Monday, December 9, 2013

MAKE A WISH

Make a Wish Cinnamon Ornaments:

I remember over 100 years ago (lol), making these with my cousins before Yule. My granny's recipe, called for just a wee bit more ingredients than most recipes out there.
 Cinnamon Allspice, and cloves are magickal symbols of love, luck, passion, lust, wealth, protection and prosperity.
This is a great project to do with the kids, or just a lovely craft to do with your friends on a cold day, over some warm spiked apple cider or Gingerbread Martinis and lots of giggles.
I add essential oils to my recipe, so I must warn you, to please put gloves when you are ready to add the oils, because they are very strong and can cause a burning sensation on your skin. Of course, if you are doing this with the little ones, please omit this step all together. These ornaments are strictly for decoration, and they are NOT CONSUMABLE.
Make a Wish ornaments can be used all over your house, and also to make a wish during ritual. Crumble one into your cauldron when burning incense for a prosperity or wealth spell or simply make a wish.  I put them on my holiday tree, in the closets, hung them by the windows at different levels, add them to your potpourri, add to your wreaths and other crafts, add one to your gift packages, decorate a bow, etc.....
I love adding them to my Yule Log, and when we burn it on winter solstice, you can smell the lovely spices, which adds even more warmth to your celebrations. We always make wishes of good health, peace, abundance, and happiness.


Your house will smell absolutely delicious and festive. 


What you will need:

1 1/2 cup Ground Cinnamon 
1 cup Unsweetened applesauce 
1/4 cup freshly ground cloves 
1/4 cup freshly ground allspice 
1 straw to make holes or a chopstick (optional)
1 pair disposable gloves
thin color ribbon, twine or raffia (your color choice)
20 drops of Organic Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil (optional)
20 drops of Organic Clove Essential Oil (optional) 
or you can add 40 to 60 drops of Cinnamon Sticks Fragrance 
Rolling pin 
Cookie cutters 




 I like grinding my own cloves and allspice, cause it smells so good.


Preparation:


In a large bowl, mix all your ingredients together except the fragrance or essential oil. Mix well with your hands, till you get the consistency of cookie dough. 



Put gloves on and add the fragrance or essential oils and mix in. If it feels to wet and it's sticking to your hands, add more cinnamon,.. if to dry and you see cracks, add a little more apple sauce.



Spread some dry cinnamon powder on your counter and spread or roll out your dough to about 1/4" thick.



Using the cookie cutters, cut your shapes. Keep doing this until you have used every bit of your dough. With the straw, or a chop stick make a hole at one end of your cut-out shapes, this will be to put ribbon thru, so you can hung them.  Sometimes it's a little easier to make the hole while the cutter is still in place, for more support. 


Whatever little bits you may have left, roll them into tiny balls and coat them with the remaining cinnamon powder on your counter top. Bake them with your other shapes, and you can use these like incense or toss them in your fireplace for good luck.



Place them on a drying rack (in a warm place) and allow them to dry for at least 3 days. Test them and make sure they are nice and dry. Now you can loop your ribbon, raffia, yarn or even twine, and start decorating till your hearts content, or put them in cellophane bags to give as gifts.
A second option for drying them, is to put them in a preheated oven at 200ยบ for about 1 hr. and 15 minutes. Cool completely before adding your ribbon. The reason why I like to air dry them is because they don't shrink or crack as much, but during winter it's better to use the oven method.

Once they have cooled completely, string raffia, or ribbon thru the hole and decorate them as you wish.