Play Dough

Important note: Adult supervision and participation is required for this activity

Ingredients:

• 2 cups flour
• 2 Tablespoons Alum
• 3 Tablespoons salad oil
• 1 cup salt
• 1 1/2 cups boiling water

Directions:

Mix above together in a bowl.  Divide into batches if you like and add food coloring to each batch to get desired colors.

Store in plastic baggies or recycled butter dishes.

Applesauce Dough Ornaments

Important note: Adult supervision and participation is required for this activity. 

Ingredients:

• 2 - 3 cups cinnamon
• 1 tbsp. ground cloves
• 1 tbsp. nutmeg
• 1 tbsp. allspice
• 1 tbsp ginger
• 3 cups applesauce
• glitter ~ Optional

Directions:

In medium bowl, combine 2 cups cinnamon, cloves, allspice, ginger & nutmeg. Add to applesauce a little at a time, stir to combine.  Work mixture with hands 2 to 3 minutes or until dough is smooth and ingredients are thoroughly mixed.  You want the mixture to resemble playdough.  If it is still too "wet" add more cinnamon to achieve desired consistency.  If it is too dry, add a little more cinnamon to firm it up.

Roll out dough to 1/4 inch thickness between 2 sheets of wax paper.  Cut dough with cookie cutters.  Using straw or pencil, make small hole in top of ornament.  Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet at 150 degrees for 3 hours, turning every 30 minutes.  Thread with ribbon for hanging.

Note: The amount of cinnamon you use depends on how much liquid is in your applesauce.  If you have the time you can line a strainer with a cloth and put the applesauce in to drain for several hours.

Salt Dough Ornaments

Important note: Adult supervision and participation is required for this activity. 

Ingredients:

• 2 cups flour
• 1 cup salt
• 1 cup water

Directions:

Mix salt and flour.  Add in half of the water, then gradually add the remaining water.  Knead until the dough is smooth, this can take 7 to 10 minutes.

Roll out dough between two sheets of wax paper.  Use cookie cutters to cut out different shapes. 

Dust the dough with flour and use a toothpick to add any details you'd like.  Don't forget to use a straw to make a hole so that you can hang the ornament.

Bake at 325 for 1 1/2 hours or until dry.  The drying time depends on the thickness of the ornaments.

Allow to cool and use acrylic paints, beads, buttons, etc to decorate.  Make sure to coat with acrylic varnish when it is completely dry.

No-bake Cinnamon Dough Ornaments

Important note: Adult supervision and participation is required for this activity.  Older children will be able to work with these with minimal adult assistance.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups cinnamon
• 2 cups applesauce
• 1/2 cup white school glue like Elmer's

Directions:

Mix ingredients together in a bowl.  It should be the consistency of playdough.  If it seems too hard, add a little more water.  Knead the dough for 7 to 10 minutes.  Place in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap so that it doesn't dry out.  Allow to sit for 30 - 45 minutes.  Knead dough again until smooth.  Roll out between two sheets of wax paper to 1/8 to 1/4-inch thickness.  Use cookie cutters to cut out desired shapes.  Use a straw to create a hole for hanging the ornament.  Place the ornaments on a sheet of wax paper to dry.  Drying will take 3 to 5 days.  Turn the ornaments over a couple of times a day to make sure they dry flat and to prevent them from curling on the edges.  The ornaments will shrink slightly.

Sherry 

got recipes to this point

carolyn