Cinnamon Clay Decorations

1 1/2 cup ground cinnamon
1 cup applesauce
1/3 cup white school glue

Mix ingredients in a large bowl. Remove and knead until it turns into a firm 'clay.' Refrigerate for about 30 minutes. If using cookie cutters, or cutting out free-style shapes, roll dough out 1/4-inch thick onto a flour cloth dusted with cinnamon. Cover rolling pin with cinnamon-dusted pin cloth or cover dough with plastic wrap. Cut out shapes and re-roll excess bits. Do not roll too thinly or the shapes will curl as they dry.

If you're using cookie molds, dust lightly with cinnamon, and tap the side to remove excess. Press dough firmly into mold. (Dust hands if the dough is sticky.) Use a serrated knife to saw dough flat across mold, hold mold perpendicular to a hard, flat padded surface and tap on the side until the clay begins to fall out. Gently peel out and place on wax paper. Use a straw or bamboo skewer to perforate a hole for hanging.

Lay the shapes to dry on wax paper-lined pans. Wire racks can leave black marks on the ornaments. These can be pushed under a china cabinet or other furniture with a little head space for air circulation. Air dry for 3 - 5 days (bigger pieces will need more time), turning occasionally to reduce curling and allow to dry evenly.
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HINTS: This does take a couple of hours to do, but it makes an awful lot of shapes when done. I made two batches for a small fund raiser and made ornaments to order.

When my first child was very young, I used alphabet cookie cutters, making extra vowels and common consonents and the letters lasted six years.

Make garlands. Use a cow cookie cutter or a terrior dog cutter (Wilton makes a wonderful assortment) and paint a bunch of one color and then one of a contrasting color. String with red or green ribbon. Don't forget to put two holes in the shapes - one in front and one in back so they look like they're following each other.

I paint my creations using fabric paint that I squirt out onto a plastic coffee can lid (only paint one side). I had them in the house anyway, and this way I had about 60 colors including metal and glitter.

One year I made mobiles using straight small branches from my trees to hang astronomical objects from. I hung one on my front door and when I enter my house, I'm greeted by a nice cinnamon smell.

You can make theme packages of ornamants. A fairly large shape makes a wonderful air freshener for the car, or 'sachet' for towels or lingerie.