Add flour, water, salt, oil, and cream of tartar to a heavy bottomed saucepan.
Over medium heat, cook the playdough until it becomes a thick dough. (Note: The water will cook out and will resemble store-bought playdough. The dough will be slightly sticky at this point.)
Place a piece of parchment paper onto a hard work surface and lightly sprinkle with flour.
Knead the warm dough into the flour until the dough is elastic, smooth, and no longer sticky.
Separate the dough into however many sections you would like to individually color.
Add food coloring to the dough to reach the desired color.
Store the playdough in sealed containers or a Ziplock bag. Keep in a cool place thereafter.
