STAR LIGHT, STAR BRIGHT

Embellish natural vignettes with homemade salt-dough cutouts. Carolynn chose whole wheat flour for the earthy brown specks it leaves in the dough. “The whole wheat flour gave it a texture that white flour wouldn’t have given it, and I wanted that texture,” she explains.

Ingredients and Tools

• 2 cups whole wheat flour

• 1 cup table salt

• 1 cup water

• Large bowl

• Rolling pin

• Cookie cutter

• Baking sheets

• Parchment paper

• Skewer or awl

• Twine

Instructions

1. Knead together the flour, salt and water in a large bowl. This yields a very stiff dough, and it should not be sticky. If it is tacky, add more flour 1 tablespoon at a time. Divide the dough, if needed, for ease of mixing.

2. Dump the dough onto a countertop, and roll it with the rolling pin or press it smooth with your hand to about 1/3" thickness.

3. Cut into star shapes with the cookie cutter. Transfer onto parchment-lined baking sheets. 4. Create one or two holes when wet to allow for stringing, if desired. Be sure to size the holes appropriately for the twine you plan to use.

5. Air dry the shapes, uncovered, for 24 hours.

6. Bake the shapes for about 3 hours on your oven’s lowest setting. After baking, they will be very hard and ready to use once they have cooled.

7. String the stars together as a garland, or glue individual stars onto larger decor. ★