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Homemade Clay Vs. Playdough

There is one main difference between recipe for home made clay and a recipe for homemade playdough.

While homemade clay is used to create vases, sculptures, and ornaments that will be dried and saved for years to come

Homemade play dough on the other hand is stored in an air tight container and maintains its pliability for a long time. Play dough can be used to make things to. But, it is often more for entertainment than art.

You can make your own clay using a variety of recipes. We have given just one here. This homemade clay recipe is best used to make clay ornaments that can be given as a gift or hung on your own tree year after year. Kids will love coming back to these even as adults when they begin to decorate their own Christmas tree and have a family of their own.

Clay Cookie Cutter Ornaments

Materials

2 C. Salt
2/3 C. Water
Medium saucepan to boil water in.
1 C. Cornstarch
1/2 C. Cold Water
Rolling pin or large drinking glass
Metal holiday themed cookie cutters
Plastic straws
Toothpicks
Acrylic Paint, glitter, and other decorative materials
Ribbon

You can lso use flavor oils for scent - peppermint, vanilla, almond, lemon, orange, cherry (pick ones with no alcohol, and choose flavor oils meant for eating, not essential oils.) You can find these in your supermarket along the baking aisle.

Instructions:

In the saucepan mix the salt with the correct amount of water (2/3 cup).

Stir and boil until the salt dissolves completely.

Remove the saucepan from heat. Add cornstarch and 1/2 C cold water and stir. (Mixture should thicken right away. If not, then heat on low and stir constantly to help it along)

Lightly dust the work surface and rolling pin with cornstarch.

Roll out the clay just like you would sugar cookie dough until its about 1/4" thick.

Cut out a variety of shapes with the cookie cutters. Left over clay can be gathered into a ball and rolled out again if you work quickly enough.

Use a straw to make a hole for hanging the ornament.

Mark the back with the child's initials and the year using a toothpick

Let the ornaments air dry overnight.

Decorate your homemade clay ornament with paint, glitter, and so on.

Finally loop a nice piece of ribbon through the hole for a finished look and easy hanging.

If you prefer to make homemade play dough because your purpose is different, or maybe even at a different time keep this recipe handy. Quick and Easy Play Dough