PRIMITIVE SCENTED GRUBBY MUSLIN GINGERBREAD BOY/MAN!

GINGERBREAD BOYS/MEN

Primitive scented grubby muslin gingerbread boys/men. Time to get started. I know Halloween & Thanksgiving are not even here yet, but I also know now is the time to start making your Christmas decorations before the busy holiday season starts. Here are a few ideas!

Draw, sew, cut, turn and stuff your gingerbread shape. Put some Elmer’s glue with a little water, cinnamon, and ground cloves in an old bowl and mix well. Paint on the gingers. You can sprinkle more spices on them while they are wet. You could also add a little dry tea or coffee grounds for texture.

Dip the gingerbread boys in scented cinnamon wax.......they turn out great. Cut out any shape of gingerbread boy/man, heart, star, or whatever you’d like from Warm and Natural, then sew and lightly stuff. Stitch up your stuffing hole. Melt your wax, scent, and cinnamon (no coloring is needed) and start dipping. Keep dipping until you get the look you want. They smell fantastic.... They get hard and look great sitting in bowls or crocks or hanging on a tree.

Paint them with straight vanilla. Mix Elmer’s glue, cinnamon, and water. Use about 2 parts glue and 1 part cinnamon and then water. Excuse the description but I say it gets snotty. That is about the texture of it. When it is thinner you will have to apply 2 coats. Mist the gingerbread man before the first coat so the foam brush doesn't drag so much. Keep your brush in water between men.

GINGERBREAD BOY/MAN COOKIE RECIPE

These have a nice light flavor with a hint of orange.

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 tablespoons orange zest
2 tablespoons dark corn syrup
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt

DIRECTIONS:

Cream the butter and the sugar together. Add the egg and mix well. Mix in the orange peel and dark corn syrup. Add the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, ground cloves and salt, mixing until well combined. Chill dough for at least 2 hours, I like to chill overnight.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Grease cookie sheets. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough out to 1/4 inch thick. Cut into desired shapes using cookie cutters. Place cookies 1 inch apart on the prepared cookie sheets.
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven, until cookies are firm and lightly toasted on the edges.