actually have the tools right in your own home to take that play dough masterpiece and "fire" it so it can be preserved for the future. You don't need a fancy artists kiln like the one they use to make the pottery or the sculptures you see in museums. You can actually use your trusty microwave to fire that play dough sculpture and turn it into artwork you will be proud to display in your bookcase or at the office for coworkers to admire.
It is so easy to turn a play dough toy into a permanent sculpture using your microwave that you will be amazed. And your child will get a big kick out of it too. Simply find a microwave safe plate that you can use. Place the play dough sculpture on the plate with just base the artwork touching the plate. Now microwave it on high for a minute. You are not done yet. Now use a water sprayer and spray down the sculpture so the play dough stays moist through the rest of the process. For most small pieces, another five minutes on high will harden the play dough into a long lasting permanent piece. Now just put the creation somewhere to dry for forty-eight hours and it is ready to put on display.
The smile you will see on your child's face when you change a creation she did with her play dough into a permanent part of your home will be one of those memories that will stay with you and your child forever. Don’t be surprised if she starts making gifts for her daddy, her aunts and uncles and grandparents once she knows that what she makes with play dough can become something beautiful and meaningful to the adults in her life. But since play dough is inexpensive, why not let your child have lots of fun making art works that you "fire" right in the microwave to turn into permanent artworks make by your own sweet son or daughter?