Now that the busy holiday season has passed and life takes on its regular routine, you might be looking for fresh new ideas for when hanging out at home with your little ones. This simple activity is great for an at home Saturday morning.
Using simple ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen cabinets, you and your children can create an easily pliable white clay dough that can preserve handprints, encourage letter formation, or build a snowman.
You will need:
½ c cornstarch
1 c baking soda
¾ c water
cookie cutters
parchment paper
food coloring (optional)
wooden skewers or straws (optional)
paint and paintbrushes (optional)
glitter and glue (optional)
ribbon (optional)
Begin by mixing cornstarch, baking soda, and water in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until mixture thickens to the consistency of mashed potatoes. If coloring is desired, add food coloring to water before mixing. Remove from heat, transfer to a bowl, cover with a cloth and allow dough to cool (about 15 minutes).
Turn the mixture out onto a surface sprinkled with cornstarch and knead a few times. If dough is sticky, add more cornstarch to desired consistency. Flatten dough by hand or with rolling pin to at least ¼”. Use cookie cutters to produce shapes, press hand or foot prints into circles of dough, or use as modeling clay and produce three-dimensional shapes and letters. Use skewer or straw to make holes for hanging ornaments.
Set creations on parchment paper lined cookie sheet and either allow to dry overnight (up to 24 hours) or bake in 175 degree oven for about an hour. Some natural cracking may occur. When decorations are dry, paint as desired or spread thin layer of glue and glitter for a festive look.
These decorations make sweet Valentine’s gifts. After all, ornaments aren’t just for Christmas trees anymore!
