After writing my holiday eco-friendly crafts post, I got this insane great idea that it’d be lots of fun to make all of the decorations for our Christmas tree this year. I was hoping to involve the kids in the crafting, but my first two attempts – with popcorn garland and cranberry garland – were not as successful as I hoped. Turns out that popcorn is fairly hard to put a needle through and I didn’t want to risk Ava poking the heck out of herself, so she and Julian ate popcorn while I threaded it. The cranberries were a little harder than I would’ve liked too so I did those myself while the kids ate them and then spat them out because they are, of course, very tart. ;)
I also made the star on the top of our tree by cutting it out of a pie tin (super sharp edges) and gluing it to a piece of black paper.
Finally this morning, I decided on a project we could work on together (at least Ava and I could and Julian could help out later) – salt dough ornaments!
Here’s the recipe that I used.
Salt Dough Ornaments
2 cups flour
1 cup salt
1 cup water
Optional: 1 tablespoon any type of oil (to make it easier to work with – thanks to Brighid for the tip)
I didn’t have enough sea salt, so I used my kosher salt (after grinding it up in the food processor a bit). It worked just as well. I think table salt is probably what they have in mind for this recipe though.Â
Mix salt and flour. Add in half the water, then gradually add the remaining water. Knead until the dough is smooth, this can take up to 10 minutes.
I divided up my dough into different segments and used food coloring on some of it.Â
For flat dough ornaments roll out the dough (to about 1/4 inch thickness) on baking paper, wax paper, or directly on a cookie sheet. Use cookie cutters, cut-out templates, or just use your hands.
Add details to the ornaments with a toothpick and knife.
Don’t forget to use a straw to make a hole so you can hang the ornament. (I forgot to do this on two of mine. Oops!)
Baking: Time varies based on thickness of ornament
Temperature: 325°F.
Time: 20 minutes or until dry - They should be hard to the touch, but not brown.
After they are done baking and cooling, you can paint, add glitter, spray with a clear finish, etc. We chose not to do this and let me tell you why I’m glad we didn’t.
a) because Julian decided to start tasting several of the ornaments
b) because a few, invariably, got dropped or stepped on and broke, but because they don’t have any extra stuff on them, I can just throw them into the composter. :)
Finally, add ribbon, yard, string, twine, etc. and your ornaments are ready to hang on the tree or give as gifts.
And now, the pictures…
 
 
I don’t know if we’ll stick with just the homemade decorations on the tree – I think we may add a handful of ornaments we’ve collected over the years – but I will say that despite the extra work involved, I really enjoy the organic-feel and personality that our tree has this year. It’s been a lot of fun. :)
My choice for Best Shot Monday is the one of Ava and Julian together putting the ornament on the tree (2nd row, 3rd picture). Ava was being so sweet and helpful to her little brother. It just makes me smile. You can see more Best Shots over here.
Stumble it!
Erin Ely says:
Amy,
This is so sweet, thanks for sharing it.
Love the pictures, what a great memory for you and your kids.
Happy Holidays,
Erin
December 15th, 2008 at 12:39 am
Brandie says:
Such fun! We mad those one year when my now 9 year old was 2 or 3? We still have them and they get hung on the tree every year. Although we did paint them!
December 15th, 2008 at 2:22 am
Christmas Party Online » Blog Archive » A homemade Christmas tree (and BSM) | Crunchy Domestic Goddess says:
[...] unknown wrote an interesting post today onA homemade Christmas tree (and BSM) | Crunchy Domestic GoddessHere’s a quick excerptAfter writing my holiday eco-friendly crafts post, I got this insane great idea that it’d be lots of fun to make all of the decorations for our Christmas tree this year. I was hoping to involve the kids in the crafting, but my first two … [...]
December 15th, 2008 at 4:04 am
Hot Christmas Online » Blog Archive » A homemade Christmas tree (and BSM) | Crunchy Domestic Goddess says:
[...] unknown wrote an interesting post today onA homemade Christmas tree (and BSM) | Crunchy Domestic GoddessHere’s a quick excerptI don’t know if we’ll stick with just the homemade decorations on the tree – I think we may add a handful of ornaments we’ve collected over the years – but I will say that despite the extra work involved, I really enjoy the organic-feel … [...]
December 15th, 2008 at 4:36 am
melanie says:
Love the ornaments !!
December 15th, 2008 at 5:14 am
phyllis says:
great pics! what a fun way to celebrate.
(i don’t think that tracey is posting bsm today…it’s not up yet….bummer.)
December 15th, 2008 at 6:33 am
N. says:
Gingerbread ornaments are another option as are sugar cookies with the sugar “stained glass” centers. I’ve also seen a lot of people making fabric garlands- a take on the paper chain garland but more durable.
December 15th, 2008 at 7:49 am
katie says:
Your tree looks beautiful! I remember making salt dough ornaments as a kid, but it’s something I haven’t thought of in forever.
The pics of the kiddos are very sweet. Don’t Christmas trees make a wonderful backdrop for closeups?
Oh, and little Julian’s outfit – my little guy has the same one and I’d love for him to wear it everyday! So cute and snuggly!
December 15th, 2008 at 8:30 am
Megan says:
I just looked at your blog and did a trial run of these today so that we could do them at our St. Nicholas Party this weekend. Cool! Thanks, Megan
December 15th, 2008 at 8:40 am
megan says:
how fun! i used to love to suck on dough ornaments as a kid…gross, i know. beautiful tree, too.
December 15th, 2008 at 9:58 am
Brittany says:
What wonderful ornaments! :) How fun!!
December 15th, 2008 at 10:01 am
Summer says:
I love doing salt dough ornaments! Very cute!
December 15th, 2008 at 10:09 am
FoodRenegade says:
I remember making these as a kid. We already made some other ornaments for this year, but next year you can bet I’ll remember salt dough!
Cheers,
KristenM
December 15th, 2008 at 10:15 am
golightly says:
I remember making those ornaments as a child! Maybe we’ll do that next year. I was going to make a popcorn/cranberry garland as well, but decided to put that off another year or so. I was worried the big dog would try to eat it and knock down the tree!
Great pictures.
December 15th, 2008 at 10:30 am
Dawn says:
Those look like the perfect rainy day activity for us!
Thanks for the idea!
Happy Monday,
Dawn :)
December 15th, 2008 at 10:47 am
Tracey says:
Thanks for posting, we are going to give these a try today!
December 15th, 2008 at 11:52 am
Donna says:
I love the first shot..she is so in to her decorating and the other shots are magical too!
December 15th, 2008 at 11:54 am
Penny says:
How cute :)
We made those cinnamon/apple sauce ornaments and still use them They still smell nice 2 years later.
December 15th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
MelodyA. says:
So glad you posted that recipe because I was just about to look it up!! I just remember doing this as a kid. What a great memory for them.
December 15th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
chelle says:
We just did some of these with friends at a playdate. This week they are coming over and we are painting them. With nontoxic paint.
December 15th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
Kimberly says:
I’m so glad I stopped by here. The ornaments are a wonderful idea. I think I’ll do some of these with my son (and I’m sure we’ll have similar experiences). :)
December 15th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
Tia says:
In fifth grade we made Cinnamon ornaments. I think they were 2 parts cinnamon for ever one part applesauce. You mix it together and spread it out and use cookie cutters to make shapes then just set them out to dry, roll up the remaining dough and make more! They made the whole house smell wonderful, but I don’t think you can eat them, the teacher was very avid about that…
December 15th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
Tia says:
I’m sorry I messed up the link on my earlier comment, in case anyone cared…
December 15th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
Charissa says:
What a neat idea! Your kids look like they had a great time. The ornaments look good on the tree.
December 15th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
Julie Roads says:
Is it disturbing that I remember how these ornaments taste? I didn’t think I was that kid…OY!!! I love this – we’ll make these for sure when my parents arrive on Monday – how FUN!!! You’re the best!
December 16th, 2008 at 3:34 am
Stacy says:
Wow, very creative! What a great craft to work on with the kids and making all your own decorations. The kids look like they had a wonderful time, too. Your tree looks lovely and full of LOVE. :)
December 16th, 2008 at 9:33 am
Kashoan says:
This ws my favorite thing to do as a kid!! My husband had never heard of it! Im going to try this with the kids.
December 16th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
lilbet says:
We have homemade ornaments from every year! You may have to shellac those to get them to stay together and sealed from moisture, etc.
We put out homemade decorations for every holiday. Fun to see the progression from the Santa with 8 eyes to now.
This type of homespun family fun just warms my heart. Thanks for sharing.
December 16th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Condo Blues says:
I remember making dough ornaments as a first grade class art project. My mom still hangs them on the tree, even though it’s been a few years since I was in first grade. Or college even.
December 16th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
Synia says:
Very cool. I will have to try that with my girls this weekend. Thanks for the idea!!
December 16th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
lilbet says:
Amy,
Have you heard about this?
http://thebabygardner.com/blog/2008/12/11/love-handmade-a-call-to-action-for-all-of-us/
If you love handmade items, please be sure to take some action.
December 17th, 2008 at 8:04 am
Did I Say Simple? at My Web of Life says:
[...] and husband throughout my wonderfully simplified Christmas season. We have been busy crafting homemade ornaments, thoughtfully writing out personal eco-friendly greeting cards to all of our close family and [...]
December 17th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
Stephanie says:
Your tree is great! We made these today and she had a blast! Thank you!
December 18th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
erica says:
Aw, baker’s clay we call it. I have such great memories of baker’s clay. You can tell we were kids in the 70′s :)
December 18th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Green Holiday Links for Parents & Tots says:
[...] A homemade Christmas tree (and BSM) – one mama’s crazy quest to make all her own homemade eco ornaments – fun read with salt dough recipe included. [...]
December 18th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Homemade Christmas Ornaments | Wholesale Glass Ornaments says:
[...] A homemade Christmas tree (and BSM) [...]
June 7th, 2009 at 11:29 pm
Amber says:
Do the ornaments shrink when you bake them? I would like to do this, but with the hands of my nieces and nephews (while they are young). I don’t want them to shrink….
October 21st, 2009 at 10:39 am
Readers of the Longmont Ledger, welcome to my blog :) | Crunchy Domestic Goddess says:
[...] A homemade Christmas tree [...]
December 7th, 2009 at 6:33 pm
Homemade & eco-friendly Christmas tree trimming | Crunchy Domestic Goddess says:
[...] Last year I got all crafty and made all of the decorations for our Christmas tree. The mood didn’t strike me this year (although we still have several of our salt dough ornaments from last year), but in case any of you are inspired to create an eco-friendly homemade Christmas tree, I thought I’d repost the blog I wrote a year ago. [...]
December 8th, 2009 at 11:21 pm
Things to write home about 12/21/08 | Feels Like Home says:
[...] Amy at Crunchy Domestic Goddess helps you with cute homemade Christmas ornaments [...]
February 27th, 2010 at 2:53 pm
Tiffaney says:
Saw your blog for the first time today. I love your idea and can not wait to try it with my son. I was wondering do you have to do anything to the ornaments to preserve them for later years?
November 12th, 2010 at 9:13 pm
Crunchy Domestic Goddess » Preparing (or not) for the holiday season says:
[...] in Michigan last week. Now we have to focus on Christmas — getting a tree (or not), making our own ornaments (or not), decorating the front of the house (or not), buying presents (or [...]
November 30th, 2010 at 12:25 pm