Christmas Dough Ornament Craft

I found this recipe for ornaments many years ago and I love it!  It saddens me a bit that the last time I made this dough was in 2008!  Ahh!  I have got to make these every year, they are so easy and fun.

I wish I could recall exactly where I got this recipe from, but alas, I don't.  It was from some type of parenting website.

I like it, because you can make whatever shape you want by using cookie cutters and you can even dye the dough.  I made dinosaurs last time.  If you start with a great imagination, then you are off to a good start!

Christmas Dough Ornament Craft

This shiny Christmas dough ornament craft is the perfect finishing touch to decorating the tree.  It can also be altered and made into lapel pins, magnets and gift-toppers.

What you'll need:

1/2          cup salt
1             cup flour
1/2          cup water

Rolling pin

Cookie Sheet

Toothpicks

Cookie cutters (stars, trees, etc.)

Acrylic paints (green, yellow, other colors of choice for embellishments)

Glitter glue or glitter paint

Ribbon

** Food coloring, if you would like to die the dough.  Add a few drops to the water before mixing it with flour and salt. You can also paint them once they have baked.  Artist's choice!**

How to make it:

1.      Preheat oven to 250ºF.

2.      Mix together salt, flour, and water until dough is formed.

3.      Knead the dough on a floured surface until the mixture is elastic and smooth.  If dough is too sticky, sprinkle with flour, continue to do so until stickiness is gone.  Do not add too much flour, this will dry out dough and will cause it to crack before you have a chance to make it.

4.      Roll out the dough to about 1/4" thick with rolling pin that has been dusted with flour.

5.      Use cookie cutters to cut out as many trees and stars (dinosaurs, whatever you like!) as you want.

6.      Use a toothpick to make a hole toward the top of the shape.  Poke the toothpick into the shape, then holding the toothpick straight up and down, make a circular motion, as if you were stirring something.  Keep circling until the hole is the size you want.

7.      Place all shapes onto an un-greased cookie sheet and place into the preheated oven.

8.      Bake for 2 hours.

9.      Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.

10.    Paint the trees green and stars yellow (but I say paint them whatever color that you want!  Don't be held back from your creative genius.)

11.    Use the handle end of the paintbrush to dot ornaments by dipping into paint then dotting onto ornament.

12.    When paint is dry, use glitter glue or paint to put a sparkling cover coat on your ornaments.

13.    When dry, thread ribbon through hole and tie a knot in the back.

14.    Tie onto a package, if you would like.

Tips:

-      If your toppers are large enough, you can make two hole in each so that you can thread ribbon through like a button, only showing a small amount of ribbon on the front.

-      These make adorable pins to wear to school.  Just don't make a hole.  Glue a pin to the back of the completed ornament instead.

-      Uncooked salt dough doesn't keep well, so only make enough dough for the ornaments you are going to make.  If you are only making a few toppers, halve the ingredients above.  The listed amounts will make enough ornaments for a classroom of 20.



**BONUS RECIPE**

When I was a kid, we would make these all of the time!  The recipe was given to us by my mom's best friend, Libby.  She passed away a couple of months ago and as a tribute to their 50 year long friendship, I share this recipe with you.


Cinnamon Ornaments

Makes: 12- 15 ornaments
Prep time:  30 minutes
Cook time:  2- 1/2 hours or 1 to 2 days drying time


3/4    cup applesauce

1       bottle (4.12 ounces) cinnamon



Other supplies:

Cookie cutters
Drinking straw
Colorful ribbon

1.      Preheat oven to 200ºF.  Mix applesauce and cinnamon in small bowl until a smooth ball of dough is formed. (You may need to use your hands to incorporate all of the cinnamon.)  Using about 1/4 of the dough at a time, roll dough 1/4-inch to 1.3- inch thickness between two sheets of plastic wrap.  Cut dough into desired shapes with 2-3-inch  cookie cutters.  Make a hole at top of ornament with drinking straw or skewer.  Place ornaments on baking sheet.

2.      Bake 2-1/2 hours.  Cool ornaments on wire wrack (or dry ornaments at room temperature by carefully placing them on a wire rack.  Let stand for 1 to 2 days or until dough is throughly dry, turning occasionally).

3.      Insert ribbon through holes and tie to hang.  Decorate with opaque paint markers, or paint found at regular craft stores, if desired.

**Tip:  If a different size bottle of cinnamon is used, measure 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons of cinnamon.**