Keepsake Dough Art with EnviroTex Lite™

Create keepsake dough art pieces with the look and feel of fine porcelain.  The Environmental Technology team created 5 adorable Christmas tree ornaments with a simple dough art recipe and EnviroTex Lite™.  

 In these examples, inexpensive dough art is transformed into beautiful keepsakes and decorative pieces.

Materials List: 

• 1 Basic Dough Art Recipe (makes 6-7 ornaments / see below)
• 8 oz. kit Envirotex Lite, measuring / mixing cup, stir stick.
• ¼” Ribbon
• Aluminum Foil
• Wax Paper
• Cookie Cutters and Rolling Pin (Optional)
• 1 Cardboard Box
• 18 gauge Wire
• Liquid Tempera Paint or Acrylic Paint
• Recommended Brushes: #10 Flat Red Sable for large areas.and #5-0 or #000 Thin Pointed Brush for detailed areas.
• Paper Clips

FINISHED SIZE: Ornaments measure approximately 3-4” long.

Project Instructions: 

BASIC DOUGH ART RECIPE:

• 1 cup All-Purpose Flour
• ¼-½ cup Table Salt
• ¼-½ cup Warm Water

NOTE: Keep a container with a flour and salt mixture of the same proportion as the dough near you.  This can be sprinkled onto working surfaces to avoid sticky dough.  Extra dough can be stored in the refrigerator for several days if properly wrapped in plastic or plastic bags.  (If dough becomes sticky from storage, simply knead in some of the flour and salt mixture before shaping.)  Combine flour and salt in a mixing bowl.  Add ¼ cup warm water slowly, stirring as it is added.  Add more water as needed, to make the dough resemble pie crust dough in looks and consistency.  Mix all the dough you will need at one time.

Instructions:

1. Mix dough.  Set pieces of foil on your working surface.  You will be forming the ornaments directly onto the foil.  Form each piece by either rolling or cutting dough, or by molding by hand.  If you mold the dough by hand, each piece will be smoother if you roll it into a very smooth ball between your palms first, and then form the shape. Be sure to wash your hands very thoroughly between different colors of dough.  If using cookie cutters, roll the dough about 1/3" thick; thin ornaments may warp when cooling.
    
2. Glue on any adornments you desire or press them into the surface of the dough.  There are many inexpensive ways to decorate ornaments.  Metal. wood, sunflower seeds, nut shells, pods, rope or twine. and straw flowers work well and can be placed before baking.  Textures can be made on the surface with a fork or by pressing dough through a garlic press.  Toothpicks can also be used for texturing.
    
3. After completing the ornament, insert a hanger made from a paper clip.  Push the hanger in until only ¼” is left exposed.
    
4. Place ornament and foil on a cookie sheet and bake at 300° F for approximately 45 minutes.  Test for doneness by tapping: a hollow sound will indicate it is done.  Check for any soft spots.  If necessary, bake for 15 minutes more.  Cool while still on the foil.
    
5. Paint the ornaments as desired.  Fine features can also be drawn on with a draftsman’s pen.  Glue on any additional ornaments before glazing.
    
6. Prepare a dust-free environment for your ornaments in the following manner.  With scissors, drill a hole on either side of a clean, deep cardboard box, halfway between top and bottom.  Attach wire to the outside and thread through the hole to the inside. After glazing with Envirotex Lite, your ornaments will be strung on the wire and the other end will be attached to the box. See Fig. 2.
    
   
7. Mix Envirotex Lite per package instructions. Mix approximately 2 oz’s. for each ornament.  Mix one batch at a time.
    
8. Suspend the ornament from a length of wire. Pour approximately 2 oz’s. of Envirotex Lite over the object, pouring one object at a time.  As you pour, direct the Envirotex Lite over detail areas with a disposable acid brush. (See Fig. 1. above) After the surface as been entirely coated, hang the ornament inside the box.  Repeat this process until all ornaments have been glazed.  Be sure to cover your work surface with several layers of newspaper.
    
9. As soon as all ornaments have been glazed, arranged them on the wire, spacing at least 3” between ornaments.  Pick up the box with both hands and slowly turn it upside down.  This will protect the objects as they dry. (See Fig. 2.) Envirotex Lite will cure most effectively if left for 72 hours with a temperature between 70° F and 80° F. (Optional 2nd coat may be desired.)
    
   
10. String ribbon through your ornament and your charming keepsake is completed.

Get started on your Christmas ornaments now to be ready for Christmas!!