Salt dough ornament recipe

[echogirl]

Thanks for asking about the details Myra! You are going to be sorry you asked!

SO the saga of the salt dough ornaments started when I found a recipe on pinterest. It was a gluten free and I was swayed by the sparkly white dough it was said to produce. However in my hands, it only produced this weird gelatinous goo so I found this alternate recipe and my guess the problem was not enough salt in the first recipe. I added a bunch of salt and threw it on the stove and somehow we salvaged it!

Anyway the point was I've not really used this recipe but I think it'll work.
2 cups salt
2/3 cup water
1 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup cold water
Food coloring, tempera, or other water-base paint

Mix salt and 2/3 cup water in a pan. Heat until quite warm. Remove from heat. Mix cornstarch and cold water together and add to mix in the pan, stirring constantly. Return pan to stove and keep stirring until mixture forms a smooth mass. Turn out on a plate and cover with a damp cloth until cool. Work in coloring if desired.

Shape on a foil-covered cookie sheet and let dry thoroughly - several hours in a warm oven or several days at room temperature. Smooth away rough edges with a nail file.

We then painted the ornaments with acrylic paint (Michaels Apple Barrel super cheap). Added a second layer of glitter glue. Then as a lark I edged the ornaments with Martha Stewart glitter glue pen (50% off at Michaels this week!) The kids did everything but the edging and I think they turned out great!

Final point to this long saga. I liked the recipe but using a recipe with flour and salt would be much more reliable and since they are painted anyway it wouldn't matter anyway if their was a bit of colour to them.

[dugarner]

I have a friend who recently conquered the salt dough ornament fiasco. She, too, had trouble the first time around but mastered it. Would you be interested in her recipe?

[home in ottawa]

I made salt dough ornaments with the kids who I babysat when I was in high school. They lasted longer if sealed with an oil based varnish. The dough absorbed moisture when they were stored in the basement and they crumbled without the varnish. Your ornaments are gorgeous Doris!

[maureenreynolds]

I will 2nd Susan's comment about sealing. I made these with my boys back in the day, and yes over the years, I found carefully wrapped crumbs. Sad, since they were fun to do albeit darn heavy!

[readstoomuch]

Made salt ornaments with our kids back in the 70's. Don't remember much about them other than the kids had fun! And, I made salt relief maps for school projects back in the 1950's. I hadn't thought about those maps in eons!!

Sorry I've been so slack in looking at the gallery of late . . . I must check out your gallery, Doris . . . you obviously had a page about your darling children making salt ornaments.

[echogirl]

ackk! SHould I have sealed them before painting? Or can I seal them now?

Sarah share away your recipe by all means!

Mollie, you are too kind. No worries. What's a salt relief map though?

[home in ottawa]

Now is good Doris! or even before you put them away for the season.

[Jana Morton]

Thank you so much for sharing this....I am certainly tucking this idea away for next year!