Handmade Ornament Recipes

[Cinbride]

I have been making my child's handprint in clay for the past two years. It's not cheap, especially with her growing hand and another lil' one. I have seen that there are some great recipes to make your own ornaments including an applesauce one? If anyone can post recipes & instructions that would be great. Also, do they last forever? are the easily breakable? TIA

 

[SKWDW]

These last for a very long time. If the ornaments are the recommended thickness, they do not break easily.

Salt Dough Ornaments

This salt dough recipe makes ornaments that look like baked cookies before they are painted. If you prefer to keep the baked cookie look, coat the ornaments with a clear thin shellac or clear nail polish instead of painting them.

Materials
4 cups flour
1 cup salt
1-1/2 cups water
Cookie cutters
Acrylic or enamel craft paint (optional)
Clear protective coating (thin shellac or clear nail polish)

Instructions
Combine the flour and salt.

Add the water gradually until the mixture has a consistency like putty.

Knead the dough for about five minutes. Be sure the ingredients are thoroughly blended.

Roll the dough on a floured surface, to 1/4-inch thickness.

Cut with cookie cutters. (Dip cutters in flour before cutting to prevent them sticking in the dough.)

Skewer a hole at the top of each ornament for the hook to go through later to hang the ornament.
Option: Instead of making a hole, embed the prongs of a heavy duty staple in the top edge of the ornament.

Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet for about 1/2 hour at 325 degrees until light brown.
(Or you can let the ornaments air dry on a cooling rack for 48 hours instead of baking.)

After the ornaments have dried, use an emery board, fine sand paper, or a small file to smooth any rough edges.

Paint the ornaments with acrylic or enamel paints. Paint the edges and backs to give them a more finished look. You also may want to sign and date the ornaments on the back.

When the paint is dry, coat the ornaments with a clear protective coating.

 

[bucket o' butter]

Here is the recipe for the ornaments that have applesauce in them. They are super easy to make and the room smells so good when you are making them. The thicker you make them, the more sturdy they are. Also, put the hole at least 1/4 inch down from the top of the ornament.


Applesauce / Cinnamon Ornaments

* 1/2 cup cinnamon
* 1/2 cup store bought applesauce (homemade sauce will likely be too watery)

Or, any equal portions of both ingredients depending on the quantity you desire.


Directions:

* Stir together cinnamon and applesauce with a spoon until the dough becomes stiff, then use your hands to create a ball of dough.

* Place the ball of dough on a sheet of waxed paper, flatten slightly with your fingers.

* Place a second sheet of waxed paper over the top of the dough and roll out dough to about 1/8 inch thick.

* Use cookie cutters or your own template shapes.

* Poke hold through the top to hang the ornament. I usually use an unsharpened pencil to make the hold and then put some red ribbon through it when the ornament is dry to hang it.

* Air dry creations on a waxed paper-covered cookie sheet or a cooling rack for at least 24 hours until they are completely hard.

 

[Cinbride]

great thanks!!. I just can't believe those don't go back. I will be trying them out.

 

[Melynny]

I have a recipe that uses powdered cinnamon, applesauce and glue. I am on vacation right now, and I don't have " my recipe" but this one is close:
http://crafts.kaboose.com/cinnamon-dough-ornaments.html

It would not be good for Keepsake hand print because it does shrink but it is still fun and would be a cute gift... they do smell very nice on the tree and work great with cookie cutters. You could cut a handprint out of paper and cut out the handprint..put a hole in the top, use some ribbon : instant gift.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

A cute handprint one is to paint their hand white, and have them take hold of a colored Christmas ball. (The palm goes on the bottom, then the fingers are pointing up.) Let dry, and paint each little finger as a snowman (hat/face/scarf and stick arms)