Salt Dough Starfish

November 13, 2014 by Domestic Ingenuity 5 Comments

It’s getting closer and closer to that time of year! 41 days if anyone is counting. When the smell of pine trees, candy canes and nutmeg dances through the air and the inside of your house starts to resemble a department store seasonal section. Christmas time!!! I can officially revel in the idea of this upcoming holiday with Halloween now behind us. I am left contemplating whether it is an appropriate time to start decorating or not and I believe the answer is yes. If Starbucks can change their cups then I can change my decor right?!

 Since my house is nautical inspired I wanted to make something that would tie into my existing decor as well as be suitable for Christmas. I have been seeing rustic ocean design everywhere in home decor stores so I figured it was time to create my own version. It wasn’t anything a little salt dough couldn’t solve. My original idea was to make this garland, but now I’m thinking these would be a great ornament all on their own or a super unique gift tag. They are super easy to make and for less than the cost of an actual Starbucks they can be adorning your mantle in no time!! I absolutely love how they turned out! Happy crafting!

You will need:

*salt dough (see recipe below)

*knife

*toothpick

*skewer (or toothpick)

*straw

*jute or string of your choice for hanging

Step 1 Mix your salt dough. Combine 1 cup warm water with 1 cup salt and stir until dissolved.

Add 2 cups of flour and mix until dough forms. Knead on floured surface.

Step 2 Make small ball and press flat with hand. Cut out basic star shape.

Step 3 Remove access dough and round off edges by pinching with fingers.

Step 4  Press toothpick length wise into dough to make indentation.

Step 5 Using skewer, poke holes along edges of starfish.

Step 6 Using the straw punch a hole in the ends of one of the starfish arms/legs for your string to go after baking.

Step 7 Bake in 200 F degree oven for several hours or if you are more patient than me (which doesn’t take much) simply let them sit on the counter until they dry out.

Step 8 Tie a small loop with jute for hanging!

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere you go! ~ Johnny Mathis