Hippity - Hoppity - Easter's on its Way...

...so let's get busy making some Easter salt dough ornaments. And the best part, be a sweet chick and leave me a comment to win your very own lil' Easter basket full of ornaments. I'll have my son draw a number out on Friday and which ever post the number matches will be the winner. I'm soooo excited... I love to be the Easter bunny!

Let's hop to it...

2 c. all purpose flour
1 c. salt
1 c. warm water

Mix salt and flour - add water and knead.



Lightly spray your cookie sheets (you can see mine are well-used) and begin to shape the dough with your hands into whatever you desire. Like I always tell ya, of course you can use cookie cutters - I jus' happen to like more of the rustic look. It's very imperfect - LIKE ME!

Rabbits...


Carrots...Use a toothpick to make indentions.

Hatching Chicks and eggs.



Insert wire into all ornaments before baking at 325 degrees for about an hour. You will have to adjust that time according to how large or small you make your pieces.



Let cool and base coat whatever colors you desire.



Add detail with polka dots, stripes, words, facial features and the list goes on and on. Jus' have fun with it. Remember, they don't have to be perfect - jus' let them take on their own unique personality.



A basket full of my lil' creations after glazing and clear coating.
The glaze I use is a burnt umber(comes in a lil' paint bottle) - watered down - applied with a brush and then immediately wiped off. You can add as many layers of glaze as you'd like to reach your desired affect. Then I simply clear coat mine with "clear" spray paint - it's much quicker than varnishing each one.




Here is a close-up of the chicks. That was a new one this year for me after a sweet customer of mine recommended I make a "hatching chick". Thanks for the idea - I love it.

Here are two more new ideas I had - a bird nest (which I jus' love by the way) and a sweet lil' Easter basket. I wasn't for sure how these would turn out but I was really happy with them - I only have one of each so guess what - they are going in the lucky posters basket.

Polka dot Easter eggs...

Remember how I made those Valentine Heart necklaces out of dough for my lil' boys Kindergarten class - well, these are jus' lil' eggs that I put a small looped wire in before baking and now you have a fun lil' Easter necklace. Jus' add pretty ribbons and they are great for school, Sunday school class, or jus' something fun for a friend or yourself!

You could also make small crosses as a necklace - that would be the most appropriate pendant of all.

All lined up and ready to find a new home.

Well, I had hoped to take these pictures outside on the trees today in the beautiful sunshine but honestly, I jus' got them finished before dark. So I had promised you ornaments Monday and I got them on jus' in the nick of time - sorry! Hope you enjoy them - have fun with your family creating your own - it's jus' a simple lil' project you could do for nearly every holiday or celebration.

Be sure to sign up for a chance to win and for my local friends - come by the shop and guess the number of jelly beans in the jar for a chance to win your own special Easter surprise.

I hope your week is beautiful and blessed. It's a true joy to share with you and my days are made so much brighter by your very kind words.

Happy Creating!
Cathy