Hi, I’ve been making salt dough ornaments for years, sold a lot, especially cowboys! I have some that are at least 30 years old. The only problem I’ve had is people that bought them and then went to a place with high humidity. The main thing is to bake them long enough. You can shape them (cowboys, carolers, etc). You don’t have to just cut them out with cookie cutters. I painted them with acrylic paints. Have fun!

I did have to have a little giggle Marbless but I’m sure that’s not a nice place to be for you … I’m sending love your way …

You did cook it didn’t you J? I must admit, mine took a lot longer to cook than it mentions in the recipe … I set it on low to medium and kept stirring, leaving it, then going back to it. I just figured it was because I used Arrowroot instead of corn starch. Mine didn’t end up in a mash consistency either. It was smoother. They turned out fine in the end, with no cracked edges or crumbling. Mine was a lot more sticky and elastic by the time I began rolling it out so I added arrowroot to the table, my hands and the rolling pin so it didn’t stick like glue. They’ve ended up nice and smooth on completion and have held together really well. Funnily enough when I paint them, red paint turns to orange. It doesn’t keep it’s vividness but that’s ok. I wish I could put an image here to show you …

No worries. They seem to have a really good texture still (I’m keeping them in an air tight flat container) but I still haven’t painted them … I don’t know where the time’s going. I think I might paint them with acrylic and then may even add a sealer like “Estapol” (a polyurethane paint) or something. Maybe no need if they’re not going to get wet but I’ve also made some that could be turned into little pendants for my daughters little friends so those ones will need sealing. I must admit I bought some “Sculpey” Oven Bake Clay today to try similar things that may be more permanent when I add the colour. I guess I’ll still have to seal it though? All trials at the moment though. I LOVE your blog Jen. I use it all the time to give gifts, fill in “activity time” and just generally be inspired. :0) Thank you!

Bec, they really should last for years once dry! I was just talking to a friend about cornflour / starch in Australia, and apparently ‘corn flour’ is the grainy yellowish stuff we’d call ‘corn meal’ in Canada, whereas ‘cornflour’ is the very fine powdery white stuff that you’d use to thicken stews and sauces… Does that make any sense to you? Either way, you want to stuff that thickens sauces. I’m guessing that’s what you used, but just in case! :D