Salt Dough

Ingredients
2 cup flour
1 cup salt
½ to 3/4 cup water
1 teaspoon oil (optional)
1 teaspoon potato starch or wallpaper paste (optional)
food coloring, kool aid, or tempera paints (optional—for colored dough)

Directions
To get an especially fine dough, that is less grainy, mix your salt and water together first and stir it for about 5 minutes with your kitchen machine or by hand. Then add the flour and starch or wallpaper paste. Some people (especially children) prefer stiffer dough, in which case, add a little more flour. Knead the dough at least 10 minutes to ensure an elastic consistency (less if you are using a kitchen machine).
Keep dough in a plastic bag away from air. If kept in the refrigerator, it can last up to a week. Small amounts of flour may need to be added into it as it will absorb water while resting. After a week the dough gets too stretchy and does not keep its shape well.
While working with the dough, only use the amount of dough needed and keep the rest wrapped up in a plastic bag. Model objects on aluminum foil and place on a cookie sheet afterwards. To attach parts to each other, wet both parts lightly and gently score. If you have parts that you want to stick up (for example: the bottom of a skirt) support these underneath with little pieces of foil.
Air-drying is best for small objects. Bigger objects will develop air bubbles on the back of the project and will not dry thoroughly. Roughly, for each ¼ inch, bake your object for 1 hour at 150. Afterwards (regardless of the thickness) bake it for ½ hour at 200, then ½ hour at 250 and then bake it for 1 hour at 300. Brown (if desired) objects at 400.
For objects made from colored dough, bake items initially at 125, gradually increasing temperature to 250 To preserve color integrity, do not cook above 250.
Objects are completely dry when if tapped it sounds hollow. If desired, objects can be painted with acrylic craft paints and should be top coated (regardless to whether painted) with lacquer thoroughly.

Miracle Milk Bath

Ingredients
2 cups salt
2 cups baking soda
2 cups instant nonfat dry milk

Directions
Mix all ingredients. Store in airtight container up to 1 year. To use, add 1 cup of mixture to bath water.

Dog Bone Biscuits

Ingredients
2 cups whole-wheat or all-purpose flour
2 cups cornmeal
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
¾ cup vegetable oil, melted meat or bacon fat, drained oil from canned tuna or a combination
½ cup water or broth

Directions
Combine flour, cornmeal and cheese in medium-size bowl. Stir in oil until mixture is crumbly. Stir in water until well mixed. Roll dough out on lightly floured surface to ½” thickness. Use dog-bone cutter to cut out biscuits. Transfer to ungreased baking sheet. Press scraps together to cut out more. Bake 45 min, 300º. Store covered in refrigerator.

Bath Sachet

Ingredients
1 cup oatmeal (not instant)
1/2 cup rosemary leaves (or substitute lavender, thyme, lemon verbena...or your favorite herb)
1/4 cup rose petals

Directions
Mix the ingredients together and, for each sachet, place a few tablespoons in the center of a six-inch square of lace, cheesecloth or muslin [JJ note: I've used the muslin tea bags that better kitchen stores carry, or make my own using a *firmly woven* muslin/cheesecloth fabric--you don't want the c contents of the bag getting down the drain!! If you're using a square of fabric]...bring the four corners together and tie in the middle with a washable ribbon, making sure that the mixture is secure in your bath. Tie the bag to hang sachet mixture in a honey pot in the bathroom and refill sachet as necessary. Each bag can be used several times before it needs refilling. Oatmeal is very good for the skin but by itself is not particularly attractive, which is why I add rose petals. The Rose petals complement the oatmeal and add a little more fragrance to the mix.

Bath Salts

Ingredients
4 cups Epsom salts
2 tbls. glycerin
4-6 drops potpourri oil or essence of oil
1-2 drops food coloring

Directions
With wire whisk stir salt and glycerin together. Add oil and coloring and stir again.
Add 2 tablespoons to bath under running water.