Making Christmas Ornaments

by Kara Kelso
http://www.momsmarketonline.com/christmas-ornaments.html

As the holidays approach, what better way to spend time with your children than to make Chrismtas ornaments? It can be a simple and fun activity to get you both in the Christmas spirit.

There are several recipes you can choose from, which are as follows:

1. Dough Ornaments

2 c. flour
1/2 c. salt
1 c. water
Straw
Acrylic paints

Mix all together, adding more flour if needed. Cut shapes with cookie cutters or make your own shapes. Use a straw to make a hole for hanging. Bake at 200 degrees for 30 minutes, longer for larger ornaments. Paint with acrylic paints.

2. Cinnamon Ornaments

1 c. ground cinnamon
4 tbsp. white glue
3/4 - 1 c. water
Straw

Combine ingredients, adding enough water to make the dough as thick as cookie dough. Refrigerate for 2 hours. Knead dough until smooth on cinnamon sprinkled work area. Roll out dough to 1/4 inch thick on cinnamon sprinkled work area. Cut out shapes with cookie cutters. To dry, place on waxed paper, turning 2 times daily for 4 days. Or bake ornaments on cookie sheet in warm oven for 2 hours. Before drying, poke a hole in top of ornament with a plastic straw. When shapes are dry, ribbons can be used as a hanger. Ornaments can also be used as kitchen magnets by gluing small magnets to the back. Ornaments may be left brown or painted with acrylic paint.

3. Creative Clay Ornaments

1 c. cornstarch
1 1/4 c. cold water
2 c. baking soda (1 lb.)

Stir starch and soda together. Mix in cold water and stir over heat until mixture has a consistency of mashed potatoes. Turn onto a plate and cover with a damp cloth until cool enough to handle. Then knead. Use immediately or store in an airtight container. This dough has a smooth consistency good for ornaments, modeling or pottery. Cut out shapes with cookie cutters, poke holes to hang later. Lay out to dry at room temperature in 3 days or bake in oven at 200 degrees.

4. Snowflake Frosting Ornaments

1 c. powdered sugar
1 egg white
1/8 tsp. cream of tartar
1/4 tsp. vanilla

Beat egg white, sugar and cream of tartar until very thick. Beat in vanilla. Spoon frosting into cake decorator bag. (Size of hole in tip determines the thickness of the snowflake.) Draw a snowflake design the size you want on a piece of paper with a small dark, felt tip pen. Place the pattern under a sheet of wax paper. Squeeze frosting onto the waxed paper, following the lines of the design. Let harden overnight, then gently remove the waxed paper backing. Attach a loop of dark thread for hanging.

5. Soap Flake Sculptures

4 c. soap flakes (any kind, NOT detergent)
1/2 c. cold water

Place soap flakes and water in a medium size bowl. Squeeze the mixture together with your hands until it becomes slightly damp and sticks together. (This mixture dries quickly, so you'll have to work fast!) Now you can form it into any shape you'd like, animals, snowmen, decorations, tree ornaments, etc. Place the finished sculpture(s) in the refrigerator to harden.

Whatever recipe you use for ornaments, you are sure to have a day full of fun with your child!

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About the author: Kara Kelso is the owner of Mom's Market, the online shopping mall for busy moms. More craft recipes can be found at: http://www.momsmarketonline.com/craft-recipes.html

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