Easy Silly Putty Recipe for Kids

Playdough, silly putty, and sludge are three favorite words of many children.  However, buying these products in the store over and over again can be expensive.  Here is a simple easy recipe to make silly putty in your home.  The kids can even make it with some supervision.

For one small batch:
1/2 bottle of glue (or 1/4 cup)
a little less than 1/4 cup of water + 1/4 cup hot water
1/2 teaspoon borax
Food Coloring

Borax is so easy to find! And it’s cheap. Just look in the laundry section of the store. One box is enough to make about a million batches of Silly Sludge.

To make Silly Sludge, first start by measuring and pouring the glue into a glass bowl. It doesn’t have to be glass, but it will be easier to clean if it is.



Then add a little less than 1/4 cup of water and stir it until it’s mixed up pretty well. The amount of water doesn’t need to be exact at all!



Add in a tiny bit of food coloring. Like even one drop if you can.  If you add too much, you may get some on your hands when you play with it. Mix it up until the color is combined.



Set that bowl aside. Now measure out 1/4 cup of hot water and stir in 1/2 teaspoon of Borax. Mix it around until the Borax dissolves. It may not all dissolve, but mostly is okay. The hot water really helps.



Now comes the fun (and educational) part! Pour the Borax mixture into the glue mixture and stir.



Almost immediately, the Borax causes the glue to make a polymer chain (which means, it makes the glue’s molecules stick together). It’s pretty cool!



If all of the water doesn’t absorb into the Silly Sludge, it’s no big deal!  Move the Silly Sludge out of the bowl and play with it! The more you play with it, the better it gets. You can store it in a small zip lock bag.

For more information see Love and Laundry. 

Coloring for College

 College is expensive now, and in 18 years it will even cost more.  That is why by starting now you may be able to save some money.  Path 2 College is having a coloring contest for a college scholarship.  This is a great way to let your child have fun, and maybe win some money for their future at the same time.

 Parents looking for ways to save for their children’s future higher education needs have a chance this month to win some cash for that purpose.

Georgia’s college savings program, Path2College 529 Plan, is holding a statewide coloring sweepstakes for children in pre-kindergarten through fifth-grade.

Plan Director Mitch Seabaugh said students should color “Hootie the Wise Old Owl” and complete the sentence, “When I graduate, I’m going to be a _,” for a chance to win money to put toward college.

Seabaugh said the contest is open throughout September, which is also national College Savings Month. Coloring sheets and official rules can be found at www.Path2College529.com. Entries must be submitted by a parent or legal guardian, postmarked by Sept. 30 and received by Oct. 5.

The winner will be drawn at random in mid-October and will receive $1,529 as a college savings contribution, said Seabaugh. The winner’s school also will receive $1,000.

The Path2College 529 Plan offers college savings accounts to Georgia families which are federal and state income tax-free. The program is managed by TIAA-CREF Tuition Financing Inc. which is part of the New York City-based TIAA-CREF financial services organization.

For more information see the Henry Daily Herald.

Legacy Build

Do you know about the Legacy Build?  This is a week long even to help rebuild and renovate houses for those in need.  The build ends this Friday, and it is the largest build they have had.  They still need volunteers and donations, so keep reading to see how you can help.

Henry County Fuller Center for Housing Inc. is embarking on its largest renovation project yet.

The McDonough-based nonprofit is the official host of the Fourth Annual Millard Fuller Legacy Build, Sept. 9-14.

The Legacy Build is a week-long cause in which volunteers worldwide help rebuild and renovate houses for those in need. It is named in memory of Millard Fuller, the founder of Habitat for Humanity and The Fuller Center for Housing Inc. Henry County Fuller Center is a local covenant partner of the Americus-based Christian charity.

Shane Persaud is president of the Henry County Fuller Center. He said the nonprofit will be working on at least four major renovation projects using local and out-of-town volunteers.

Henry and other Fuller Center covenant partners around the world have set a collective goal to build or rehabilitate 100 homes during the week. Persaud said the event is an all-volunteer effort reliant on donated time, money and supplies.

Organizers plan to kick-off Legacy Build with a dinner at 5 p.m. Sunday at Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church, 397 Racetrack Road in McDonough.

Construction days are Sept. 10-14, culminating with closing ceremonies and a dinner at 7 p.m. Sept. 14 at Wesley Chapel.

Persaud said the organization is still accepting volunteers and donations.

To learn more about the local partnership or to register for the Legacy Build, visit the Henry County Fuller Center for Housing Inc. web site at www.hcfullercenter.org, call 678-551-0800, or e-mail info@hcfullercenter.org. For more about the Legacy Build, visit www.fullercenter.org. 

For  more information see the Henry Daily Herald.

Petty visits the McDonough Walmart

The King of Racing was at the Walmart in McDonough Friday before the AdvoCare 500 race on Sunday.  The meet and greet attracted all ages that were fans of his race team for years.  Petty is celebrating his 20th year of retirement after his last race, where his car caught fire.  Petty escaped injury that day and was able to salute his fans in his final laps on the track.

Four-year-old Lawrence Cooley was a little shy at first in the presence of greatness, but the King quickly put him at ease as he signed autographs in the shadow of his former palace, Atlanta Motor Speedway.

King Richard Petty greeted race fans at the Wal-mart SuperCenter in McDonough Friday leading up to the speedway's grand ball with a full weekend of racing capped off by the AdvoCare 500, Sunday.

Petty is celebrating his 20th year of retirement from the sport that made his name a household word.

The NASCAR legend dominated the racing circuit throughout the better part of three decades, ending his career at Atlanta Motor Speedway, November 15, 1992 at the AMS Hooter's 500. 

Petty's popularity has not waned and fans stood in line for chance to meet their racing hero.

Randy Ricther was among the many fans who was able to have memorabilia signed by Petty Friday afternoon.

"I have been a fan for life," he said. 

 Now Ricther is sharing his love for racing and admiration for Petty with his 4-year-old daughter Rachel who was greeted by the smiling NASCAR icon as he took time to pose with each fan and talked to the children as they filed past.

The event, made possible by Goody's Powder and Petty's Garage, brought back memories of the driver's final salute to fans at nearby AMS in Hampton. 

In his final race, back in 1992, Petty was involved in an accident and his car caught fire.

However, he escaped any injury and his crew was able to get the No. 24 back on the track so he could finish his final run.

Petty made his grand exit from the track by taking 10 laps, waving and saluting his loyal fan base.

Race weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway begins with the Jeff Foxworthy Grit Chips 200, Friday and the NRA American Warrior 300 Saturday, finishing Sunday with the Sprint Cup Series race.

For more information see the Henry Daily Herald.