This beginner-friendly project is as simple as it is charming, using nothing more than pantry staples, an oven, and your favorite IOD Moulds. We love how classic and heartwarming handmade ornaments are. 🥰 They’re the perfect way to dip your toes into crafting with IOD Moulds, and even better when you make it a family tradition. Little hands will love rolling and pressing the dough, while you swoon over the delicate Victorian details that emerge from each casting.

Grab your baking supplies and your fave IOD Mould from a local or online stockist, and let’s create something sweet, simple, and utterly timeless.

IOD Products Needed: 

• Victoriana Mould 

Other Supplies: 

• Flour
• Salt
• Mixing Bowl
• Soft Ribbons

Step-by-Step Guide

STEP ONE: MIX THE DOUGH

To start, we’ll whip up a simple dough using this recipe. This batch made six ornaments with the largest Victoriana casting, but you can easily adjust depending on the scale of your project.

• ½ cup all-purpose flour

• ¼ cup table salt

• ¼ cup warm water

Tip: don’t add the water all at once! Mix the flour and salt together first, then slowly add the water a little at a time, stirring as you go. Once it starts coming together, work it with your hands until you’ve got a dough. It may feel a bit gritty at first, but it’ll smooth out as you knead.

STEP TWO: PREP THE MOULD

Now for casting! Since we won’t be eating these ornaments, we’re totally fine using our regular crafting moulds. Remember, if you want to make something food-safe, you’ll need moulds reserved only for edibles. These ones are strictly for decor.

IMPORTANT: Give your mould a light dusting of cornstarch with a soft brush, making sure to work it into all those little crevices. Trust us, we tried skipping this step and… let’s just say, good luck getting your castings out in one piece! 😉 We didn’t even bother tapping out the excess; the more coverage, the better.

STEP THREE: APPLY TO THE MOULD CASTING

Take a small portion of dough and roll it between your hands until it feels soft and smooth. Press it gently into the mould, easing it into all the little edges and details. Remember, you can always add more as needed. One tip we’ve learned along the way is to build up the back just a bit. It gives the ornament more heft and makes it feel sturdier. Because of this, you won’t want to use the micro-rim to trim off the excess. Instead, just use a damp fingertip to smooth the back into a nice, even surface.

STEP FOUR: REMOVE YOUR CASTING FROM THE MOULD CAVITY

I was working on a warm day, and let me tell you, my dough did not want to come out easily, even with the cornstarch. Instead, I popped the entire mould into the freezer for 5–10 minutes to let the dough firm up, and it popped out like a dream. Repeat the process until you’ve got all your ornaments ready to go!

STEP FIVE: MAKE A HOLE FOR THE ORNAMENT HANGER

Time to make the little hole for your ribbon or ornament hook. You can use a straw for this, or do what we did and grab the end of a paintbrush, gently twist it through the surface, wiggling until it pokes clean through the other side.

STEP SIX: COOK YOUR SALT DOUGH ORNAMENTS

Go ahead and preheat your oven. We’re keeping things low and slow here. We baked ours at 200°F for about 4 hours (closer to 5 for the thicker ones). Once they’ve set, you can flip them occasionally to help them dry evenly. To check for doneness, press lightly on the back with your finger. A tiny bit of give is okay, but you want them to feel fully “cooked.” Don’t worry, they’ll continue to firm up as they cool.

STEP SEVEN: PERSONALIZE AND DECORATE YOUR ORNAMENTS

Once fully cooled, you can paint, add glitter, gold, or glaze. The sky is the limit! We had some beautiful 11/2 inch cotton velvet ribbons. We cut them down to fit through the holes and used hot glue to form a loop, then attached more ribbon for elegant bows.

If you're just kicking off your creative journey, have no fear — our Product 101 pages are packed with straightforward techniques to set you up for success. We're thrilled to accompany you as you explore and create. For more how-tos and creative inspo, make sure to browse through the rest of our blog.

Once you've crafted your final piece, share it with our Facebook Creative Tribe! This community is not just a showcase but also a supportive hub for when you hit those creative roadblocks. And remember, your local stockist is always ready to assist with IOD supplies and expert advice. We're excited to see what you'll bring to life!