Holiday DIY: Creating Festive Book and Teddy Bear Decorations
Crafting salt dough ornaments has become a beloved Christmas tradition for many families, especially with the popularity of books like "Bear Stay Up for Christmas" by Karma Wilson. This year, why not create your own salt dough bear ornaments to complement the story?
To make these charming bear ornaments, you'll need a simple salt dough recipe and a bear-shaped cookie cutter. Here's a straightforward guide to crafting your own salt dough bear ornaments:
Ingredients and Process
Gather the following ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 cup salt, and 1 cup warm water. Adjust the water as needed to achieve the perfect dough consistency.
- Mix the flour and salt in a bowl, then slowly add the warm water, stirring until a pliable dough forms.
- Roll out the dough to about 1/4 inch thickness on a flat surface, using parchment paper underneath to prevent sticking.
- Use bear-shaped cookie cutters to cut out bear shapes from the dough.
- To make ornaments, use a straw or toothpick to poke a hole near the top of each bear shape so you can hang them later.
- Place the cutouts on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake at about 250–300°F (120–150°C) for around 1 hour.
- After baking, let the ornaments dry at room temperature for 24 hours to fully harden.
- Once dry, you can paint or decorate the bears as you wish.
A Family Affair
Making salt dough ornaments is a fun Christmas craft for kids, and it can be a family affair. After the ornaments have cooled, the kids can paint them and add faces, turning the activity into a memorable bonding experience. The finished ornaments can then be hung on the Christmas tree, adding a personal touch to your holiday decorations.
Over the years, many families have created a collection of homemade ornaments, each one telling a story. These ornaments often find their way to the children's bedrooms, where they serve as a reminder of cherished Christmas memories.
So, this holiday season, consider adding a touch of homemade charm to your Christmas tree with salt dough bear ornaments. It's a craft that's as timeless as the story "Bear Stay Up for Christmas" itself.
- Kindness can extend to your lifestyle choices, as you might consider gifting homemade salt dough bear ornaments, made using a fashionable and unique recipe, to friends and family members.
- To complement your home's decor throughout the year, you could experiment with various food-and-drink inspired salt dough recipes, like pumpkin spice ornaments for autumn, or heart-shaped ones for Valentine's Day.
- Incorporating DIY projects, such as salt dough ornament making, into everyday activities can provide opportunities not only for cooking and crafting but also for bonding with loved ones, fostering an atmosphere of acts of kindness in your home-and-garden.
