County Parents Magazine / February 2010 / Confection of Crafts

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Confection of Crafts

February is quite possibly the sweetest month of the year. Following is a confection of crafts to make and share with someone you love.

Crush on Your Cookies

Items needed: 1/3 cup shortening, 1/3 cup sugar, 1 egg, 3 cups flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon salt, 2/3 cups honey, bowl, measuring cups and spoons, various colored hard candies, mallet, gallon-size plastic zipper bag, cookie sheet covered with aluminum foil, oven preheated to 375 degrees.

1. Combine first seven ingredients in a bowl and mix to form a stiff dough. Take a portion of the dough and roll it into a 10-inch log, 1⁄4 inch thick.
2. Place dough log onto the foil-covered pan and form it into the outline of a heart, pinching the ends together at the heart’s base. Repeat these steps with remaining dough.
3. Place candy into a plastic bag, seal tightly and crush with a mallet. Sprinkle crushed candy into the center of each heart, heaping it up in the middle.
4. Bake 8 to 10 minutes. Let cookies cool completely then gently peel them from the foil.

Peppermint Candy Stand

Items needed: Clear plastic wrap, ruler, scissors, red and white peppermint candies (unwrapped), red ribbon.

1. Measure and cut a 4 by 40 inch piece of plastic wrap.
2. Working from the middle of the plastic toward the outer edge, place unwrapped candy 1-inch apart to form a row that measures approximately 18 inches.
3. Fold plastic around the candy, gently rolling it to create a long strand.
4. Cut ribbon into 3-inch strips and tie between candies.
5. Tie the ends of the plastic wrap together then snip off excess plastic to create a necklace.

Lacy Licorice Heart

Items needed: Red or pink construction paper, clear contact paper, ruler, scissors, hole punch, tape, string licorice, small Valentine candy.

1. Remove backing from contact paper and place construction paper over it, smoothing wrinkles and bubbles.
2. Measure and cut two identical hearts from the contact-construction paper. Place the hearts together, contact paper facing out, and punch holes every 1⁄2 inch along the outer rim of the heart, 1⁄4 inch from the edge.
3. Use string licorice to sew the two hearts together, looping each stitch around the outer edge of the heart. If the licorice runs out, tie the loose end to a new piece of string and continue lacing.
4. When you’ve laced nearly the entire heart, stop and fill the interior heart pouch with candy, then finish lacing until you reach your starting point.
5. Tie the two licorice free ends in a knot or bow and trim off excess string.