Cheap-ass craft: Salt Dough Garden Stakes

I'm really excited about this cheap-ass craft because it was sooo cheap, and because it has endless possibilites!  These little garden stakes have really added a lot of fun and color to all my potted plants!

Materials

Flour

Salt

Acrylic craft paint

Wooden dowels (about $1 at Michaels)

Step 1

Mix up a batch of salt dough.  There's a million recipes on the internet, but I used this one and cut it in half.  Make sure it's not too soft, or you'll have a big problem getting things to keep their shape.

Step 2

Let your imagination go crazy and sculpt some cute garden-inspired figures!  I got the idea for the mushroom and the gnome from Target awhile back.  After you've made your figure, slowly insert the dowel.  I slowly twisted and pushed at the same time so it wouldn't ruin the figures.

Step 3

Bake until they turn white, flipping occasionally.  The eHow recipe is waaaay off when it comes to time.  I probably ended up baking them for almost an hour.

Step 4

Once cooled, slap on some paint.  If these will be outside, I recommend using outdoor acrylic paint.  Display in your pots or out in the garden!

Linking to these wonderful parties!