BAKED HOBBY DOUGH

BAKED HOBBY DOUGH

Hobby Dough - for Cutouts or Handmolding

3/4 cup of sifto salt
3/4 cup "very" cold water
2 cups flour

MIX: salt and very cold water together
ADD: flour all at once
KNEAD: for 7-10 minutes-will feel grainy(break into smaller pieces of dough to knead if necessary) eventually, form two balls of kneaded dough.

TO STORE: store dough in airtight container to prevent drying out.

TO USE: mold and shape, or use cookie cutters shapes; by first rolling one ball of kneaded dough out like a pastry dough

IDEAL THICKNESS: is 1/r inch, but you can go up to 1/2 inch, paying attention to increase of baking time

BAKING METHOD: set oven at 325 degrees or lower, especially if pieces are thinner than 1/4 inch

ALLOW: 1/2 hour of baking time, per 1/4 inch thickness of dough
example: for 1/2 inch thickness, bake 1 hour

BAKE ON: cookie sheets - place cutouts on the cookies sheets, poke carefully, with a fine tip pin or needle, to let out possible air bubbles, and to prevent bubbling. Mind you, if you want a puffed object shape, don't prick, OR experiment, and prick here and there, for desired flatness, or puffiness? Be adventurous!

DRY BAKED PIECES: on wire cake racks

AIR DRYING(no-bake method_ - after cutting, molding shapes, let dry for 48 hours or until dough is rock-hard and white in appearance

STAINING/PAINTING: your baked piece - mix one quart of water with 6 bags of tea. Let steep to desired darkness-the darker it is, the darker the stain-this technique calls for time and patience, with 2-6 coats, letting dry 48 hours before applying another. Brush each piece on both sides, watch out for running!!

After each coat, apply a spray of laquere. This means it will take you almost one week, to apply one tea and one laquer coat.... but, it's so worth it people!! so work it!! : )

Seal with final coat of laquer before gluing on cloths, hats, ornaments.

My favorite staining method is the tea-stain! brush baked/dried objects with strong tea, one coat at a time, 48 hours apart from applying a new coat--nice longgg project, but so worth the effort!! Tea-staining, gives the appearance of brownish baked.. so you can make yours as dark or light as you like. I like to add hearts in this method, onto gifts, or cards I give away...

PAINTING: apply white base coat to where added colour will be--let dry 48 hours or until not sticky - spray with laquer once dry. The more coats, the better, so another time-constraint, but a rewarding finished product!!

Time is what is needed here with this project, but oh, the finished project can be anything!! Try twisted loaves, with white runny paint, and cherries on top!! put a metal holder which will hold a tealight; in center when baking; push at least half way through dough, but not all the way to bottom!! spray the metal

also, don't forget to poke a hole for hanging like I did, on the christmas tree.. all hearts, angels and christmas shapes!! makes a pretty old-fashioned tree.. later, I tied on ribbons, etc.. and wood-bead garlands I made from old beaded car-seat covers!!

enjoy your creation!! : )


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The Christmas Tree in this post is decorated with one batch of this hobby dough! i also made heart cutouts, solid ones, hollow ones with cookie cutters! Make greeting cards, do a handprint or footprint of your child in a square of hobby dough and bake it to preserve it!

Don't forget, if you do NOT tea-stain the dough.. the dough will be very white!