1 cup Argo or Kingsford's Corn Starch
2 cups (1 lb) baking soda
3 tablespoons ground ginger
1 1/2 cups cold water
1 tablespoon Mazola oil
Ground cinnamon


1. In medium saucepan stir corn starch, baking soda and ginger. Add water and oil all at once and stir until smooth. Stirring constantly, cook over medium heat until mixture reaches the consistency of slightly dry mashed potatoes. (Mixture will come to a boil, then start to thicken, first in lumps and then in a thick mass; it should hold its shape.)

2. Turn out onto plate and cover with a damp cloth; Let stand until cool enough to handle.

3. Divide dough in half. On corn-starch dusted surface knead one half of dough thoroughly until smooth and pliable. Cover with a damp cloth. Knead enough cinnamon into remaining dough to obtain a deep brown color.

4. If not to be used immediately, store completely cooled clay in tightly closed plastic bag or container with tight fitting lid. Clay may be kept in a cool place up to two weeks. Knead stored clay thoroughly before using.

Makes enough for 2 heart wreaths.

YOU WILL NEED:
1/2 recipe Spicy Play Clay(above)
Rolling Pin
2-inch heart shaped cookie cutter
Plastic straw
Pancake turner
Wire rack set in a shallow baking pan
16 paper clips
3 yards (1-inch wide) plaid ribbon
9 inch plastic foam wreath
9 (3-inch) cinnamon sticks
1 yard (1/4-inch wide) red ribbon

1. Shaping:
Knead Play Clay until smooth. Roll each half of Play Clay separately to 1/4-inch thickness. Place one on top of the other. Roll up both halves like a jelly roll. Slice into 1 1/2-inch pieces. Roll out one piece to 1/4-inch thickness. (Cover remaining Play Clay with a damp cloth.) Cut dough with heart-shaped cookie cutter. With a plastic straw, make a hole in the top of the heart. Repeat with remaining clay. It takes about 13 (2-inch) hearts for a 9-inch wreath.

With pancake turner, carefully lift hearts from the tabletop and place on the wire rack set in the shallow baking pan.

2. Oven Drying: Preheat oven to 350ºF, then turn the oven off. Place the baking pan in the oven and leave it until oven is cold; turn the hearts once or twice to help them dry evenly. Repeat as necessary until dry. (When reheating the oven, be sure to take the baking pan out before turning on the heat.) Air-dry Play Clay overnight on wire racks, turning occasionally to speed up drying and make the hearts dry evenly.

Assembling one Wreath:

• Straighten paper clips, then bend each in half into a "V". Lace a 6-inch length of plaid ribbon through the hole in each heart. Tie ribbon with knot on the back of the heart. Insert a paper clip into the knot with the base of the V in the knot. Press paper clips into foam wreath. (If ends of wire appear on backside of wreath, bend ends to secure.)
• Cut red ribbon into 3 (12-inch) pieces. Tie a V-shaped paper clip in the middle of each piece of red ribbon. Tie each ribbon around three cinnamon sticks with clip in back and a bow in front. Press into the wreath.