Dough Art (patterns for bears and santa)

Dough Recipe (makes four or five ornaments, depending on size)

* 1/2 cup salt

* 1 cup flour

* 1/2 cup water

For each

* Acrylic paint in black and white

* Two paintbrushes (one small, size 50, and one medium, size 4)

* Polyurethane super gloss or acrylic clear spray finish

For one bear

* Acrylic paint in brown

* 6" piece of 1/8"- wide red satin ribbon

* Tacky glue * Twelve 6-mm transparent in assorted colors

* 20" piece of dark green buttonhole thread

For one Santa

* Acrylic paint in red and yellow

You will also need toothpicks; garlic press; hairpins; baking sheet; heavy-duty sewing thread

DOUGH DIRECTIONS

Mix together the dough ingredients until well blended and knead.

Note: Attach pieces of dough by pinching them together at the back of the ornaments.

BEAR DIRECTIONS

(about 3 1/2 tall)

1. Use a 3"- diameter round piece of dough to make the bear. Add 1/2 tea spoon of brown paint to the dough and mix well.

Note: Use the photo as 3 guide to shape the pieces of the ornament and for placement.

2, Roll a piece of dough about size of a walnut to form an oval for the body. Then roll a grape-size ball of dough to form the

head and position it on top of the body. Roll and position three smaller balls for ears and, muzzle.

3, Now roll four oblong pieces of dough for the legs, shape them and place them in position; pinch the bottoms of the legs to

turn the paws slightly. Roll and position a tiny ball for the bear's nose.

4, Push a hairpin into the top of the bear's head. Place the ornament on the ~baking sheet and bake in a 275 degree oven for 1

hour or until hard.

5, Paint the eyes, nose and mouth, as shown.

6, Tie the red ribbon into a small bow and secure it to the bear's neck with Tacky glue.

7, Create a string of lights by threading the beads onto the buttonhole thread. Tie a knot on either side of each bead to secure it

in place, keeping the beads 3/4" apart. Cut off excess thread.

8, Wrap the string of lights around the bear as shown in the photo and glue each bead in place with the Tacky glue.

9, Pass a 4" piece of heavy-duty sewing thread through the hairpin loop to create a hanger and dip the bear into polyurethane.

Hang the ornament to dry for several hours. Repent this dipping-and-drying process two more times, allowing the ornament to

dry thoroughly between coats, or spray the bear with the acrylic finish several times.

SANTA DIRECTIONS

(about 3 " tall)

1. Use a 3"- diameter round piece of dough to make one Santa.

Note: Use the photo as a guide to shape the pieces of the ornament and for placement.

2, Roll a walnut-size piece of dough to form an oval and flatten it for the body. Then roll a grape-size piece of dough for the

head, flatten it and position it on top of the body.

3, Create a belt and then the arms by rolling oblong pieces of dough. Now roll - 3/8"- diameter balls for hands and feet and

place them in position. Roll a tiny ball for Santa's nose and position it in place.

4, Fashion a cone-shape piece of dough ~or Santa's hat and place it on his head. Roll a small oblong piece of dough for

Santa's hat brim and press it in place.

5, Press a walnut-size piece of dough through the garlic press to make Santa's beard. Use a toothpick to cut the pieces and to

position them on Santa's face·

6, Bend the hat point toward Santa's shoulder, as shown. Roll a 3/8"- diameter ball of dough and place it at the pointed tip of

the hat.

7, Push a hairpin into the head, form- ing a loop for the ornament hanger. Place the ornament on the baking sheet and bake in a

275" oven for 1 hour or until hard.

8, Paint Santa as shown in the photo.

9, Finish as in step 9 for the bear. *