Salt Dough Ornaments
 

I've made them once and they crumbled. Has anyone had success and what were your tricks?

I keep them nice and thick, and bake them extra time. While I've had some break it's more because of choice of cutter I use (candy canes break easy where trees are more solid). I just Google a recipe each year

Other threads about salt dough ornaments

https://www.daycare.com/forum/tags.php?tag=salt+dough

Once I found the air dry clay https://www.michaels.com/crayola-air.../10446567.html I never went back. I shrink wrapped the ones my kids made back in the day to keep them pretty and unbroken. :ouch:

I like the quick microwave ones:

https://rainydaymum.co.uk/the-quicke...-dough-recipe/

THICK. 1/2" or so. I also add some white glue to mine.

This year I bought specific colored air dry model magic. Easy peasy. :lol:

Well, wish me luck. I've got them in the oven on low. I hope they turn out for the kids.

Originally Posted by sharlan:
Well, wish me luck. I've got them in the oven on low. I hope they turn out for the kids.

Me too. Mine should come out in about 5 mins. They seem sturdy, but I didn't make them as thick as I wanted. I was afraid they'd be too heavy to hang on the tree

Originally Posted by Cat Herder:
Once I found the air dry clay https://www.michaels.com/crayola-air.../10446567.html I never went back. I shrink wrapped the ones my kids made back in the day to keep them pretty and unbroken. :ouch:

I tried making the hand shaped bowls with that. Epic fail.

I am not a crafter. I never did crafts with the kids until a couple of years ago.

Originally Posted by Cat Herder:
Once I found the air dry clay https://www.michaels.com/crayola-air.../10446567.html I never went back. I shrink wrapped the ones my kids made back in the day to keep them pretty and unbroken. :ouch:

Do you just roll out this clay, do the handprint and let it dry?? Can you paint it? I don’t like the way my house smells when I made the salt dough ornament ones (I forgot about her and left them in the oven with the oven off, and my husband turned on the oven to preheat it for dinner and they smelled!)

Originally Posted by sahm1225:
Do you just roll out this clay, do the handprint and let it dry?? Can you paint it?

Yes and yes. I have only done traditional handprints and pinch pots with it, so far.

https://www.crayola.com/things-to-do...g/airdry-clay/

Originally Posted by Cat Herder:
Yes and yes. I have only done traditional handprints and pinch pots with it, so far.

https://www.crayola.com/things-to-do...g/airdry-clay/

Out if curiosity how much do you think you use? Amazon has 25 lbs for $26 on a special. I want to hit it but I also don’t want to be swimming in air dry clay!

Originally Posted by sahm1225:
Out if curiosity how much do you think you use? Amazon has 25 lbs for $26 on a special. I want to hit it but I also don’t want to be swimming in air dry clay!

I have had the 5lb can for almost 3 years, now (6/1 ratio). ;) It is down to about 1lb. I mist it with a water bottle and knead it on wax paper before use as it does harden up a bit over time. I put some plastic wrap between the lid and can for extra seal. ;)

Originally Posted by Cat Herder:
I have had the 5lb can for almost 3 years, now (6/1 ratio). ;) It is down to about 1lb. I mist it with a water bottle and knead it on wax paper before use as it does harden up a bit over time. I put some plastic wrap between the lid and can for extra seal. ;)

6/1 ratio as in you get 6 ornaments from 1lb? Good to know that you can keep using it too. I have the 25lb on my amazon shopping cart. But would rather not end up making a million ornaments just to try to use it up :lol:

Originally Posted by sahm1225:
6/1 ratio as in you get 6 ornaments from 1lb? Good to know that you can keep using it too. I have the 25lb on my amazon shopping cart. But would rather not end up making a million ornaments just to try to use it up :lol:

Sorry. I keep 6 kids, so do 6 handprint ornaments and maybe 12 pinch pots/animals per year with it. I don't think I'd use 25 lbs in 10 years. :lol: It is a hardish grey clay that dries whitish. The preschool kids don't really enjoy working with it so it is very adult led. Think parent gift. ;)

I use it much the same as plaster of paris projects. I do those a few times per year, as well.

Just wanted to share how ours came out. They are still a bit soft, even after baking for 2.5 hours., but not mushy or crumbling.

Just gotta Mod Podge over them!

Originally Posted by Cat Herder:
Sorry. I keep 6 kids, so do 6 handprint ornaments and maybe 12 pinch pots/animals per year with it. I don't think I'd use 25 lbs in 10 years. :lol: It is a hardish grey clay that dries whitish. The preschool kids don't really enjoy working with it so it is very adult led. Think parent gift. ;)

I use it much the same as plaster of paris projects. I do those a few times per year, as well.

Thank God i ordered just the 5lbs!