Guest Post: Sarah from Chickie Momma Crafts
This is the 4th homemade gift idea in a series of guest posts by my friend Sarah! Make sure to check out her blog, Chickie Momma Crafts for all sorts of fun holiday craft ideas, recipes, do-it-yourself furniture projects & more!
Most years in my childhood we would make salt dough or cinnamon ornaments. My aunt is also the queen of these and I have so many on my tree that she would decorate and give each niece and nephew over the years. My sister and I hosted a cookie exchange a few years ago and so I thought making salt dough ornaments would be perfect for the party favor. They turned out cute and some even have teeth marks from my then two year old trying to “eat” them. I used the recipe listed below and then when they were cooled I used puffy paints and glitter glue to decorate them. I have heard that you can also use real sprinkles!! Never tried it, but maybe this year!
Classic Salt Dough Ornament Recipe
Ingredients:
- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup salt
- 1 cup water
Directions:
1. Mix salt and flour.
2. Add in half the water, then gradually add the remaining water.
3. Knead until the dough is smooth, this can take up to 10 minutes.
4. For flat dough ornaments, roll out the dough on baking paper.
How to Create Your Ornaments:
- For desired shape, use cookie cutters, cut-out templates, or just use your hands to shape the dough into the shape you want.
- Dust dough with flour, then begin to add details to the ornaments with a toothpick, popsicle stick, and knife.
Tip: Don’t forget – use a straw to make a hole so you can hang the ornament or use a small piece of wire inserted while the dough is soft. (I use a 34 gage wire, cut it about an inch then fold it to a horseshoe shape and stick the two ends in the dough)
Baking: Time varies based on thickness of ornament. The temperature should be at 325 degrees for 1 1/2 hours or until dry.
Decorate:
- Let ornaments cool before you begin
- Paint with acrylic paints
- Glue on beads, buttons, or any fun accessory
{I like to use puffy paints and glitter glue}
Preservation{so they’ll last a long time}: Coat with acrylic varnish when everything is dry.
Make sure to check out the previous homemade gift ideas featured this week by Chickie Momma Crafts:
Sarah is a wife & mother of two little boys (ages 4 & 2). She’s the Co-Coordinator at a local MOPS group & is a former elementary school teacher. You’ll definitely want to check out her website, Chickie Momma Crafts, as she is a woman of many talents – crafting, baking, decorating & turning trash-into-treasures!
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If you seal them very well with varnish, they will last for years! I have 2 that I made as a child with my grandmother 35 years ago hanging on my tree! But they must be moisture-proofed!
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