April 26th, 2023
Everyone has that one thing they enjoy more than anything to pass the time. It might be knitting, clothespin art, or even painting. For those of you looking for new or more challenging hobbies, we’ve got you covered. Below, we’ve picked out ultimate, step-it-up activities to push your perseverance and boost your creativity.
Clay (Plasticine) Models
As children, my siblings and I spent much of our time playing with Play-Doh. We made cupcakes, ice cream cones, and a variety of other food-inspired objects out of it. As we grew older, we discovered modeling clays that we baked in our kitchen oven, usually in the shape of animals or, once, a partial nativity set. I’ve yet to actually play with the brand Plasticine, a kind of clay that doesn’t harden with air or heat.While Play-Doh of the past or homemade varieties are food-based and nontoxic, Plasticine is oil-based and cannot be made at home—though minus a sick stomach, you won’t die if you accidentally ingest some. According to mommyandme.ae, Plasticine was invented by William Harbutt, in the English city of Bath, 1897. He needed a substance that his art students could easily correct and remold repeatedly. Soon after, he discovered that his own children enjoyed it as well, and began marketing it commercially in 1899.Plasticine is cheap material found in your usual craft aisle these days, but it has the added benefits of both not drying into hard or dangerous objects and of being easier to clean up than Play-Doh—just be sure not to leave it in the heat to melt. You can find it in any color or even play with your own pigmentation. It’s a fun way to learn how to make models, have “cupcake” wars, or even illustrate children’s books of all things (see the link below). You can use it any way you might use other clay or Play-Doh, only without the hassle of it drying out when you step away.If you think this might be your ultimate hobby, check out this link for some great ideas that inspire both creativity and engaging educational opportunities.