This recipe is easiest with a stand mixer that can do the kneading for you. if you don’t have one, be prepared to knead a little. Keep in mind that you want to dough to be pliant and smooth, so add small increments of water as needed if it gets at all crumbly.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine flour, salt, and 1 1/2 cups water. Mix on low speed with paddle attachment until well-combined (mixture will be very crumbly, but will hold together easily when squeezed).

Switch paddle out for the dough hook and run mixer on low for 5 minutes to knead. You’ll need to stop and push dough down from the sides a few times. Alternately, you can knead by hand 10 minutes. Check that dough is smooth and pliant. If not, drizzle in a bit more water and knead a few minutes more.

Divide dough into 4 balls. Roll one of the dough balls into a rectangle 1/4 inch thick (you shouldn’t need any flour for this). Use cookie cutters to cut out your ornaments, carefully placing cut ornaments on a cookie sheet. Round up dough scraps, knead a bit, and roll out dough again until you’ve used it all. Once ornaments are on cookie sheet, use a chop stick or similar implement to poke a 1/8 inch hole in each for the hook or string.

I baked my ornaments two trays at a time because that’s what worked for my oven –– do whatever works best for yours. Bake for 25 - 35 minutes or until ornaments are firm and cooked through, but not browned. Cool on tray 15 minutes, then set on a rack to cool completely.

Paint with acrylic paint, dry completely, and then spray with a clear coat of acrylic spray paint. Thread in a hook or string, and you’re all set.