Making Your Own Architectural Embellishments

When it comes to decorating your home, it can seem a daunting task. Especially if you want to do a little remodeling and add some architectural embellishments like carved molding. But do you really have the money to add little niceties like scrollwork around the edges or leaf designs on your kitchen cabinets? Even those on a budget can get the same look, however. The key is doing it yourself with a little help from play dough.

Children’s salt dough has long been used to teach them to make “sculptures” and at Christmas time to make ornaments. You can put it to use in your home by making designs that look like carved molding or even to make appliquÃ?©s to add to doorways, doors, and cabinets. If you want an even finer look, you can use a similar recipe with cornstarch. Using cornstarch creates something that looks very similar to porcelain.

Making Salt Dough

2 c. flour
�½ c. salt
water added by tbl. until proper consistency
1-2 tbl. salad oil (keeps from drying and cracking)

After all ingredients are mixed together, cut out shapes and place on cookie sheet. Bake at 250 degrees for one hour. After the hour, check every 15 minutes until the dough is hard (but not very brown).

Making Cornstarch Molding

2 c. baking soda
1 c. cornstarch
1 �¼ c. water

Mix ingredients and heat in saucepan on stove until thick. Let cool and then knead on cornstarch-dusted board. Form or cut shapes and then air dry for at least 24 hours, until dry.

Some of the easiest and most elegant designs are leaves, scrolls, ropework, and other similar embellishments. When your “molding” or appliquÃ?©s are ready, it is time to attach them. For the carved look molding, you should attach the pieces, with a glue gun, to the wood strips and then prime the whole, and then paint. You can add a finish over the top if necessary. For appliquÃ?©s, simply do your priming and painting first, and then attach to the cabinet or doorway to be embellished.

You can add nice touches to your home dÃ?©cor with a little creativity, and some patience. And if a design does not turn out, you can always do another one, since making them is inexpensive. These carved moldings and appliquÃ?©s are fairly easy to make and they are very inexpensive. You can redo an entire room for right around $30 – or even less!