Report Copyright Infringement View in OSM UK

Description

Aim: to make Fish Care, Fridge magnet or badge out of salt dough that can be decorated to form a present. Taken from the BB Anchors Pro Pack CR-33

Resources

300gs (11oz) Flour
300gs (11oz) Salt
200ml (7 floz) Water
30ml (2tbs) Vegetable Oil

Instructions

1. Mix the flour and the salt
2. Slowly pour the water into the flour and salt and mix well
3. Pour in the vegetable oil and mix well
4. Remove the salt dough from the mixing bowl. Place onto a clean surface that has been sprinkled with flour. Knead the mixture until it is firm. Sprinkle more flour onto the surface if the dough is sticking.
5. Wrap the dough in cling film and place into a bag. Place into a fridge for 30 minutes before you use it.

The dough will keep for several weeks in the fridge.

The dough can be coloured using a few drops of food colourings when it is being kneaded. This can either be done when making up the bulk recipe, or added by the members. The young people will need some supervision when adding food colourings, as only a few drops are needed!

You could prepare the dough before the section meeting. Or get the older boys to mix the salt dough early on in the evening ready for the other boys to use for their crafts. Remember, the young people will need aprons before mixing the dough. Also, get them to wash their hands first; otherwise the dough will be an odd grey colour!

Drying the Dough:
• Baking tray and parchment paper
• Oven and oven gloves

The dough can be dried on a flat tray at room temperature over several days. Alternatively, cover a baking tray with parchment paper to prevent the dough from sticking to the tray. Carefully lift the dough shapes onto the tray using a palette knife. Bake in a cool oven for about six hours at 120°C, Gas 1/2; thicker dough shapes may take longer.

You may want to take the dough shapes home for drying/cooking and bring them back next week for finishing off. If so, carefully put the initials on the reverse of the dough shapes to make sure each person gets his own back next week. You might want to make some extra shapes so that young people who are away for the first week get to take part in the second lot of activities.

Finishing Off:
Once the dough is dried, it may have a rough surface. This can be smoothed down with some fine sandpaper. Be careful though, as the salt dough is quite fragile.
The next stages of the craft can then take place with badges, cards, fridge magnets, Christmas tree decorations, name plaques, pendants etc being made.
The dry dough can also be painted with quick drying acrylic paints and finished off with some clear water based 10-minute varnish. (This should be done under careful supervision).

Salt Dough Craft – Fish Card

Equipment: (week one)
• Rolling pin
• Plastic knife
• Photocopies of fish template on paper
• Scissors
• Aprons
Instructions: (week one)
1. Cut out the fish shaped template.
2. Roll out the dough to approx 10mm thick.
3. Place the template on the dough, cut round it using a plastic knife.
4. Add a small ball of dough for an eye, and small strips for a mouth and stripes. These can be stuck on using a very small amount of water. The surface of the dough can be marked for scales etc. Some extra help might be needed here for the younger members.

Equipment: (week two)
• Acrylic paints and varnish
• Thick coloured card cut into 8cm x 7cm oblong
• Strong glue
• Hole punch
• 30cm ribbon or string for each card

Instructions: (week two)
1. Once the dough has been dried:
2. Paint the fish shape with bright colours (quick drying acrylic paint).
3. Once this has dried, paint with quick drying varnish.
4. Punch a hole in the top centre of the card, and the ribbon or string, tying in a loop.
5. Add a message to the back of the card. The younger boys might need help.
6. Glue the fish to the card.
Other shapes could be used as templates: an ice cream, hearts, crown, Christmas tree, snow man, rocket ship, stars etc. Let the boys cut out their own ideas for shapes.

Fridge Magnets or Badges
As above, over a two-week period. Instead of gluing the shape to a card, glue a small magnet to the back of the salt dough. These are available from craft shops. Pin-on badge fastenings can also be bought from craft shops.

For full and further details see the BB Anchors pro pack CR33

Tags

• anchors
• badge making
• craft activity
• creativity
• fish
• fridge magnet
• salt dough

Badge Links

• Creative - Activity
• Creative - Model