Christmas decorations with modelling clay

Looking for ideas to renew my Christmas decorationsI ran into this fun one. tutorial that teaches how to make these originals decorations with homemade modelling clay. If, as you can see, modeling compound that dries outdoors is very soft, has an immaculate whiteness and is very easy to make.

First I share it here so you can also try it, and as soon as I have some free time I’m going to do it, I have a great idea in mind and it’s going to come in handy. The nice and positive thing about this mass is that it copies the textures perfectly, it doesn’t shrink or lose shape. That’s why I won’t delay you any longer and I’ll pass you the ingredients.

Ingredients

• 1 cup cornstarch (220g)
• 2 cups baking soda (440g)
• 1 1/4 cup water (290cc)
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil

Procedure

• Place in a pot the cornstarch and baking soda and mix. Add the oil and water, stirring well so that no lumps form.
• Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until mashed. It will soon begin to boil and thicken. When the dough strengthens, extinguish the fire. (Be careful not to overcook the dough because it can then crack)
• Carefully remove from pan and place on a tray and cover with a clean, wet cloth to cool.
• When the dough no longer burns, knead it on a table sprinkled with cornstarch. It should be very soft and flexible.
• Stretch the dough about 4 or 5 mm thick and cut with the desired cutters. If you don’t have cookie cutters, you can make cardboard templates and cut the dough with a knife.
• To add texture to the dough, use fabrics, tissues, twigs, lace, crochet tableclothsetc…
• Using a stick, make a small hole in the top of each piece and then place a string or tape to hang.
• IMPORTANT: Take small portions to model and keep the rest of the dough in a bag so that it does not dry out.

Drying of the pieces

There are two options to dry the pieces, one is outdoors, and the other is in the oven.

• Outdoor drying: place the cut pieces on a tray for a few hours turning a few times, and then put them on a rack and leave to dry overnight.
• Oven dried: Heat the oven to 100º and turn it off. Place the pieces and leave them there until the oven cools down. Repeat if necessary, but do not raise the oven because they will be yellowish.

Termination

• When the pieces are dry, the edges or any remaining imperfections can be sanded. Then wipe with a cloth to remove dust.
• This dry mass can be painted with watercolors, acrylic paints, markers, etc. and can be varnished to protect.
• Pass a string, thread or tape through the hole and you are ready to decorate the hole. Christmas tree or to make a nice present.

Source: bizcochosysancochos