Kids: Making Large Cinnamon Handprint Hearts

I
think my daily struggle these days is keeping my kids occupied. Since school is out, there is not a defined schedule worked into their day, so I am trying to build the semblance of a routine at home. By incorporating and focusing on just one major craft project a week, it is managable for both the kids and myself.

This week, we decided to make large cinnamon hearts out of a cinnamon dough recipe that is used to make ornaments at Christmas time. This dough is rolled out and freehandedly cut into large hearts, and then painted on one side. The primary reason I chose this dough recipe is that it smells delightful for a really long time, is non-toxic, and also holds up really well as a craft dough.

Instructions:

1. Make the dough (this makes enough dough to get about 4-5 large hearts, depending on the size of the hearts):

Cinnamon Craft Dough

• 4 cups of cinnamon (if you can, buy in bulk--this is cheapest)
• 3 cups applesauce
• 1/2 cup white school glue
  

Mix together all of the ingredients. Keep kneading until it becomes cohesive and smooth. You'll want the consistancy of a grainy cookie dough. Dust your work surface with cinnamon and roll out the dough like cookie dough to about 1/2 inch thick.

Freehandedly cut out your hearts (the more uneven the better, giving them a handmade look.)

Some edging ideas:
1. Scalloping the edges by cutting continuous half circle along the edges is one option
2. Cut a design of your own out with scissors (try pinking shears also)
3. Use cookie cutters to cut out unique edging designs
4. Leave it the way it is!

If you would like to hang these, cut a hole where you would like your string to go. This dough does not shrink much as it dries, so cut the hole the size you would like the finished hole to be.

Let dry for about 2-3 days. This is a very durable dough when dry (one of the dough's primary ingredient is white glue), and even more durable when painted on one side, such as this project has you do. Be careful moving this dough when wet, it tends to crumble if moved before it's dry. Place the drying project on a flat surface because it will dry in the same position it is placed in.

After it's thoroughly dry, use acrylic paints to first paint a base layer upon which to paint on. Let each layer thoroughly dry and you may need more than one base coat (depending on the look you want to achieve). Outline your child's hand print and had have them "sign" their name under it, and include a date.

To freshen up the cinnamon smell, just lightly rub the unpainted surface with a fine grade sandpaper. I made Christmas ornaments out of this dough 12 years ago and they still smell wonderful each year I unpack them to place on the tree.