Handmade Gifts

Yes, even boys like to create handmade gifts......I think it is using the sewing machine that makes it so fun!

age 7

age13

Ta- Dah! Gifts for the ladies!

Handmade Gift Tags & Enclosures

Check out what we've been up to.......

 

What's in your jar?

salt dough ornaments

                   This is not your grandma's salt dough style!

 Stamps, paint or pen,

these were so much fun to decorate

        

 My creative and crafty teen assistant & friend Elisabeth, was able to make the dough and decorate with ease.

Salt dough recipe

2 cups all purpose flour

1 cup salt

1 cup water

Use a large flat bottom bowl & combine dry ingredients.

Mix in water a little at a time.

Knead 7-10 minutes until dough has a smooth firm consistency.

Too dry- add water/ Too wet -add flour

(To prevent drying, place unused dough in plastic bag)

Roll out dough to 1/4" thickness,use cookie cutters to cut out shapes.

(before you dry them, make sure you use a toothpick to make a hole for the ornament string!)

2 ways to dry:

1- air drying- slow but easier. place cutouts on a screen to allow back & front dry out equally well. Takes approximately 48 hours.

2- baking- 300 degrees for several hours. I found I had to turn mine over to allow them to dry properly.

* tips- If a cutout puffs up, poke with a toothpick to release the air & reduce the oven temperature 50-75 degrees.

*Baking time is determined by the thickness of the cutout.

Do Not Eat!