Ornament Cookie Cutter

Unusual Baking Ideas

When you think of baking things in the oven, things like cookies and casseroles probably come to mind. However there are many other interesting, non edible things that you can make in the oven as well. The oven can be a useful tool for arts and crafts applications.

Making Record Bowls

Give old, scratched vinyl records new life by making them into attractive bowls. For this project you will need an old record, a medium sized stainless steel or Pyrex bowl, and a baking sheet. Place the bowl upside-down on the cookie sheet and place the record centered on top of the bowl.

Records melt at a very low temperature, so set your oven at its lowest setting. Allow it to preheat, then place the baking sheet. Check the record frequently and wait for it to melt. The time will vary from record to record, but should be about 5 minutes. When the record begins to droop over the bowl, it is ready to mould.

Take the baking sheet out of the oven. Carefully life the record (it will be hot) and flip the bowl right side up. Place the hot record inside the bowl and use it as a form for shaping the record. Work quickly so that the vinyl is shaped before it has cooled. If needed, the record can be reheated and moulded again.

Other Vinyl Record Projects

Heating vinyl records to the point of pliability also allows them to be cut and shaped into many things. Heat the record on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper. Look for the record to warp and you will know that it is ready. Use scissors or a razor blade to cut shapes and pieces out of the record, which can then be moulded if desired. Try cutting bows, flower shapes, stars, or other shapes. The pieces can be attached to each other with glue to create more complex projects. They make wonderful magnets or brooches.

Recycled Bottle Cap Necklace

Some types of clay, like polymer clay, are made to harden when heated in the oven. This makes them good for crafts like making a necklace charm out of a bottle cap. Fill the back of the cap with polymer clay. Make a loop for hanging out of wire and embed it in the clay. When baked and cooled, clay will stay inside the cap and secure the loop in place.

Shrink Film Jewellery Charms

Shrink film is a kind of plastic that, when heated in the oven, becomes much smaller and thicker. This makes it a good material for creating small jewellery charms. Rubber stamp or draw images onto the shrink film. Use a hole-punch to make a small hole in the plastic. Shrink according to package directions, then feed jump rings through the holes to create finished charms.

Dough Christmas Ornaments

A popular and delightful Christmas decoration can be made with some DIY dough, made from things you likely already have in your pantry. Basic dough can be made by combining one part salt, one part water, and two parts flour. Blended together and mould into shapes or use cookie cutters to make shapes. Poke holes for hanging before baking at a low temperature for 2 hours. Once cooled, the ornaments can be painted. Hang with a length of ribbon.

Wax Paper and Crayon Stained Glass

Wax paper and crayon shavings can be made into window decorations that look like a lot like stained glass. Place a piece of parchment paper on a baking sheet followed by a piece of wax paper with the waxy side facing up. Arrange a layer of crayon shavings over the wax paper, then cover with another sheet placed waxy side down. Add another sheet of parchment paper, then place a couple of bricks or other flat, heavy objects on top. Bake on a low heat setting for several minutes to bond the two layers of wax paper and allow to completely cool before continuing. Cut shapes from the fused wax paper sheets. Punch a hole at the top of each shape and add a ribbon for hanging.

About the Author

The article is written by Chelsi Woolz the topic unusual baking ideas. Discover how you could turn ordinary objects such as records into creative bowls, simply by baking it in the oven.

Christmas Two-minute Craft #1: Cookie Cutter Ornament