Cornstarch Glass Floral Hearts & Flowers

In a medium saucepan (off heat), whisk 1 cup cornstarch, 1 cup baking soda, and ¾ cup filtered water for 60 seconds until completely smooth and lump-free.

Place saucepan over low heat and stir constantly with a wooden spoon or spatula. As the mixture reaches its thermal threshold, it will rapidly thicken into a dense paste and pull away from the walls into a cohesive ball. Remove from heat immediately.

Scrape hot dough onto parchment paper. Cover loosely with a clean, damp kitchen towel and let rest for 10 to 15 minutes until safe to handle (damp towel prevents a hard outer skin from forming).

Divide dough into portions and knead a small drop of food coloring into each piece until uniform. Keep tints light and pastel-toned to maximize light diffusion.

Place a colored dough ball between two sheets of parchment paper. Roll out evenly to a precise ¼-inch thickness.

Press cookie cutters firmly into dough. Transfer cut shapes onto a fresh sheet of parchment paper. Use a drinking straw to punch a clean hanging hole near the top edge of each piece.

Let ornaments air-dry in a well-ventilated room. Gently flip every piece over after 12 hours to allow equal evaporation from both sides and prevent curling or warping.

Once hard and ceramic-like, gently sand any rough edges using ultra-fine (400-grit) sandpaper. Coat all surfaces with Mod Podge or clear acrylic craft spray to lock out atmospheric moisture. Thread with ribbon and display.