Are you looking for a quirky new DIY ornament for your Christmas Tree or a unique gift for a loved one this year? Our Christmas Bubble Wrap Salt Dough Decorations are simple enough for kids to make and the results are showstopping.
My kids have really been looking forward to starting our Christmas craft sessions. This time last year we were in the midst of moving house (3 days before Christmas!). Which didn’t leave much time between packing and organising for making DIY Christmas decorations. We only just managed to throw up our old artificial tree before Santa arrived. This year we were determined to make up for it with a BIG real Christmas tree.
A bigger tree meant we were in need of a bigger supply of baubles to decorate it. I decided to whip up a batch of salt dough to get us started. Salt dough is a classic material to make Christmas decorations with and to give it a new twist, we incorporated our favourite craft material Bubble Wrap. After a bit of experimentation, we discovered rolling the bubble wrap over the rolled out dough was an excellent way to add a fun new texture to it, which would look even more effective when painted.
- Mix together the flour and salt. Gradually add in the water until a stiff dough is formed.
- Roll out onto a lightly floured surface and lay the bubble wrap over it bubble side up. Use a rolling pin to press down the bubble pattern into the dough.
- Use Christmas cookie cutters to cut out shapes from the salt dough. Use a pencil to add a small hole towards the top of the decoration for a hanging loop.
- Lay the shapes onto a baking tray and pop into a pre-heated over at 180C for approx 1 hour or until the salt dough is set hard.
- Let them cool before painting.
- Once dry add a layer of PVA glue or Modge Podge sealant to create a glossy finish.
- Thread a piece of string through the loop for hanging on your Christmas tree.
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We love salt dough ornaments, yours look great + the tree!
Thanks Heather. It's a great activity to do with the kids this time of year.
Your tree and decorations look great. I love the effect that the bubble wrap gives #letkidsbekids
Thanks Louisa. We love to experiment with Bubblewrap in our crafts.
Love these, they look so cool 😀 Bubble wrap is always worth keeping!!
Thanks. We never throw bubblewrap away as it's surprising what is can be used for!
These are fabulous. I've been very disorganised with the Christmas crafts this year, but I love these. Pinning for future inspiration 🙂
Great thanks. I hope you get chance to make some soon.
I've kept meaning to make salt dough decorations, but never got round to it. I love your ones with the bubble wrap, it gives them a lovely dimension, great idea!
Thanks for linking #LetKidsBeKids
Thanks. Hope you get to make some with your kids soon as it's a great activity for them to do together.
An ingenious idea! #TuesdayTutorials
Thanks so much!
Wow what a lovely idea! Also i had no idea you lived in Ireland! We live in n.ireland 🙂
Thanks. Yes we are down the coast in Co Wicklow. We moved over from the UK nearly 5 years ago now.
Wow, these look great! So pleased to hear you have a bit more time on your hands this year, and are putting it to good use. I love the idea of going to choose your own Christmas tree from a field, and yours is decorated wonderfully. #ChristmasCountdown
We will definitly be making the Christmas Tree farm visit a new annual excursion. It was so much fun and the tree is looking lovely all decorated now.
Oh wow! That is so pretty! What a great idea x
Thanks!
So simple but really effective! Will definitely be stealing this one 🙂
Thanks. Hope you have as much fun with it as we did.
how genius to use bubble wrap, love how they turned out!
Thanks. We are a bit bubble wrap obessed here, we love to use it in our arts and crafts.
I love the texture the bubble wrap leaves on the ornament. Great idea!
Thanks. They turned out much better than we were expecting. They are looking great on our big tree now, especially the golden painted ones.
We have friends over tomorrow and will defintely be trying this, it will be he first atempt for m 3 yo.
Fantastic Michelle. I hope they turn out well for you.
Thanks Nicola, will let you know how we get on.
That would be great Michelle! It would be great if you could post some photos to my facebook page.
Very clever and so hands on! Thank you!