Friday, December 7, 2012

Frugal Craft - Homemade Clay Ornaments

Maybe a little late in December to be posting this, but here's a classic frugal craft for you - homemade clay ornaments.

I found this craft at Savings Lifestyle and it was perfect for my kids this year. I remember making these when I was in high school, so hopefully this will become a family tradition!

You will need:
  • 4 cups flour
  • 1 1/2 cups salt
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • Cookie cutters
(I did just a quarter of the recipe because I wasn't sure how the kids were going to take to the craft.)

Step 1: Combine flour and salt together in a medium bowl, slowly add the water and mix until a soft ball forms. Knead the dough for a couple of minutes. The dough should be the consistency of pie dough or bread dough. If it's too sticky add more flour, and if it's too stiff add a little more water.

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Take the dough and flour a surface and roll the dough out to about 1/4" thick. Take your cookie cutters and make shapes in the dough, making sure you press down evenly. Tear away your unused dough from around the shapes and use a spatula to pick up the shapes and place them on an ungreased cookie sheet. Definitely remember to flour your surface - otherwise you will NOT be able to pick up the dough easily.

The Aftermath:

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Bake at 300 for approximately 25 minutes (or until hard, but not brown). Don't forget to use a toothpick to make a hole for your ornament hook if that's how you're using these.

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Wait about 15 minutes for the cookies to cool completely and then get the kids painting them and writing names on these little keepsakes.

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Brianna's completed ornaments: (3 years old)

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Hunter's completed ornaments: (2 years old)

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