Christmas with homemade and frugal gifts

[Mo]

Yes, I'll have to get grandson onto that - what recipe do you use?

I did it at playgroup with Fimo one year - nice bright colours. My playdough had a tendency to puff up in the oven

[manda]

Mo I used: 2 cups of flour; 1 cup of salt and 3/4 cup of water.
I've had that happen before but this time I turned down the heat on the oven and dried them out slower ...they've come out nice and flat and hard so looking positive at the moment.

I also found another recipe using baking
1/2 cup cornstarch (said they used another tablespoon of this)
1 cup baking soda
3/4 cup water

Making Clay

In a medium sized pot combine the cornstarch, baking soda, and water. With an adults help the kids can stir this mixture over medium-low heat. After a couple of minutes, the mixture will begin to thicken. When it looks like smooth, mashed potatoes, remove the pot from the heat. Spoon the ball of dough into a bowl and cover it with a damp cloth until it's cool. When it's cool, knead it on a smooth surface, adding a little more cornstarch if it feels sticky.

Apparently you really do have to wait till it's cool as well or it gets sticky and hard to work with . I'm going to try this recipe as well as it apparently makes a really white clay...so I'll see if it does.

[Mo]

Mo I used: 2 cups of flour; 1 cup of salt and 3/4 cup of water.

Thanks.
Plain or SR?

Is cornstarch the same as cornflour?

[manda]

Mo I used: 2 cups of flour; 1 cup of salt and 3/4 cup of water.

Thanks.
Plain or SR?

Is cornstarch the same as cornflour?

Plain Flour Mo
and yes Corn flour

[manda]

So today Josh and I got on and painted the decorations....now they just need to dry and we'll varnish them.



These are a bit of kiwiana....the 4 green swirls represent the four of us....the 4 white dots are in the shape of the Southern Cross (which is a really prominent star constellation here)...painted a white square on the back so we could write a message to the Grandma's and Grandad...


The Christmas tree which had the thumb prints in it....


Really pleased with the way they turned out ...Josh had a great time (which could have been a horrid one because of his stomach..kept him occupied but able to leave at any moment!!!)....this was from just one batch of salt dough...so good value for money for about 20 decorations I think.....still got to finish the white star and bauble with the star cut out but getting on there.

Josh has decided that now we can make salt dough things for...Easter, Halloween...etc so I'm glad he's found something he can do with me or on his own....few cutters and some paint and he's away

[Mrs B]

My fudge didn't work, it was bluergh

[perchy]

Manda they are gorgeous and of course brilliant




I think we should call you Manda "Kirsty" Allsopp

[manda]

I had to google why Kirstie....didn't know she had done homemade things...only seen her in Location Location

[mrs boodles]

Manda, you just amaze me completely, with all your talents, the decorations are unique and its lovely you could do them with Josh (hope his tummy is better soon) real family stuff.

[p.penn]

They are absolutely wonderful - I love the personalised stuff on them too. I am very cross with myself as I should have sewn the year onto the knitted decs I made the last two years. Never mind.

[albertajune]

Manda, what a great time you and Josh must have had making those wonderful decorations. Love them.

[sarabee]

They're beautiful Manda - I hope Josh is ok now

[perchy]

I had to google why Kirstie....didn't know she had done homemade things...only seen her in Location Location

[Annie]

I got really enthused by the sourdough decs and thought I will make them for the outdoor tree ......................then I thought would they disintegrate because its bound to be raining at some point ?
What sort of paint and varnish would you use ?
thanks

[p.penn]

Definitely not for outdoors Annie!