My first married Christmas we decided to hunker down and not spend it with family. We did not want to begin a tradition of one year at his parents and one year at mine.
It was a strange yet magical Christmas,
made all the more special because John sat with me to create our own ornaments for our very first Christmas tree together. It set the tone for all the years that have followed.
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Salt dough heart ornaments for the Christmas tree |
made all the more special because John sat with me to create our own ornaments for our very first Christmas tree together. It set the tone for all the years that have followed.
That year, 26 Christmas' ago we made heart-shaped troll deig (salt dough) ornaments and hung them on the tree with red ribbon. We made them with love and laughter and who knew they would last for more than ten years. We are now on our third set of red troll deig hearts and every year as we hang them, enough to fill the tree, my heart leaps a little in joy.
One of the many things that I love about the winter and the lead up to Christmas is all the lights, so many cultures have the same idea, light at this time of year is so important. Adding that much-needed cheer and lightness to otherwise dark difficult and daunting months.
Using troll deig and inspiration from a tealight holder that we have had for many years, I decided to try my hand at 3D troll deig and see if I could recreate my own tea light cone tree.
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The tealight cone tree that gave me the inspiration |
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You can clearly see the two I made but in the dim light of December days, I think I can get away with it |
Troll deig (salt dough)
You will need:
250g plain flour
125g salt
100-150ml water
template or design your own
cardstock
pen
ruler
knife
small cutters or a straw
sellotape
white acrylic paint
For the template:
♥ Cut out the template for cones onto heavy-duty card stock, the large cone needs sides of 15cm and the small cone needs sides of 9cm.
For the dough:
♥ Mix the flour and salt thoroughly.
♥ Add the water slowly until the mixture begins to form a dough and you can make it into a ball. You do not want the dough to be too dry nor too wet, unhelpful of me I know, but it should be pliable without cracking and not sticky.
♥ Divide the ball into two pieces and then on a floured surface roll out one piece to about a thickness
of 3-4 mm.
of 3-4 mm.
♥ Place the template on the dough and cut out, I used a ruler to create straight edges and a sharp knife.
♥ Where the area is for the fold/glue line score some little marks on the salt dough to aid adhesion when forming into a 3D shape.
♥ Shape the template into a 3D form and secure on the fold glue line with sellotape.
♥ Next carefully repeat the template process with the salt dough, forming it into a 3D shape and carefully joining the seams together with a little bit of water and some gentle pressure. The salt dough cone is fragile at this stage, so carefully place it over the 3D template and place on a baking sheet.
♥ Bake in the oven on the lowest setting for about 3 hours or until solid.
♥ Once completely cooled, paint with acrylic paint, remember to NOT paint the inside!
♥ I have been using a real tea light inside mine but it would perhaps be safer using an electrical battery operated tea light instead. I never leave mine unattended.
♥ With any spare salt dough, you can make ornaments or anything you like. I made some star and heart cocktail stick toppers, they can be used for food or for jazzing up your house plants for Christmas!
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Add salt dough decorations to your house plants |
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Homemade Fimo Nisse, salt dough tea light Christmas cone trees and plant decorations made from salt dough too |
I love the tea light cones you made. They are so sweet. And, I like that you set your own traditions from the beginning.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a very happy holiday season.
Thank you Dee, it was a lucky strike setting those traditions all those years ago. Hope you have a wonderful season too
DeleteA sweet tradition with the hearts. Your cones turned out great, too. So many things I want to make with a salt dough but I prefer to air dry. We have a gas stove and I'm not a fan of leaving it on for too long. :/
ReplyDeleteYes Tammy I can totally understand wanting to air dry with a gas cooker. Salt dough is so versatile.
DeleteThese are so pretty. X
ReplyDeleteThanks Jules x
DeleteOh no, another craft to try, will I have the time left to try all of the new crafts I keep seeing? lol
ReplyDeleteBriony
x
So sorry Briony! But do give it a go, such fun x
DeleteI love the hearts in particular. Another great idea, Selma. x
ReplyDeleteThanks Karen x
DeleteSuch a wonderful tradition with the hearts. I love the tree cones, they are a wonderful addition. I have copied down the instructions to have a go, hopefully with the grandchildren another year.
ReplyDeleteSo glad to read that Lorraine, sure the grandchildren would love it
DeleteA great idea, and how lovely that you and John made your first decorations together!
ReplyDeleteI can remember making them Amy as if it were yesterday. Isn't time such a funny thing.
DeleteI love all your ornaments, Selma! You may want to try adding a bit of veggie oil to the dough when you mix it; that helps keep it from cracking. Maybe a teaspoon to a tablespoon; you will have to experiment (or google it), as I don't remember exactly now.
ReplyDeleteIt's lovely to see your Christmas serving things again, too. That punch bowl! (well, gløgg bowl, I suppose . . .)
I'll talk to my cousin's wife and see if she would enjoy making some of these with me . . .
I had heard about adding a touch of oil but have never done it, will maybe do that next time, thanks for the tip Linne.
DeleteWhat a beautiful way to start a marriage, to create new traditions, to get to know each other a bit better.
ReplyDeleteSuperb idea!
Thanks Linda x
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