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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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