Learn how to make this salt dough garland, combined with wooden beads, to create a bright and rustic Christmas decoration for your holiday home.
I was thinking about using natural wooden beads with the fresh greenery I always hang on our mantel during the holidays.
Somehow it just didn't seem like enough, so I tried my hand at making a salt dough Christmas garland, by creating stars to add with the wooden beads.
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How to Make a Salt Dough Garland
Supplies
All-Purpose Flour
Table Salt
Rub n Buff Gold
Twine
Glitter
White Spray Paint
Mod Podge or White Glue
Wooden Beads
Easy Salt Dough Recipe
Salt Dough Ingredients
- 1 cup of salt
- 2 cups flour
- 3/4 cup water
- Mix the three ingredients together in a large bowl. Add more water if needed to form a nice non-sticky dough ball.
- Roll out the dough and cut into shapes. Poke holes for hanging with a skewer or small straw and place on a baking sheet.
- Bake at 325 degrees for 20 minutes
Note: You can keep the leftover dough in a sealed plastic container for a couple of days.
Steps to Make the Garland
- For this project, you need to cut out one large star, several medium stars, and a couple of little stars.
- Make holes with a wooden skewer on each side of the stars. This way you can thread them onto the twine where they would face out and not dangle.
- Next, brush them with Mod Podge, (white glue would also work) and sprinkle on a little clear glitter.
- Then rub the edges with gold leaf Rub N Buff metallic wax
.
I made a second batch of salt dough ornament stars to hang from the dining room chandelier. These were coated with a bit of white spray paint and glitter.
Wouldn't they make great gifts or gift tags for presents?
I bet they would look good on our Christmas tree too.
Here they are hanging from the dining room chandelier using fishing line. It's hard to see in the light but they have a subtle glitter shine.
Here is a closeup of the garland. I came up with a pattern for the wooden beads and gilded the smaller wood beads with the same Rub n Buff wax.
The natural color of the wooden beads and salt dough stars looks great on the mantel with fresh greens and the cream-colored nativity set.
I can't believe I haven't worked with salt dough before. It's so easy and costs next to nothing to make.
Now the wheels in my head are turning with new salt dough projects.
More Christmas Garland Ideas
How to Make a Salt Dough Christmas Garland
Equipment
- rolling pin
Materials
- Rub n Buff Gold
- Twine
- Glitter
- White Spray Paint
- Mod Podge or White Glue
- Wooden Beads
- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup salt
- 3/4 cup water
Instructions
- Make the salt dough by combining the flour, salt and water together in a bowl.
- Roll out the dough.
- Cut out one large star, several medium stars, and a couple of little stars.
- Poke holes for hanging with a skewer or small straw. For the garland you want two holes, one on each side of the star. (see images above)
- Bake on a cookie sheet in a 325 degree oven for 20 minutes.
- Brush them with Mod Podge, and sprinkle a little glitter on top of each ornament.
- Rub the edges with gold leaf.
Create the Garland
- Decide on a pattern of stars and wooden beads.
- Use a large piece of twine. Larger than your mantel or area you want to hang the garland.
- Start threading the beads and stars. Make sure to thread stars onto the twine so they face out.
Mary
After seeing y our pretty stars I've decided to give it another try. Because my last years batch was an epic fail.
Patti Estep
Hi Mary,
I'm sorry yours didn't work out for you. The only tricky part I had was the water, which is why I said 3/4 cup instead of 1 cup. One cup for me was way too wet. At 3/4 cup you probably will need to add some water but not much. The dough should not be sticky or too dry. I'm sure you will get a good batch and great something wonderful.
Barbara Chapman ~ French Ethereal
Hello Patti, such a fun project! My mom and I rolled many little balls back when I was very little. She usually decorated out Christmas trees with cranberries and popcorn, but in Hawaii it was hard to get cranberries {and probably expensive, too}. So, she switched to salt dough "cranberries". They turn out great and last forever! I have some little Smurfs and an ET that I bought at my high school craft fair back in 1978 or so that are still good. Whomever made them stuck paperclips into their backs as hangers. They still work. 🙂
Happy creating now that the Salt Dough Santa has been let loose! 😉
xoxo Barb 🙂
Patti Estep
Hi Barbara,
Yes, it has been a long time but hey it still works out great and maybe some people haven't thought of it as an easy and affordable way to decorate. Love hearing all about your childhood memories. I just might have to make some faux cranberries next.
Meegan
Patti, I am loving your crafty mind and creative ideas. This looks lovely and perfect for any style.
You are so talented
Patti Estep
Hi Meegan,
Thank you and I could see some beautiful salt dough creations in blue that would be perfect for you.
Florence @ VintageSouthernPicks
Love your garland and ornaments Patti! And I still remember the egg crate flowers you made last year! I've never made salt dough anything, but it looks like fun, and yours have turned out so nice. Love the look of them on the mantel!
Patti Estep
Hi Florence,
Thanks for your kind comments.
Yes, that was me with the egg cartons. 🙂
The salt dough was incredibly easy to do so versatile I definitely recommend it.
Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures
Your garland is beautiful, I love the texture and simplicity! -Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures
pin
Patti Estep
Hi Marci,
Thank you. It's been one of my favorite projects this year.
Natasha
I love the glitter and touch of gold!
Patti Estep
Thanks Natasha!
Lynn Spencer
Patti...I love the addition of the gold to the salt dough...a little rustic and a little glam...just perfect. Thanks for the idea my friend.
Have a great day.
Hugs, Lynn
Patti Estep
Hi Lynn,
Thanks for your warm comment. They turned out better than I expected. I love it when that happens.
Deborah Regen
I always embrace natural ornaments for holiday decorations, and this one is simple to follow and looks really nice. Well done!
Patti Estep
Hi Deborah,
Yep that's me. Natural and simple. So glad you liked it.
Angie @ Postcards from the Ridge
This are adorable, Patti. I've always wanted to make some of these but have never made the time for it. Maybe I'll get it done this year, lol. Thanks for the tutorial!
Patti Estep
Thanks Angie. I hope you do try them. Of course you could go all different kinds of ways with the decorating part. I know you would make something gorgeous.
Carole West
Can you believe this..... as a little girl I made salt dough ornaments with a family friend using cookie cutters. We painted them and they hung around for years. I think at some point my mom had to toss them because they started to crumble. This garland is beautiful and your entire mantle is stunning. You my friend.... Get it!
Patti Estep
You are always so sweet. I guess we are "birds of a feather" 🙂
Goldie
We have some of these that are over 40 years old! They were cut out with cookie cutters and painted and glittered. They are such a nice idea to do with the little kiddos. They make great gifts. Thanks so much for the recipe!
Patti Estep
Thanks Goldie. So glad you like them and can confirm what a fun and easy project the salt dough ornaments are. And, it's good to know that they last a long time.
Michelle | Thistle Key Lane
I love this project and I noticed you used Rub'n Buff. The stars turned out beautiful! Pinning for later.
Patti Estep
Thanks Michelle. I found Rub n Buff years ago for an old brown mirror. It was so easy to change it to antique gold with a little Rub n Buff so I've continued using it all these years.
Rhonda Relyea
I can't wait to try this! I love making crafts especially for Christmas! Thanks so much for all this and all your other posts! Merry Christmas!
Patti Estep
Hi Rhonda,
Thank you for this wonderfully kind comment and Merry Christmas right back at ya!