Tis the season for making ornaments and here is a pattern I created several years ago. You can make this adorable mouse out of salt dough, paint him and put a varnish finish over him and he will last well. Just remember to try and store him in a cool place for best results for keeping him fresh.
I make my ornaments out of clay now days but this mouse was originally made from salt dough. My pictures will be displayed in clay but the same principals are used in salt dough.
You will need:
Baking Pan
Salt dough recipe
Cup of water
Small paint brush
Acrylic paint
Varnish, sealer, or spray acrylic
Paper clips (optional)
Salt Dough Recipe
2 cups of Plain Flour
1 cup of table salt
1 cup of water
*Put the two cups of flour in a large bowl
*Add the salt and stir well.
*Add the water slowly in stages and continue to stir until the mixture is dough like.
*Turn dough out on dough board.
*Cook it at 200 degrees until done.
Mouse Ornament Directions
Make five balls from your salt dough. The largest ball can be about 3/4" to 1". This will be used for the body of the mouse. The ball used for the head will be less the body. You can make it 1/2" to 3/4". The other three balls can be about 1/2" or less. We will take from them and make the face features and the ears. You can always pinch off more if you need them. Keep the salt dough and the pieces you are not using covered so they don't dry out.
Take the largest ball of salt dough and flatten so it in an oval or raindrop shape. Flatten the top half so it is thinner than the rest. (See the second picture) You are going to put the head on this piece so you don't want it very thick.
Dip your brush in water and use a small amount of water to the back of the head and the neck. Use the water sparingly.
Place the head on the neck and smooth the pieces together with your fingers so they are adhered to one another.
Now your ready for the ears. Shape your ears similar to the picture. Remember to press the end so that it is thinner so you can join it to the head of the mouse.
Place the back of the ear and the side of the head where you will want the ear to go.
Apply water as before and adhere the ears to the head. Smooth the ear into the head so they look as if they are one piece.
Take your finger and make an impression in both ears. You will want to smooth it so you will have a ridge around the top and sides of the ears. Take a piece of dough and make a small cresant shape to use for the muzzle part of the mouse. Remember to adhere the muzzle on with water.
Now take the handle of your small paintbrush and put it at the bottom of the muzzle and pull slightly to give your mouse a mouth.
Make a small round ball and wet it with water and put it on top of the muzzle for a nose for your mouse. Press it down slightly so it sticks and won't fall off.
Now your ready to make two arms and two legs. The arms are pictures. Make two small rectangles and square them off in block shapes. Adhere to body as before and form them to look like arms. Take two small amounts of clay and make little squares for the legs and stick them on the front of the mouse body.
Make an indention in the feet.
Take your fifth ball of clay and roll it so it appears worm like for the tail. Wet the tail and the body of the mouse and adhere it on. It is best to curve and attach the tail to the side of the head and the ear as well so it is not so fragile and breaks off easily.
You can add to him if you want to make him a Christmas mouse by adding holly leaves to an ear or have him holding a candy cane or stocking. Don’t forget to make a hole to hang the mouse with ribbon or string. You can also break a paper clip into and insert it in the top of the salt dough ornament before cooking for a permanent hanger. You can experiment and make him smaller so he is not so heavy for a Christmas tree.
Put in oven and cook. When your mice are cooled then they are ready to paint.
Use spray varnish when paint is dry
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