DIY Keepsake: Recipe for a Good Marriage

{From MyWeddingFavors.com}

I've been researching fun ways for our guests to leave well wishes for us: wish trees, guests books, murals, photo mats, and more. Then, I reached into memories of my early childhood. Remember making salt-dough Christmas ornaments? Yeah, you know those ones you rolled out like cookies, baked and painted? I was then inspired to make a long-lasting recipe card so guests can tell us their recipe for a good marriage. It's a nice fit since food/throwing dinner parties is one of my passions.

I envision making these ahead of time and shaping and painting them as if they're index cards. We'll leave Sharpies in a variety of colors so that guests can easily write and share their love notes to us. It'll be a nice keepsake for us every Christmas!

Here's the recipe for the salt-dough ornament (from GiftIdeaCenter.com):

Classic Salt Dough Ornament Recipe

Ingredients:
2 cups flour
1 cup salt
1 cup water

Directions:
1. Mix salt and flour.
2. Add in half the water, then gradually add the remaining water.
3. Knead until the dough is smooth, this can take up to 10 minutes.
4. For flat dough ornaments roll out the dough on baking paper
Or be creative and make odd shapes and wreaths (takes longer to bake)

Create:
Use cookie cutters, cut-out templates, or just use your hands.
Dust dough with flour and begin to add details to the ornaments with a toothpick, popsicle stick, and knife.

Don't Forget:
Use a straw to make a hole so you can hang the ornament.

Baking: Time varies based on thickness of ornament
Temperature: 325 degrees
Time: 1 1/2 hours - or until dry

Decorate: Let cool before you begin
Paint with acrylic paints
Glue on beads, buttons, or any fun accessory

Preservation: Making them last a long time
Coat with acrylic varnish when everything is dry

*** Color Variation Notes from our Visitors***
- Substitute coffee for water - great for gingerbread people - Thanks, Shelly
- Add food coloring to make dough a unique color - white, blue, red, etc...