Add a quirky twist to your Shamrock decorations this St Patricks Day, with our fun Bubble Wrap Activity using salt dough.
Until moving to Ireland 5 years ago, celebrating St Patrick’s Day didn’t really cross our minds. Now we wouldn’t miss our local parade, my husband and sons even marched in it last year with their GAA club. St Patrick’s week also sees the fair arrive in town and visiting that with the kids soon became a tradition as well. Although it is getting to be a very expensive trip out now, as the kids are getting older and more daring, wanting to go on the bigger rides. Going up to school in the run up to St Patrick’s Day is really special as well. There is Irish music playing as we go in and the older kids are dressed up and handing out stickers to the younger kids in exchange for them saying a few words in Irish.
We are starting to get our decorations ready now for our family St Patrick’s Day celebrations next month. First on the list were some shamrock salt dough decorations to go on our seasonal hallway tree. We currently have some lovely love hearts on their, but these are due to come down now as Valentine’s Day has been and gone.
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| Bubble wrap salt dough shamrocks for St Patrick’s Day |
Bubble Wrap Activity for Kids: Salt Dough Shamrock Decorations
- Mix together the flour and salt and gradually add in the water until a stiff dough is formed.
- Roll it out onto a lightly floured surface and lay bubble wrap over the top bubble side down.
- Use a rolling pin or your hands, firmly press down the bubble wrap pattern into the salt dough.
- Take the Shamrock cookie cutter and cut out your decorations. Not forgetting to add a small hole for hanging your decoration using a pencil.
- Lay the shapes out onto a baking tray and put into an oven pre heated to 180c.
- Let them bake for around an hour or until firm to the touch.
- Once cooled paint them.
- Once dry then add a layer of PVA glue for some added shine.
- Leave to dry and then thread a piece of string through the hole, tie a knot in the end and then display.
We did try adding in a few drops of green food colouring, so that we wouldn’t have to paint them. However, we didn’t add enough and they came out looking a very pale, so they needed a lick of paint after all.
Do you have anything special planned for St Patrick’s Day this year?
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Oh I love this. Might give it a go with the boy. Have never tried making salt dough so about time I learnt! Thanks so much for sharing with the Monday #pinitparty. I have pinned.
Thanks. Salt dough is great fun definitely give it a try!
That looks great. I wonder if my 2 year old would manage it. She does love rolling out playdough, so might be worth a try.
She might need a bit of help pressing it down to get the full effect of the bubble wrap, but other than that no reason why you shouldn't give it a go. Hope you have fun with it if you decide to try this out.
Great idea! I like the texture the bubble wrap creates, must try this technique some time. #letkidsbekids
Thanks. Bubble wrap is great for adding a new texture to an activity.
I still have dough from my son's school activity! Looks nice. I love the texture that the bubble wrap gave the leaf =) #letkidsbekids
Thanks. It's a fun new way to decorate salt dough!
I haven't actually made salt dough with the kids yet, must get round to it! I do like the texture the bubble wrap gives x #pintorials
You must give it a try Sara it's very easy and so versatile.
Great idea, I have just ordered 50 metres of bubble wrap for when we move house so will have plenty for this activity!! #letkidsbekids
Wow Louisa! Good luck with the move and definitley hang onto some after the move to craft with.
I love the bubble wrap texture! Look great! Thank you for sharing it with us #Pintorials
Thanks!
These are such a great idea – they look great !
Thanks very much. We had great fun making these.
This looks great and the cookie cutter makes it so easy!
#Pintorials
Definitely the cookie cutter was a great investment as shamrocks are not that easy to draw yourself.
These look great and very creative. I love the bubble wrap texture.
Thanks for sharing #LetKidsBeKids
Thanks Karen. The look great on our seasonal tree in the hallway!
love the bubble wrap pressed into the salt dough, would not have thought of doing that. Love your creative crafts Nicola! Thanks for sharing at our FB Share Day!
The texture you got form the bubble wrap is so cool, what a great idea!
The texture you got form the bubble wrap is so cool, what a great idea!
These look really pretty. We love salt dough at home and we haven't made it in a couple of years. Your idea of using bubblewrap for texture is fab!