DIY Christmas Ornaments

So this year will be a big Chrissy for me and our family. As I am only the children's step-mother, they will be spending time with their mother from Christmas Eve until 11 am Christmas Day. As we won't be able to do the things we did last year like looking at Christmas lights on Christmas Eve, and having a very early wake up call from the kids on Christmas Day because Santa has come, we have to compensate for that. So my partner and myself have decided to plan some little activities for the family in the lead up to Christmas. :) Our first step is DIY Christmas Ornaments for our Christmas Tree :)

So what I had done is taken a Salt Dough recipe from www.taste.com.au which is my go to recipe for all things cooking. (The recipe will be at the end of the post)

The recipe is quite simple, but somehow I still managed to make a huge mess...

This year we will have some simple shapes. Which are flowers (we already had flower cookie cutters in the house) and candy canes (easy to roll myself, even though they don't look the best)

And then came the gruesome 2 and a half hour wait for them to bake!

My tip is:

1. REMEMBER to put the holes in before you bake (I almost forgot) for the ribbon

2. You don't need the best of ingredients. Just cheap stuff (I went to Aldi, and the Salt and Flour weren't even $2)

3. And half way through baking, flip your shapes over (as they will end up under-cooked underneath and start to crack)

And mine are all done in the oven!!

Easiest way to tell when they are ready, is they will be solid!!

Now onto the painting!!!

To finish it all off spray with a clear gloss spray paint thingo to protect from moisture and rot and create a nice gloss and smooth feel to the end product :)

Recipie from Taste.com.au:

1 and 1/2 cups of plain flour

1/2 cup fine table salt

1 tablespoon of Vegetable Oil (I used Canola)

Preheat oven to 120°C. Line 2 baking trays with baking paper. Mix flour and salt in a bowl. Make a well in the center. Pour in oil. Gradually add water, stirring mixture with a wooden spoon until combined. Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface. Knead to make a smooth ball.

Roll dough out between 2 sheets baking paper until 7mm thick. Use Christmas-shaped cutters (see tip) to cut out decorations. Use a chopstick or skewer to make a hole at the top of each decoration. Place decorations on trays. Roll remaining dough together and repeat.

Bake decorations for 2 1/2 hours or until firm and dry. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Now for the best bit <3

Salt Dough can be so much fun and used for anything. From newborn hand and feet impressions, to the traditional ornament. Let yours and your children's imaginations run wild!! Here is a little inspiration I sourced for you from Pinterest (best site ever, and yes these are not photo's of my own)