Simple Elegant Christmas Decor That You Can Make

We had a lot of snow this weekend here in Pennsylvania, and now the forecast for tomorrow
is more of the same! What better time then a snowy day to create something for your home
for the holidays like these simple yet beautiful holiday votives? I love these because they 
contain all the elements of the perfect craft: little to no investment, no special expertise 
or skills are needed, and the finished result is fantastic!

Look no farther than your very own backyard for the fixings: 

Gather organic materials from outside: twigs, springs of evergreens, holly, birch bark, 
whatever you have growing in your own surroundings

Recycled jars: baby food and condiment jars work great as do jelly jars and small canning jars

Twine or ribbon

Hot glue gun and glue sticks or other adhesive (I am partial to E6000)

Check out these pretty examples and be inspired!

It's easy to create a wire holder around the lip of a jar. I like to use
electrical fencing wire because it is inexpensive and pliable.

Look what you can create with twigs and glue. How easy is that?!

Birch bark, twig and twine

Use mini terracotta pots for this pretty country display

Pine cone votives from Nelly Vintage Home

Pine cone votives from Nelly Vintage Home

Create some ice votives for an outdoor display!

For this project you will need:

A larger bucket

A smaller bucket

Water

A weight (such as a brick)

Directions:

1. Fill the large bucket halfway with water.

2. Add brick in smaller bucket and lower it into the larger bucket so the water is pushed up between the buckets. Optional: add sprigs of greenery, twigs or berries to the water before freezing.

3. Set the buckets outdoors in freezing temperatures overnight.

4. Pour some hot water over the buckets to loosen them from the ice.

Remember, never leave a burning candle unattended. 
I suggest using flameless candles for these projects.

What do you think?

Bright White Clay Dough Recipe

In my last post I shared a classic, easy salt dough recipe perfect for making with kids. But what if you prefer a brighter, white dough for your Christmas ornaments and gift tags?  Then I have the perfect recipe for you! 

Bright White Clay Dough

2 cups of baking soda

1 cup of cornstarch

1 cup of water

Directions

1. Combine baking soda, cornstarch and water in a medium pot and stir over medium heat until all ingredients are dissolved.
2. Continue to stir over me remove from heat and transfer mixture into a mixing bowl. Be careful, mixture will be hot!
4. Cover with a cold damp dish cloth until cool enough to knead. 
5. Knead dough until soft and smooth. If mixture is too dry, add a few drops of water at a time and knead until a softer, workable consistency is reached.
6. Roll out dough to 1/4" or thicker and cut into shapes as desired.
7. Bake finished creations on a parchment paper covered cookie sheet in a warm oven (I do mine at 175 degrees F for about two hours, flipping them over about half way through baking.)  Allow to cool completely in the oven. 
8. Once completely dry, finished creations can be painted with acrylic craft paints and sealed with a craft sealant.  
9. Wrap unused dough in plastic wrap to keep it fresh. 



Stamped Clay Dough Ornaments
1. Roll out dough to 1/4" or thicker.
2. Use cookie cutters to cut shapes.
3. Use a toothpick or straw to make a hole in each ornament so that you 
have a way to hang them.
4. Stamp dough with rubber stamps - either with ink or without.
5. Bake as directed above.
6. After baking, gently file off any rough edges with a nail file or piece of sandpaper. 

If you prefer, you can stamp your dough before cutting out shapes with cookie cutters instead
of cutting and then stamping. I tried it both ways and the results were just about the same
with each method, and the method you use will mainly depend on what type of cookie cutter
you are using. If your cookie cutter is not open-topped, you will not be able to see the exact
placement of your cut on pre-inked dough.  You waste dough if you ink stamp and then cut 
because the scraps with ink are now tinted and no longer white. My advice is to use whatever
method works best for you!

I use generic store brand baking soda and corn starch. They work great!

Combine baking soda, cornstarch and water in a medium pot and stir 
over medium heat until all ingredients are dissolved.

Continue to stir over medium low heat until mixture thickens. 

It will turn from this liquid mixture (photo above)...

...to thick, sticky clay  (photo below)

Once thick, immediately remove from heat and transfer mixture 

into a mixing bowl. Be careful, mixture will be hot!

 Allow to cool and then knead until a soft dough forms

The consistency of they clay should be smooth and soft

Dust rolling pin and table or parchment paper with a little bit of cornstarch if needed.
Roll to 1/4" or thicker!

Choose your weapon

Place on parchment covered baking sheet

Keep the dough thick. If they are too thin they could crack or bend while baking.

Try stamping a design with an inked rubber stamp. But first...

Use a moist cotton swab to wipe away excess ink from the outer edge of your 

rubber stamp before stamping your clay. 

 Make a hole in each ornament so that you have a way to hang them!

A straw works well for larger sized ornaments. Use a toothpick for smaller ones. 

Ready to go into the oven! 

Make an impression with an uninked rubber stamp

Make imprints with common items to create unique designs

This is one of my favorite necklaces. It made a great stamp!

Peace sign impression made from my necklace pendant.

The finished, baked pieces:

What do you think?

Thanks for visiting! 

Pin this post! 




Be sure to check out my next post:  Doily Imprint Clay Ornaments

Check out my new book!