Salt Dough Christmas Ornaments
by Jill Black
The art of making objects using salt dough is a popular way to make
Christmas ornaments and is fun for all the family the only requirements
needed to get started are flour, salt, water and basic equipment found
in the kitchen.
These include:
A bowl to mix your dough
A rolling pin for producing smooth sheets of dough
A grater for making decorative imprints on your dough
A garlic press for making strands for hair and foliage
Toothpicks or a small pointed knife for cutting and indenting details
An assortment of pastry cutters and moulds for decorative shapes found
at any kitchenware outlet.
To make salt dough Christmas ornaments I have found the following recipe
to be a good all round recipe for most projects.
Basic Salt Dough
Mix the salt and flour in a large bowl and then add the water. Knead the
mixture for about 5-10 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic.
Cover with cling wrap to stop the dough drying out and let the dough sit
for 30 minutes before using.
Fresh dough is best for shaping your Christmas ornaments. However, if
you find you have any leftover dough it can be wrapped in cling wrap or
an airtight container and stored in a cool place for a few days.
For flat or rolled projects it is best to roll out the dough straight
onto a baking sheet then it can be put straight into the oven.
Models or larger pieces can be assembled on a piece of hardboard that
has been oiled with vegetable oil to prevent it sticking to the board.
When finished and happy with your results you have a choice of Air
Drying or baking your project in the oven. Ensuring your projects are
correctly dried ensures they will last a long time so it is important
that this is not hurried.
Air drying is suitable for flat, small pieces or for colored pieces
where baking will alter the color of the finished project.
Oven drying is the most popular method and requires careful attention to
accurate temperature control to avoid burning. Bake for approx 2 hours
using a low temperature setting 50-70C for the first half hour then
increase temperature slowly to 90-100C and cook until the piece is
uniform in color.
While baking if any air bubbles appear pierce the bubbles with a pin and
gently depress the dough. If the dough starts to darken before cooking
is complete cover with a piece of aluminum foil.
The dough is cooked when it hard and sounds hollow when tapped. Turn the
oven off and leave in oven until cool.
Any burns can be sandpapered off with fine- medium grade sandpaper. An
Emery board or small file can be used for delicate or intricate sanding
on objects.
Your finished projects can be left unpainted but they must be sealed on
all sides (including underneath) with varnish, gloss or matt, for
protection otherwise they will not last long when exposed to air.
When thoroughly dry sand any imperfections. At this stage you can paint
your projects then seal with a final coat of varnish.
Brightly colored pieces will look more vibrant painted with a glossy
finish and neutral muted colors are suited to a matt finish.
Using a polyurethane varnish on food colored models instead of
water-based varnish helps to intensify the color.
Jill is the owner Netwrite-Publish. For more home and
garden ideas for everyday living visit
http://www.netwrite-publish.com