Baking soda ornaments are so easy to make! Make any shape and paint them if you'd like! We made chicken ornaments to hang on our tree. This post contains an affiliate link.
You might also like our penguin model magic ornaments! If you have backyard chickens---check out our chicken coop wreath!
Watch our step by step video!
We have chickens, therefore we needed chicken ornaments to hang on the tree. One for each of our chickens! The kids had fun painting our chicken ornaments and they look ADORABLE on our tree. My favorite part is that I didn't paint a single one. They did such a great job and they look just like our cute flock. If you have chickens you 1: need this chicken cookie cutter and 2: need chicken ornaments.
Have you tried making ornaments out of baking soda? They dry smooth and bright white. You can leave them white or paint them with acrylic paint. We added a coat of spray paint to ours for a bit of shine.
Baking Soda Chicken Ornaments
Ingredients
- 1 cup baking soda
- ½ cup corn starch
- ¾ cup water
- chicken cookie cutter
Instructions
Just 3 ingredients!
- Mix them together in a saucepan over medium heat until they resemble mashed potatoes.
NOTE: this Danish dough whisk is a must-have for making doughs. So much better than a wooden spoon!
- Transfer the dough to your work surface and cover it with a damp cloth until it is room temperature.
- Knead the dough until soft and smooth.
- Roll the dough out with a rolling pin to ¼” thick. NO THINNER. If they are thinner than ¼" of an inch they will crack. I know this from experience. You might still have a few hairline cracks and that is totally fine. You'll cover those with paint anyway.
- Cut out ornaments using a cookie cutter.
- Cut out a hole for the ornaments by poking a straw into the dough.
- Let the ornaments dry 24-48 hours, turning every 8 hours to allow for even drying. You can also dry them in the oven, but I highly recommend letting them air dry (less chance of cracking).
- Paint ornaments with acrylic paint and let dry.
- Cover with a coat of clear spray paint, if desired. This adds shine and protects them.
- Hang on a tree!
3 More Holiday Ornaments To Make
Baking Soda Chicken Ornaments
Baking Soda Chicken Ornaments
Equipment
- cookie cutter
- baking sheet
- Rolling Pin
- pan
- craft paint
- clear spray paint
- paint brush
- baker's twine
Materials
- 1 cup baking soda
- ½ cup corn starch
- ¾ cup water
Instructions
- Combine baking soda, corn starch and water in saucepan over medium heat.
- Stir constantly until mixture resembles mashed potatoes (3-5 minutes). Note: a Danish dough whisk works GREAT for really mixing up this dough.
- Transfer dough to your work surface and cover with a damp cloth. Let cool until room temp or warm (not hot).
- Knead cooled dough until smooth.
- Roll dough out to ¼" thickness. Cut out shapes using cookie cutters.
- Cut out a hole for the ornaments by poking a straw into the dough.
- Transfer ornaments to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Allow ornaments to dry 24-48 hours, turning over every 8 hours or so for even drying.
- Paint ornaments with acrylic craft paint.
- Add string and hang on the tree!
Doris says
Thanks so much! Made these for the grandkids to paint.
Brandy says
Yay! Have fun!
Toni says
THESE ARE SO CUTE 🐓🐓
LOVE THEM
THANKS FOR SHADE THEM WITH US.
TONI
Helen says
These seem much nicer looking then salt dough but my concern would be that they don’t have the salt as a preservative. Is that a concern with the baking soda and cornstarch? Thanks!
Brandy says
Hi!! Ours are two years old and doing just great!
Kathy Berry says
I haven't made yet. But I assume you put a hole in the ornament before you dry. Or do you drill a hole? Also, could you make refrig magnets? Or would they be to heavy? Thanks so much for your tutorial
Brandy says
Hi Kathy! You add the hole before you dry the ornaments, while they are still soft. They wouldn't be too heavy to display on the refrigerator if you have a nice magnet!
Chris Muhlhauser says
The dough is nice but when I try to use the cookie cutter it sticks what can I do?
Brandy says
Maybe dip the cookie cutter in a little bit of corn starch before pressing it into the dough? I haven't had this problem, but I'd imagine the corn starch might help!
MB says
Worst craft ever. Your liquid to powder ratios are completely off.
Brandy says
Baking soda ornaments have been around forever and the measurments are always the same: 1 cup baking soda, 1/2 cup cornstarch, and 3/4 cup of water. Maybe check your measurements.
Doris says
Maybe try cooking a little longer until it is thicker.
Gina D says
Hi,
Are these chicken ornaments large? I can't find a small chicken cookie cutter anywhere!!
Absolutely adorable!!
Thanks,
Brandy says
Hi Gina! They are 3". Here is the cookie cutter that I used! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00L7OFIGO/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1&_encoding=UTF8&tag=homswehom0f-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=73d12e16b8c8c5454fdadfc1f0aacc4d&camp=1789&creative=9325
Karen says
Try Ann Clark cookie cutters
Heather Kosman says
https://www.amazon.com/Chicken-Cookie-Cutter-Piece-Stainless/dp/B07W7CCPYT/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=23JO0XQ6XJMIP&keywords=chicken+cookie+cutters&qid=1702647469&s=home-garden&sprefix=chicken+cookie%2Cgarden%2C135&sr=1-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1
I ordered this 3 piece set and plan to make these today!
Doris says
How long to these last and what is the best way to store them between seasons?
Brandy says
I store them in containers with the rest of my ornaments. Ours are two years old and still look perfect!
Barbara says
I have some my twin sister made 40 years ago and hang them on my tree every year.
Natalie says
Can you make this ahead of time and keep it in an airtight container?
Brandy says
Hi Natalie! I've only ever made it for cutting and drying. Because it dries so nicely I'm not sure how long ahead of time it can be made. I'm sorry!
Rhonda Phillips says
I've got to try this, you are truly blessed to have 5 children. Keep in touch Rhonda from Georgia
Nikki says
Have you tried using sharpies, kids markers, that kind of thing to color? Is like to do this with a group of kids, but acrylic paint would be a huge mess.
Brandy says
I haven’t used sharpies on them before. Acrylic markers would work though! Same paint, much less mess.