You have to check out this video from Ana Arujo… it’s a hoot. She’s trying to convince her daughter that dough ornaments are a good thing… and her daughter is not enjoying the mess.
From Montessori by Hand
That being said, bread dough ornaments ARE fun, easy, and cheap!!!! They would be fun to make on a snow day, or to minimize the wait, you could always make up the “blanks”- baked circles- and then just have the kids decorate them. Wouldn’t this be fun with a girls scout troup, classroom, or even as an activity in a nursing home? It’s so inexpensive, it’s a great craft even in this economy.
Here’s a basic salt dough recipe:
- ½ cup salt
- 1 cup flour
- ½ cup water
Just mix together until the dough is formed. Then roll it out, and cut it with cookie cutters in the shape of your choice. Bake at 250 F for 2 hours until they are all dried out. Paint with acrylics, decoupage, sprinkle with glitter, go wild. You’ll want to make sure that it’s sealed well with paint, glaze or decoupage medium to keep them intact for years to come. Kaboose has some good ideas to check out, too!
Go get messy and happy crafting!
December 15, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Hi Jenny. Oh my gosh, I first got into crafting waaaay back in 1982 by making bread dough ornaments. I was totally hooked on using the dough for several years, until I discovered polymer clay (Sculpey), and then used that for several years. That was my introduction into the craft world. Boy oh boy, does this post, and the video, bring back memories for me.
Initially, I kneaded the dough by hand too. But later on, I used a food processor, which made it sooo much easier. I started out making Christmas ornaments, but then graduated to other non-seasonal wall hanging projects. I was in love with the bread dough for many years. And also haven’t worked with it for another many years. Gee, who knows, maybe someday I’ll work with it again.
Thanks for posting this Jenny. It caused me to revisit a time in my life I’d almost forgotten.
Val Foster
December 16, 2008 at 5:35 am
http://sunshinescreations.vintagethreads.com/2008/12/corn-startch-ornaments.html
Here is another recipe for a dough to make ornaments but I like it better than salt dough it is called baking soda dough or corn starch dough either name works
December 24, 2008 at 8:38 am
That is way too funny! I made those salt dough boys and girls when I was a kid too! Bunch of the stuff we made got wet years later and turned into a gooey mess! Polymer clay is way better!
Have a great Christmas everyone!
January 2, 2009 at 4:07 am
Hello! I really enjoy your blog.
Just wanted to say that I’ve nominated this blog for the Spreader of Love Award
http://artfiredup.blogspot.com
All the best,
Nina