 |
I’m a Valentine’s Day lover… I have always loved pink and red hearts, sweetheart candies, and the sappy and cute little Valentines the kids give to friends. Something about it all makes me smile. I must have had a filled Valentine box when I was young!
I made salt dough tags and used them on my napkin rings at Thanksgiving. The salt dough dried a natural yellowy color and I could see the individual salt crystals. I wanted to try cornstarch dough to make hearts to decorate with. I hoped it would be whiter and have a smoother texture once it dried.
I found that cornstarch dough is really wonderful to work with. It’s silky and smooth, and it stays white when air-dried. One of it’s nicest qualities is that it dries with a sparkle from the baking soda. It was perfect for making little Valentine hearts for tags and stringing.
Cornstarch Dough
1/2 cup cornstarch
1 cup baking soda
3/4 cup water
To make the dough, mix the cornstarch and baking soda in a pan. Add the water and stir. Place pan on the stove and bring mixture to a boil. Boil for one minute, stirring until the dough resembles mashed potatoes. Remove dough from pan and place in a bowl to cool. Cover dough or place it in a ziploc to prevent it from drying out.
To roll the dough out, I used my cutting board. I found that some color from my cutting board transferred to the dough. It was best to line the board with parchment paper so the dough would stay nice and white.
Using a rolling pin, I rolled out small amounts of the dough at a time. It dries quickly! I rolled the dough to about 1/8 inch thick.
With a pink ink pad and a word stamp, I stamped onto the dough, then cut it out with my mini-heart cutter.
As I re-worked the dough, it turned a wonderful swirled pink color. I loved it! I ended up cutting out several plain swirled hearts because I loved their simplicity.
I used a toothpick to make a nice round hole or two. I also pushed a little harder to create a stamped texture on the dough.
The cornstarch dough hearts dried within two days on a large tray. I decided to air dry them to keep them white. If you want them to dry more quickly, you could put them in the oven at a low temperature, but they will yellow a bit.
When completely dry, they are hard like porcelain and sparkly - so pretty!
I can’t wait to show you how I used my stamped cornstarch dough hearts! Don’t they remind you of Sweetheart Conversation Hearts? I just love how they turned out and I found that the dough was great to work with.
There was definitely a difference between salt dough and cornstarch dough, so be sure to try them both out and find your favorite! I’d love to hear about your salt dough or cornstarch dough projects.
What will you make?
I’m linking up at a few wonderful sites: Between Naps on the Porch, Skip to My Lou, What’s in the Gunny Sack, A Pinch of Joy, Alderberry Hill, I Should be Mopping the Floor, Create With Joy, Flour Me with Love, Naptime Creations, Sugar Bee Crafts, Home Stories AtoZ, Adventures of a DIY Mom, Ginger Snap Crafts, Creations by Kara, Nutmeg Place, Crystal and Co., Saving 4 Six, The Life of Jennifer Dawn, Delightful Order, Diana Rambles, The Grant Life, The Shabby Nest, ParloandLogi, Easy Living Mom, Project Inspire, Craft-o-Maniac, Eye Heart, Lines Across, Boogieboard Cottage, Sumo’s Sweet Stuff, DIY Home Sweet Home, A Humble Creation, Tessacotton, I Gotta Create,
|
So pretty! Great job!
Thanks so much, Diana! They were easy and fun to make and I’m enjoying using them, too!
Thanks for linking up!
Diana Rambles recently posted…$1 Custom Iphone Covers
This is SUCH a cute idea! I think I might have to do this for Valentine tags or gifts for my kiddos teachers & friends!
Thanks, Bree! I’ve been adding them to all sorts of things – they’re perfect for tying on and so pretty! I appreciate you stopping by and commenting!
These are so cute! I too love Valentine’s day and this is a perfect decoration. Thanks for the post, and I will be using your recipe for some hearts very soon.
Isn’t Valentine’s day fun? Love it! ♥ Have fun making your hearts! I appreciate your commenting and letting me know!
These would be so pretty tied with twine onto a mason jar filled with candy! I’ll probably make some using Fimo clay. Thanks!
They would be great tied to a mason jar! I used them on my hurricane glass for my mantel and they turned out beautifully. They’d be pretty in Fimo, too!
Found you at Ginger Snap Crafts – I LOVE THIS!!! I can’t wait to play with this project with my kids :) Thanks for posting and sharing!
Oh, the kiddos will have fun! What a great project to do with the kids and then they can have the joy of adding them to their projects or to yours! Thanks so much for stopping by! Have fun! ♥
What a great idea! I’d like to make these for my daughter’s preschool class.
I host a link party each Thursday and would love for you to join!
-Angie
http://www.easylivingmom.com
Thanks so much for stopping by, Angie! These would make a wonderful project for preschoolers. The dough is perfect for cutouts, although they can be a little delicate when they are still wet. I’d love to stop by your link party! Thanks for the invite. I’m sorry it has taken me so long to respond – I’ve got a new commenting system and your nice comment went into my spam folder. Anyhow, I will come check out your link party! Have a wonderful weekend!
Thank you so much for joining the party! No worries on the delayed response! I hope you can join the party again next week – can’t wait to see what else you come up with :)
Angie – easylivingmom.com recently posted…DIY Musical Scrapbook
Thanks so much, Angie! Do you by chance have a button for your blog or link party? I’d love to add it to my link party page! Have a wonderful week!
What a fun idea for Valentine’s Day! I’d love it if you stopped by my weekly link party and shared this. http://thelifeofjenniferdawn.blogspot.com/2013/01/a-little-bird-told-me-link-party-24.html
Thanks so much for the invitation, Jennifer! I’ve linked up. Have a wonderful evening!
Very delicate and beautiful. :)
Thanks, Audra! ♥
Cute! Cute! Cute!
I’ve never heard of cornstarch dough before, I’m going to have to give it a whirl.
I’d love it if you would link this up on my weekly Friday blog party!
http://www.parloandlogi.com/
Aren’t they, though? Thanks so much for your comment and invitation to post on your weekly blog party. I hope I’m not too late – I have a new commenting system and your nice comment went into my spam folder. So sorry! I’ll come visit and link up if I can, or try again next week. Have a wonderful weekend!
These are adorable! I really like the stamped ones. So cute!
Thanks for sharing at Financial Friday! :D
Aren’t they sweet? I’m enjoying hanging them on things around the house. Thanks so much for hosting your link party each week! I’ve enjoyed seeing all the other wonderful blogs and their beautiful ideas. Thanks for stopping by and for commenting!
Wow so wonderful, they’ll be perfect for Valentins day, really like the pink ink! Thank you for sharing and have great day!
Isn’t the pink ink fun? It was such a great project! Thanks so much for stopping by!
My daughter would have a great time making these. The cornstarch dough has so many uses. I am pinning this. Happy to have found your blog from Craft O Maniac. Would love for you to share on Thursdays Treasures http://fooddonelight.com/thursdays-treasures-week-68/
Christie – Food Done Light recently posted…Weekly Recap January 12th, 2013
I’m sure your daughter would have a wonderful time! Cornstarch dough is so versatile and can be used with almost any age. Thanks so much for the pin and for the invitation to join your link party! I will plan on making my way over there on Thursday. Blessings!
Too cute!
Thanks, Brittany!
I came over from The Gunny Sack, and totally misread and thought these were salt dough. I love the texture of the cornstarch dough – will have to give it a try!
I love the cornstarch dough, too. It’s so silky and smooth! Thanks so much for stopping by from The Gunny Sack link party!
Such a great idea! I want to try making these! I’ve featured your post today on The Gunny Sack and shared your post via Pinterest, Twitter, Google+ and StumbleUpon!
Tonia@thegunnysack recently posted…What’s In The Gunny Sack? Link Party #71
Thanks, Tonia, and I’m so thrilled to be featured on The Gunny Sack! Thank you for sharing my link! Have a wonderful week!
Thanks so much for linking to Make the Scene Monday @ Alderberry Hill. You are being featured later this evening!
Have a fantastic new year!
I’m so honored and thrilled to be featured at Alderberry Hill ~ You have a beautiful blog! I will head over and check it out. Thanks again, and Happy New Year to you, too!
Thanks Laurie for linking up at Monday Makeover and for sharing your recipe for this adorable project!
Jessica @ A Humble Creation recently posted…Monday Makeover Link Party Take 5
Thanks again for hosting!
Hey from tessacotton! Love your creation. I would be so thrilled if you would link up to my new, Valentines Day themed linky party!
http://tessacotton.blogspot.com/2013/01/valentines-day-linky-party.html
Hi Tessa! I’d love to come link up. I’ll head over there now and do that. Thanks so much for stopping by and for the invite!
They turned out so cute! I will be featuring them at Creations by Kara tomorrow! :)
Kara recently posted…Kitchen Decor– Painted Knife Block
Thank you so much, Kara, and I’m thrilled to be featured on your beautiful blog! Thank you! I’ll head over there tomorrow and check it out. :)
Your salt dough tags are just beautiful!
Thank you, Bella!
Hi! I came over from Terrific Tuesdays. I love these hearts and your tutorial is very thourough and clear. I’m going to give these a try with my daughter some time before Valentine’s Day. I’ll let you know how they turn out. Thanks so much for sharing your great tutorial!
Jessica
Jessica recently posted…Infinity Scarf
Thanks, Jessica! I hope you do get a chance to make them. I’d love to hear how they turn out! Thanks so much for stopping by and for your kind comment.
These are absolutely gorgeous!
Ellen Christian recently posted…Ten Ways to Save Energy With Your Dishwasher
Thanks, Ellen!
Featuring these darling hearts on this weeks All Star Block Party!
http://www.nutmegplace.com/2013/01/all-star-block-party-32.html
Meg @ Nutmeg Place recently posted…All Star Block Party #32 ~
Thanks so much for the beautiful feature, Meg! Have a wonderful week!
The hearts are wonderful Laurie! I love the stamp impressions. Great project!
<3 Christina at I Gotta Create!
Wildly Original linky party is open
Christina at I Gotta Create! recently posted…Wildly Original Link Party #35
Thanks! I really loved how fun this project was. Thanks so much for stopping by, and I headed over and linked up at your fun parties and am a new follower. Thanks so much!
Love these! They are very similar to my salt dough stamped ornaments I did for Christmas! :)
http://www.toddlindsey.com/2012/11/diy-salt-dough-stamped-ornaments.html
Lindsey recently posted…DIY Dollhouse Miniature Sectional
I stopped by to see your salt dough ornaments – so pretty! Thanks for sharing! Both salt dough and cornstarch dough are so much fun to work with, aren’t they? They are so versatile. Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving your kind comments!
I was thinking about making these as magnets for my daughter to give her friends on Valentine’s Day. Do you think it would work to push the magnet into the dough before it dries or wait until the dough dries and then hot glueing the magnet on?
Thanks!
Jessica
Jessica recently posted…Infinity Scarf
Hi Jessica, what a great way to use these! The dough shrinks a bit as it dries. I think it would be best to wait until it dries and then glue on the magnets. The dough is a bit brittle if it is too thin, so for magnets I’d definitely go with making them thicker, too. Thanks so much for asking. Good luck with them! Sounds like a fun project!
Laurie, as I am a Circle of Moms Top 25 Political Mom Blogger, I also get to pin to Tips for Mom in the Circle of moms shared Pinterest boards! I have shared this pin with those mom’s.
Tanya recently posted…Thinking About Painting Your Fireplace Brick?
Thank you, Tanya! I appreciate the pin so much. Thank you for the feature, and tweets, too! Much appreciated!
These look great! A great gift tag idea.
em recently posted…How to Print Passport Photos For Free (or for a few cents)!
Yes, they would be perfect little gift tags that could be signed on the back with a finepoint Sharpie pen. Thanks for your kind words!
Oh my goodness. Those are beautiful. They aren’t even cracked. I love these precious little hearts. Thanks so much for sharing your link with your tutorial.
Amy of while wearing heels recently posted…Groundhog Day
I hope you have more success the next time you try! It’s so sad when our sweet projects don’t work out. I just loved your pretty hearts! I’m wondering if it has to do with the cooking time. I pulled mine off the oven right away as soon as it thickened up. I imagine if it cooks a bit too long the dough is drier and maybe doesn’t form as well? I’ll have to keep that in mind the next time I make the dough, too. Have a good weekend!
Laurie, I tried making these but I have a couple of questions. What could you use on the rolling pin so that the dough does not stick to it? Second, how did you stamp on the dough? Did you press the stamp into it or just set it on there? Also, do you think that you could stamp on them after they are dry? I am making these for a Women’s Conference and I need to have 125 of them so I started practicing last night. Love the idea. Lisa.”
Hi, Lisa. Great questions! If you find that your rolling pin is sticking, you could rub a small amount of cornstarch on it. I wouldn’t use too much because I think that the dough cracks more when it dries if if is too dry when you work with it. I would add just enough to keep it from sticking.
As far as stamping, I stamped on the dough both ways and it is completely up to you and the look you are striving for. I stamped softly, like on the white heart, where the stamp didn’t leave an impression in the dough. If you’d like to leave an impression, just stamp a bit firmer, but not so firmly that the dough becomes embedded in the stamp.
I haven’t tried stamping on the dry dough, but I imagine that you could. It might be more likely to smear, though. I didn’t use permanent ink because the only permanent ink pad I have is black. If you’re going to spray them with a sealant, you’d want to be sure to use a permanent ink in the color of your choice to keep it from smearing.
As a side note, another blogger made some dough and had problems with it cracking as it dried. My guess is that it is important to not over-cook the dough and pull it off the heat as soon as it thickens. I think when it is over-cooked it is more likely to crack as it dries and hardens – just my guess, though.
Hope this helps! What a great idea for making a large quantity of something! Best of luck to you!
[...] Cornstarch Dough Hearts from Simply Creating Home [...]
[...] Cornstarch Dough Hearts by Laurie at Simply Creating Home [...]