How to Make Holiday Dough Ornaments

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PHOTO: MOTHER EARTH NEWS STAFF
I sold the littlest Christmas dough ornaments for 50 cents each and the fanciest ones for $4.50. By the time Christmas was over, I had made $50.

MOTHER’s Children showcases Riina Hinderstein’s home business making holiday dough ornaments, and the dough recipe she uses for her colorful hangings.

How to Make Holiday Dough Ornaments

I live outside Noxon, Montana, in the county with the worst employment rate in the state. It’s hard for adults to get jobs around here–and even harder for young people. Still, I wanted to earn a little money.

First, the neighbors hired me to pick rocks from fields they were going to plow. I also helped build some fences. Then, during the summer, I animal-sat for rural residents who were gone on vacation. I’d ride Whiskey, my horse, miles through the woods to do the chores on their homesteads. It was hard work with low pay, but any extra income helped.

By the end of fall, odd jobs were hard to come by. Then one day I was watching Mom make some bread dough (often called baker’s clay) Christmas dough ornaments for our Christmas tree. I came up with some designs of my own and took them to school to show my friends. Everyone, including the teachers, wanted to order some! I started making more. I sold the littlest Christmas dough ornaments for 50 cents each and the fanciest ones for $4.50. By the time Christmas was over, I had made $50. That was over and above the money I saved by sending dough ornaments to all my relatives for presents. (Everyone liked them so much they hinted that they’d like to receive ornaments every year.)

  • Published on Nov 1, 1987
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