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4 cups flour
1 cup salt
1 1/4 - 1 1/2 cup water
food coloring -- optional. Add to water, or keep plain and paint after
baking
beaten egg -- optional for use with dough made without food coloring
shellac
wire hooks, bent wire, ribbons, etc., for hanging
Add food coloring to water if desired. Mix flour, salt and water
together and knead until smooth. Roll out and cut with cookie cutters,
shape by cutting out freehand, or cut using cardboard templates.
"Glue" two pieces together by scratching the surface of one piece,
brushing the area to be attached with water, and pressing the second
piece onto it. Smooth over cracks with moist dough or water.
Make a hole in each piece through and thread through a hook or bent
wire. These can be left in as the pieces are baking.
Bake at 300 degrees until set (1/2 hr to 1 hr). If you want a golden
color to the pieces that aren't made from colored dough, brush with
beaten egg when they are almost done baking and are dry (a golden color
would be good for golden skin tones. For a darker golden color, repeat
this process a few times).
If desired, paint totally cooled pieces with acrylic paint.
Seal all types of ornaments in shellac on both sides and let dry
thoroughly.
Store ornaments in an airtight tin; keep very dry. They should last for
years.
To make African skin tones and wooden-colored
objects, use this recipe:
1 cup Cinnamon
1 TBSP Cloves
1 TBSP Nutmeg
3/4 cup Applesauce
2 TBSP White glue
Mix spices. Add applesauce and glue, then stir to mix, working mixture
with hands for 2-3 minutes. Divide into 4 parts. Roll each to 1/4"
thickness, cut into shapes, make hole for hanging as above. Place on
wire rack and let dry at room temperature for about two days, turning
once at the end of the first day. |
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