Question for the Martha Stewart types...

[BaxtersMama]

We're going to spend the afternoon making salt dough ornaments today with the kids. I still have a few I put on my tree that I made as a kid and I thought this would be fun to do with my kids. I've never done them and I've found several different recipes. I'll find one, but when it says to bake for an hour or 2 at 200 degrees F, it doesn't specify if I put them on a cookie sheet to bake or directly on the oven rack. If put on the oven rack, won't there be an impression of the rack on the back and how do I transfer smaller ornaments on it without it falling apart? If put on a cookie sheet, will it stick? Will I need to use cooking spray or something? If you have a tried and true recipe you'd like to share, I'd rather use that than something I just found online.

I'd also love to try the cinnamon/apple sauce ornaments, but I don't think I have enough cinnamon on hand to do it now. If you've done those, did you bake yours or let it air dry? I've seen you can do either for that recipe.

Thanks! All tips are appreciated. I am not a crafty mom.

[Bens'mom]

I don't remember doing this my son is 23. but we did a lot of crafts so I am sure I did. I would put it on a baking sheet on aluminum foil. I think you would hurt your oven if you just stuck them in.

[BaxtersMama]

did them on a cookie sheet. they'll come out in another hour and a half. thanks.

[angus&teddy]

Originally Posted by BaxtersMama

did them on a cookie sheet. they'll come out in another hour and a half. thanks.

Yep, you did it right.

As for the cinnamon/applesauce ones, I air dried them when I made them.

Sounds like you are making some new family traditions.

[Christen99]

We made these once, and I had the kids make them on parchment paper on the cookie sheet so there wouldn't be any transferring and goofing up their work. In fact, I do this when cutting out sugar cookies as well.

[swamplily]

I made the salt ones years ago. I think I still have the instructions and will look for you. Those would be great to do with the grandson. I forgot all about the applesauce cinnamon ones. Do you have a recipe for those?

[smartrock]

Agh! I'm computer illiterate tonight!

Here are recipes for a fun bread and glue clay that I've worked with. You can color it with tempera paint or food coloring mixed into the dough and air dry them.

http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,164,...231205,00.html

And here are some recipes for the cinnamon applesauce ornaments that smell fabulous!

http://www.handmadecountry.com/ezine/cinnamon.html

[BaxtersMama]

We need to sand the edges of a few of these, especially the handprints I did of the boys and paint and put varnish on them.

as far as the cinnamon applesauce one's, I have found several different recipes, including one that calls for glue (sure that will be fun to knead for 10 minutes). Perhaps Kristin has a tried and true recipe she can vouch for. Here is a website with different recipes ....http://www.handmadecountry.com/ezine/cinnamon.html

(Just put them all back in the oven as they appeared soft and more uncooked on the bottom, even though they've been in the oven over 2 hours. Turned them over hoping they'll dry out faster and come out looking as decent as they did initially.)

[BaxtersMama]

I read about the food coloring, but didn't want to only color a few block at a time, since they'll be different colors. What on earth is tempera paint? I've heard of tempura, and it's yummy to eat, but this? I only have acrylic craft paint. I can use that, can't I or do I need to get this tempera stuff? Is it available at Walmart? Not wanting to make a trip to Hobby Lobby or Michaels...

[smartrock]

They use tempera paints at schools a lot because it's washable and bright. I think Crayola makes some, as do other companies. They might call it poster paint, I'm sure you've probably seen or used it in school as a kid. Your ornaments are very cute- I like how the holes cut out of some became buttons on others. I'd think you could paint them with the craft acrylic paints or tempera paints or whatever.

[Christen99]

Originally Posted by BaxtersMama

I read about the food coloring, but didn't want to only color a few block at a time, since they'll be different colors. What on earth is tempera paint? I've heard of tempura, and it's yummy to eat, but this? I only have acrylic craft paint. I can use that, can't I or do I need to get this tempera stuff? Is it available at Walmart? Not wanting to make a trip to Hobby Lobby or Michaels...

Tempera paint is available at Walmart in the kids craft section. It is in those plastic containers that are used at preschools and kindergarten classes. It's relatively inexpensive, I'd say around $2 per color and it's a fairly good amount of paint. It comes in smaller containers, and gallon jugs either in washable liquid or powder form.

Your ornaments turned out great! I'm going to have to make some with the kids.

[LazyLab]

Those turned out super cute! I've made those in the past, as a kid. They look like they would be fun to make, wish I had kids to make them with. The dogs would probably just eat them pre-cooked!

[ALuv4Labs]

This is so ironic...my mom and I were just talking about the cinnamon ornaments today! Mark and I are just starting out on our own and only have about 6 or 7 ornaments so far to put on our tree for this first year. I was saying we needed to make some of those haha! I've never heard of the salt ones though...can you post the recipe for those? I really like that you can paint them.

[BaxtersMama]

here ya go, Ash...http://www.ask.com/bar?q=when+baking...=1258827773224

[ALuv4Labs]

Thanks! So these are the ones that you made? The recipe with vegetable oil? I actually saw the recipes in the links you posted after I posted my reply. I saw that there are several different versions and wasn't sure if any one recipe worked better than the other. We're planning on making some this weekend...actually already went out and got cookie cutters last night!