By Karen Swan

I got a little creative the other day.

Maybe I’ve been using Pinterest for too long and decided that I was, in fact, craftier than I thought?

Maybe I was just looking for something that my little boy and I could do together on another long day at home?

Either way, we got busy and I have to say, I’m thrilled with the results!  All those sweet little stamps I couldn’t help but buy even though I have absolutely no use for them, suddenly reached their full potential!  While I happily created my trees and swirls, my son made aeroplanes and butterflies with his dough, which are, as I type, being painted in vibrant primary colours, in readiness for hanging on our DIY Christmas tree next week.

Here are three recipes for different types of dough – all of them using things you will have in your cupboard already.  My favourite is the baking soda dough for its pure white colour, and my heart breaks a little looking at the salt doughcreations of my 3 year old son……these are the little things that will be unpacked each Christmas as we decorate the tree and I will always remember that November day when he was little. Nostalgic?  Who me?

1.  Baking Soda & Cornflour Dough

1/2 cup of cornflour

1 cup of baking soda

3/4 of a cup of water

1. Stir the ingredients in a saucepan over medium/high heat.
2. Keep mixing until it resembles mashed potato.
3. Transfer the mix into a bowl and cover with a damp mamabake tea towel until it cools.
4. When cool, knead, then roll it out ready for cutting.  You can add some more cornflour if it feels sticky.
5. Stamp, cut or shape your dough then place on a baking tray lined with waxed paper. Don’t forget to poke little holes in the top for your ribbons!

I let mine air dry (it takes weeks), but you can put then in a 80 degrees C oven for about an hour, turning halfway.

You can add some colour to the mix in step one, but I just love the clean, white dough of the finished product.  This dough can be a little more fragile than sturdy salt dough, so handle gently.  Store in an airtight container when dry.

2.  Basic Salt Dough Recipe

1 cup salt (just use table salt)

2 cups of plain flour

3/4 cup of water

1. Simply combine the flour and salt in a bowl, then add the water gradually. Knead the mixture until it becomes a dough-like consistency. It will feel very grainy because of the high salt content. If it’s on the sticky side, add a touch more flour.  If it won’t hold together, add a little more water, a teaspoon at a time.
2. You can add glitter, dried flower or herbs to the mix for a nice touch too!
3. Knead the dough and roll out ready for cutting, stamping and shaping.  For kids decorations, keep the dough quite thick.  It dries rock hard, so it’s very sturdy!
4. If you have time, you can air dry, meaning the dough will retain its pale colour.  If not, or for decorations you’re going to paint, bake them in a very low oven for around 2 hours, turning halfway. (Mine pictured above were air dried.)
5. When dry and cool, they’re ready to paint!

3.  Cinnamon Dough Recipe

1 cup of ground cinnamon

1/4 cup applesauce (tinned is fine)

1/2 cup of craft glue

1. Mix the cinnamon and the applesauce with a spatula until combined
2. Stir in the craft glue and continue to mix until the dough is smooth and dry.
3. Let it stand for an hour.
4. The applesauce makes the dough pliable, the glue makes it firm and the cinnamon makes it smell delicious!
5. Roll out the mix (keep a water spray bottle handy if it starts to get too dry) and shape however you please!
6. Air-dry ornaments on a wire rack lined with paper towels for 24 hours, turning them over every 6 hours or so to keep them flat. Alternatively, preheat oven to 200 degrees. Transfer ornaments to a baking sheet; bake, flipping once, until dry, about 2 hours.

(Image and recipe from here )

Do you DIY your decorations?  What do you make?