How to Make a Great Smelling Hanging Decoration

My son is always looking for ways to keep himself busy, not being a child who would rather sit and do nothing. He is an active child, a giving child and from a very early age has enjoyed creating items to give to others. Crafts that meet a need and not just take up time are crafts that are big hits in most any home!

As a bitter cold day hit us a few days ago, going outside to play in the snow was out of the question, so we searched for something to do to keep him occupied and in his words, "to make something I can share with others too". Agreeing that sharing was a good idea but that we needed to figure out a craft that he could do that would serve all the prerequisites, we put our thinking caps on and came up with a variation of a craft we had previously created in years past. As we are the type to keep in a recipe box, our assorted craft recipes, the idea came to us as we thumbed past salt dough.

We discussed how salt dough is fantastic to shape into little figurines and how we had enjoyed immensely making snowmen with it in past years, but how snowmen weren't what we wanted at this time. My son suggested that we treat the salt dough as we could cookie dough and using cutters, cut shapes into the dough. But that wasn't enough for my son. He came up with an idea to scent the dough so no matter where the dough shape was hung, it would add a nice scent to the air around it.

The basic recipe is as follows:

1 cup of salt

2 cups of flour (use bleached if you want to use a light color, unbleached for a darker tone)

1 cup of water (warm is easier to work with but NOT hot)

large bowl, wooden spoon, rolling pin, cookie cutters, cookie sheet covered with parchment paper (for easier clean up) and essential oil. We used oil of peppermint, cinnamon, and some anise oil we had in the kitchen.

You can also use oil of lavendar, cedar or even evergreen scented oil. Most oils are found easily enough in hobby stores or in a pinch, you can use oils in baking areas of grocery stores, although they are very expensive in relationship to the ones found in hobby stores.

mix and knead the dough until it is workable mixing in all the above ingredients, add in as much or as little scent as you wish. Remember the scent will lesson somewhat while baking. (we used the bread machine for this as we doubled the recipe but you can do it by hand). roll out the dough to about 1/2" thickness and cut into desired shapes

using a small straw, punch a hole near the top of the shape for the ribbon, raffia, string or twine you choose to hang it with.

Bake in a 275 degree oven for about 3-4 hours....watch closely so it does not begin to turn brown. You will know it is done because it is hard as opposed to brittle.

After baking, let cool untouched completely. Thread string, twine or raffia through hole in top and your ornament is done. These are great items to hang in closets, from rear view mirrors or even on walls to add scent to an otherwise bland area and are a hit with anyone whom receives the gift.

The original recipe makes about 2 dozen smaller ornaments. This would make a great project for a classroom with the parent in charge, taking the finished products home to bake them and returning them later. If this is done, be sure to inscribe on the ornaments the child's initials using a toothpick and the date. A priceless craft and one that will hold a scent for a very long time. Have fun and enjoy!