Baker’s Clay Christmas Tree Ornaments

Have you heard of Baker’s Clay or maybe you call them cornflour or cornstarch ornaments? They are a great alternative to salt dough and as they are made with just 3 kitchen ingredients perfect for creating gorgeous white decorations. Just a warning that unlike salt dough these will need heating and are more delicate much more suited to older kids than your toddlers and preschoolers. So here you go our recipe for white Baker’s Clay ornaments and a simple Christmas Tree Decoration to make with them.

What is Baker’s Clay

Hunting around in my mum’s old craft books I can upon this recipe for Baker’s Clay. It was in the crafting material section right next to the salt dough recipes but was specifically for snowmen decorations for Christmas.

Unlike salt dough which can be made by hand even with little kids as no heat is needed for the dough Baker’s clay or cornstarch, clay needs to be heated in a pan to form the dough.

It’s made with just 3 ingredients cornflour (cornstarch), bicarbonate of soda, and water. Unlike salt dough which if you want a pure white ornament you can have to colour this produces a white dough naturally.

Wanting to make a white salt dough as well check out this recipe for white salt dough and these little gift tags you can make with it.

What Ingredients Do you Need for Cornflour Clay?

Just 3 ingredients are needed for the cornflour clay

• 1/4 cup Cornflour (Cornstarch)
• 1/2 cup Baking Soda (Bicarbonate of Soda)
• 1/3 cup Water

Making your Cornstarch Clay

As I mentioned the clay mixture for this is heated in a pan, your going to want to keep extra water nearby in case the clay formed is too dry. From making the decorations we have found that if they are too dry then they will easily crack when drying.

Saying that though they are really easy to make, just put all of your ingredients into a pan and dissolve the cornflour and bicarbonate of soda into the water.

Then over a low heat gently mix together until they start to form together and get thicker. At this point you need to remove from the heat and leave to cool a little.

Once it’s cool enough to touch get it out of the pan, knead and form a ball. Wrap this ball in cling film or saran wrap to let it cool down to room temperature. It needs to be wrapped so that at this stage it doesn’t dry out.

How to Make your Homemade White Clay Christmas Ornament

With the Baker’s Clay cooled down it’s time to make your ornament.

Roll out on a surface (there is no need to flour the surface with this clay) to about 1/4 of an inch thick. Any thinner and they will crack when drying, a little thicker is fine too!

Then using a cookie cutter with a shape of your choice place cut them out. You can create a pattern on them with a cookie stamp, although using the edge of a flutted pastry cutter also creates a really pretty effect on the ornaments too.

Then before placing a baking tray to dry in the oven remember to form a hole with a straw. You can’t do this after the clay is dried so it MUST be done now.

Alternative Decorating Ideas

You could make fingerprint impressions into the clay ornament or even create a bigger circle and make a handprint – this clay is great for using with little hands and feet and perfect for making a Baby’s First Christmas Ornaments.

How to dry your Baker’s Clay Ornaments

These ornaments can’t be air dried they will need a little heat to remove the last bit of water in the oven.

So with your oven at between 50C and 100C (120F to 200F) place the baking tray of ornaments in.

It will take somewhere between 1 and 3 hours to dry out based on the thickness and size of your Christmas ornaments.

Adding Sparkle to your Clay Christmas Ornaments

Sometimes you want a little sparkle to your ornaments so using pearl white paint and some super fine biodegradable silver glitter is great.

How to Store your Homemade Christmas Ornaments

Once made you may want to store them, the best way to do this is in an air tight container with a marshmallow or a little rice. Either of these will absorb any moisture and keep your ornaments for another year.

How to Make your Baker’s Clay Christmas Tree Decorations

So if you want simple instructions without the tips (although the tips above are useful and will help to make sure your ornaments are great) then you can use the card below. Ohhh, and don’t forget to save these to make again because once others see how pretty they are they’ll want to make them too.

More Homemade Christmas Tree Ornaments

Looking for some other simple ornaments to make this Christmas then check out these alternatives using homemade clays and doughs.

• Rudolph Gingerbread Salt Dough Ornaments
• Christmas Scented Salt Dough and Star Garland
• Paw Print Christmas Tree Ornaments