9. Faux Brick Salt Dough Ornaments
Salt dough is one of the most affordable and forgiving craft materials around, and it works beautifully for rustic brick ornaments. The finished pieces have a chalky, vintage texture that looks like they were pulled from a hundred-year-old attic.
Mix one cup of all-purpose flour, half a cup of salt, and half a cup of water until you have a stiff dough. Roll it out to about a quarter inch thick, then score your brick pattern into the surface. Cut into small rectangles with a knife or pizza cutter, and use a straw to punch a hanging hole at the top.
Bake at a low temperature, around 200°F, for two to three hours, or until completely dry and hard. Once cooled, paint with acrylics. A base coat of soft red or warm gray, followed by a dry brush of cream, gives that classic whitewashed brick look. You can also write the year on the back in fine marker so the ornament becomes a keepsake.
Total time is about three to four hours including baking, but most of that is hands-off. Difficulty is very easy, and the materials cost almost nothing. These ornaments are wonderful for batch crafting, so you can make a whole set in one afternoon.
Helpful tip: Store salt dough ornaments in a dry place. They can absorb moisture over time, but a quick coat of clear matte sealer will protect them for many holiday seasons.