by buggal1989

The wealthy Romans used cinnamon to scent their perfumes. Nowadays cinnamon is used as a spice. Cinnamon is the inner bark of a tropical evergreen tree. The bark is harvested during the rainy season. When it dries, it forms a long curly quill. Cinnamon is either sold as cinnamon sticks or is ground into a powder. Cinnamon is used to flavor chicken, beef, soups, stews, vegetables, and pasta. It is also used in desserts and many drinks. Use cinnamon to make an ornament with a terrific scent that will sweeten up the kitchen any time of year.

Ingredients:

1 cup Ground Cinnamon
Extra Cinnamon to dust hands and surfaces
1 T each of Ground Cloves, Allspice, Cloves and Ginger*
1½ cups Elmer's wood glue 
1½ cups water warm water    
1 tsp or dropperful each of Cinnamon and Clove (or other baking scents) potpourri oil **
Whole cloves and whole allspice

 * May substitute apple pie or pumpkin pie spice in place of  these spices (use 4 - 5 T of either)

** May substitute other complimentary fall scents

Additional Materials:

Glass Mixing bowl
Large wooden spoon
Waxed paper
Rolling pin
Cookie cutters
Cookie sheet covered with aluminum foil
Straw
Assorted ribbon, twine or raffia
Cold Melt Glue Gun
Decorations (ribbon roses, baby's breath, statice, other dried flowers, glitter glue, fabric paint, etc.)

Make Your Ornaments:

• Mix warm water and wood glue together.
• Add 2 - 4 droppersful (or tsp) of potpourri oil.  I use cinnamon & clove. May substitute other complimentary fall scents such as apple pie, pumpkin pie, gingerbread, sugar cookies, etc.  Mix oils to your own taste (or smell rather), but add one scent at a time and do not use conflicting scents (ex: cinnamon and lavender would not b a good combination).
• Pour the water/glue mixture slowly into the cinnamon, cloves, allspice, cloves and ginger mixing as you go.  May use apple pie or pumpkin pie spice in place of  other spices (use 4 - 5 tsp).
• Dust hands with cinnamon.
• Knead the mixture together by hand until it is smooth and resembles stretchy play dough.
• Add more cinnamon as needed to keep dough from sticking or to get the right consistency. Do not use flour! Do not taste or eat dough.
• Chill in refrigerator for about two hours.
• Divide into portions and work on one portion at a time.
• Sprinkle cinnamon on work surface and rolling pin.
• Roll one portion out at a time using a rolling pin to about 1/4 inch thickness.
• Dust top with cinnamon to make easier to cut out.
• Cut out in various shapes with cookie cutters.  Sprinkle cinnamon over rolled out dough and gently spread. Dust impression cookie cutters with cinnamon to avoid sticking.
• May also make handmade shapes such as a braided wreath (roll out three snake shapes and braid together, then join in a circle or heart form on the wax paper.  Use glue and water mixture to seal ends, pressing lightly.  You will glue ribbon, baby's breath or statice to cover joined edge).
• If you are making something with attachments, assemble on foil or waxed paper and make sure to brush the place of attachment and the back of the piece with a water glue mixture (you may need to re-glue the attachment after drying.
• With a straw, punch an opening at the top of the ornament.  Don't use anything smaller than a straw as the hole may close up when drying.
• If you want to add whole cloves or allspice to the piece, add them now by sticking the stem into the ornament.
• Set cut shapes aside on wax paper or aluminum foil on baking sheets for several days (2 to 7 days), until dry. 
• Turn over twice daily.  These will be done when the shapes are rock hard to the touch.
• This recipe yields about 2 dozen medium-sized shapes.
• Allow them to dry flat.  When totally dry, peel off the wax paper or aluminum foil.

Decorate Your Ornaments:

I prefer the natural look or primitive look for cinnamon ornaments, but you may make these as fancy as you please.

• When thoroughly dry tie ribbon, raffia or twine through holes and decorate as desired.  If the hole has closed up too small to thread anything to it, don't cry - simply glue a ribbon, metal, etc. hanger on the back and cover the front with a decoration.
• Fabric paint adheres the best (puffy paint will add dimension to your craft). 
• Use berries, baby's breath, statice, milkweed pods, small pinecones, lavender, and other dried flowers or potpourri to embellish the ornaments.  Attach with a cold melt glue gun.
• Glitter glue will make beautiful ornaments with dimension.  Make fall leaves and outline the leaves and draw veins in with gold glitter glue.

Notes:

• I have had ornaments made with this recipe for over 10 years. 
• You will need to refresh with oil periodically.  May also sand on the backside of the ornament with an emery board to release more scent.
• Of course, it goes without saying, these are not edible.
• You can make these ornaments for all seasons. 
• Use as name tags or package decorations on gifts as an extra present. 
• You may use these for kitchen decor, I have some of mine hanging from my Bakers Rack and shelves in my kitchen.
• Use gingerbread men or other shapes to decorate a grapevine wreath for your door.
• These ornaments will shrink slightly in drying.

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