In this house creativity needs an outlet, not only for myself on the daily, but also for my grandchildren. Besides their incredibly good looks, they also get a very creative side from me. I thoroughly enjoy showing and teaching them various crafts and projects using many different mediums from crayons, markers and paint, to wood, clay and fabrics. They’ve baked with me, sewed with me and refinished furniture with me as well. My goal is to provide them with the same opportunities I had as a child to explore and cultivate their creative side. I’m a firm believer that since my creativity was nurtured and encouraged so much growing up, that is what actually gave me the ability to be creative and artistic on so many different levels.
When Halloween is over, my mind is on Christmas. That’s just the way it is in my home. Christmas begins in November. That’s when I start planning and starting to decorate for the most festive time of the year. My grandchildren don’t mind that one bit. Much like Clark W. Griswold, I strive each and every year for a fun old-fashioned family Christmas. Whether it’s creating fir garlands to frame doorways and windows or sewing stockings, I make each and every Christmas as old-fashioned as possible for my grandchildren. Last year I introduced them to creating red and green Christmas chains and they positively loved it. My grandchildren are seven and a half, six and a half, five and a half and one and a half years old, so they are still on the younger side, but I feel that they are ready this year to create salt dough ornaments with their Nana. So that’s what we’re going to do, but we’re going to make them with a twist… we’re making our salt dough ornaments scented with two heavenly scents that firmly place me in Christmas mode: Cinnamon and cloves. This not only creates a seasonal scent but also makes the ornaments really look like gingerbread. I love adding this twist to the salt dough ornaments just like my grandparents taught me. I love how the scent stays with them for a long time and makes whatever room they are in smell positively festive. You don’t need many ingredients for this recipe. In fact, most of us have what we need already in the home. I hope you’ll give this recipe a try on a lazy, creative day with your kiddos. The memories alone are worth the mess you’ll make making them. And by the way… we made these days ago and my kitchen still smells amazing! Win-Win! If you’d like to watch my family create these ornaments and make memories to last us a lifetime, you can do so by clicking here.
[recipe title = "Scented Salt Dough Christmas Ornaments" difficulty = "Easy Fun"]
Ingredients:
3 c. All Purpose Flour *Do NOT use self-rising flour
1 c. Iodized Salt
3/4 c. Ground Cinnamon
1/4 c. Ground Cloves
1 1/4 to 2 c. Water
Butcher’s Freezer Paper and baking Parchment paper
Miscellaneous Cookie Cutters
*You can substitute the ground cinnamon and cloves for essential oils. This is a great option to customize your ornaments scents. If you do use the essential oils instead, place 20 drops directly into the water and stir to mix.
Directions:
Place all the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl and remove any lumps. Reserve about 1/3 c. for rolling out the dough. Now gradually add the water, a little at a time until the dough starts to form a ball. You do not want the dough to be sticky. Once a ball starts to form, turn the dough out onto Butcher’s Freezer Paper and knead by hand, dusting with the reserved dry ingredients. Place a piece of parchment paper over the dough and roll out to 1/4″ thickness. *The thickness is important because if you roll the dough too thin, it will rise slightly during the baking process which can distort things such as handprints and misshape your ornaments.
Use your cookie cutter to cut out your ornament shapes. Place the cut shapes onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Make a hole in the dough. I like to use a skewer to make a hole in the ornament before baking. If you want to hang the ornaments, this is an important step. Bake at 300* for about 1 hour.
Once the ornaments have cooled, you can use glue, glitter and ribbons to decorate them. Because this recipe gives the finished look of gingerbread, I like to use glue and fine, white glitter to decorate the salt dough ornaments. It really lends to the illusion of real gingerbread.
When it’s time to put them away until next year, simply store them in a tote tub or box. I wrap mine in newspaper for added protection. The scent will eventually fade over time, but the memories you made with the children creating them will last forever.
[/recipe]
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