Let’s turn your kitchen into a festive workshop this Christmas!

 

As the holiday season approaches, the kitchen becomes the heart of the home—filled with laughter, delicious aromas, and the excitement of festive preparations. But not everything made in the kitchen needs to be edible! This Christmas, why not explore the joy of creating something magical with your children that lasts longer than a treat? From glittering ornaments to cinnamon-scented treasures, there are so many ways to bring festive cheer into your home while crafting keepsakes that can be cherished for years to come.

At Future Foodies, we embrace a holistic approach to creativity. The joy of crafting lies not only in the finished product but also in the process itself. Measuring, mixing, and kneading are all wonderful opportunities for children to develop fine motor skills, explore textures, and learn about patience and teamwork. These moments create memories, foster independence, and let our little kitchen elves shine.

Many of these crafts are perfect as heartfelt gifts for grandmas, aunties, and other loved ones—proudly handmade and lovingly handed over by your children. Let’s dive into the magic of crafting together!

Baking Soda Christmas Ornaments

For an alternative to salt dough, these stunning ornaments use baking soda for a smooth, porcelain-like finish. They’re versatile, easy to make, and can be customised with scents and colours to create a truly magical Christmas craft.

What You’ll Need:

• 1 cup baking soda
• ½ cup cornflour (cornstarch)
• ¾ cup water
• Cookie cutters, stamps, or textured materials for decorating
• Optional: Food colouring or essential oils (like cinnamon, peppermint, or orange)

Instructions:

1. Combine the baking soda, cornflour, and water in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly until the mixture thickens into a dough-like consistency.
2. Remove from heat and let it cool slightly. If you’d like to add colour, knead a few drops of food colouring into the dough at this stage. For a festive scent, mix in around 20 drops of essential oil. Don’t worry if the colour or scent feels intense—these will mellow as the ornaments dry.
3. Roll out the dough and cut it into shapes using cookie cutters.
4. Use stamps, textured materials, or small objects like pinecones to press patterns into the ornaments.
5. Create holes for hanging with a straw or skewer.
6. Bake at a low temperature (100°C or 210°F) for about an hour, flipping halfway through. Alternatively, you can air dry them, though this takes longer.
7. Once dry, the ornaments can be left natural, painted, or decorated with glitter.

Tip: The scent and colour will become more subtle as the ornaments dry, so don’t hesitate to be generous with essential oils or colouring if you want a noticeable result.

 

Salt Dough Ornaments

Salt dough is a classic, simple craft that never goes out of style. It’s safe for little hands and can be transformed into beautiful ornaments for the tree or gifts for family members.

What You’ll Need:

• 1 cup plain flour
• ½ cup salt
• ½ cup water
• Cookie cutters (festive shapes like stars, trees, or gingerbread people)

Instructions:

1. Mix the flour, salt, and water to form a dough.
2. Roll out the dough to about ½ cm thickness and use cookie cutters to create festive shapes.
3. Use a straw to poke a hole at the top of each ornament for threading ribbon later.
4. Bake at 120°C (250°F) for 2-3 hours until completely dry.
5. Once cool, let your children paint and decorate their creations with non-toxic paints and glitter.
6. Thread ribbon or string through the holes, and they’re ready to hang on the tree or be wrapped as thoughtful gifts.

 

Cinnamon Stick Stars

These charming decorations are simple to make and bring a cosy, Christmassy aroma to your home.

What You’ll Need:

• Cinnamon sticks
• Twine or hot glue (with adult supervision)
• Ribbons, beads, or bells for decoration

Instructions:

1. Arrange the cinnamon sticks into star shapes, securing the ends with twine or glue.
2. Allow children to decorate the stars with ribbons, beads, or small festive ornaments.
3. Attach a loop of twine for hanging, and you’re done!

Tip: These make lovely additions to gift wrapping, adding a personal and fragrant touch to your presents.

 

Artificial Snow for Sensory Play

Waiting for a white Christmas? Create your own artificial snow for sensory play or use it to decorate seasonal crafts.

What You’ll Need:

• 2 cups baking soda
• ½ cup white conditioner (unscented works best)

Instructions:

1. Mix the baking soda and conditioner in a bowl until it forms a fluffy, snow-like texture.
2. Let your children mould it into snowballs or add it to small winter-themed dioramas.

Tip: Add a pinch of glitter for a magical sparkle! This activity is perfect for sensory play and allows little ones to explore textures and shapes while having fun.

 

Cinnamon Dough for Christmas crafts

Love the irresistible smell of cinnamon at Christmas time? Future Foodies has the perfect solution—but beware, these festive decorations are not edible!

What You’ll Need:

• 1 cup ground cinnamon
• 1/4 cup applesauce
• 1/2 cup white school glue (PVA glue)
• Optional: Glitter, essential oils (like clove or nutmeg for extra scent)
•  

Instructions:

1.  In a bowl, combine the cinnamon and applesauce. Gradually add the glue until the mixture forms a stiff dough. If the dough is too sticky, add more cinnamon; if too dry, add a bit more applesauce.

2. Knead the dough on a clean surface until it’s smooth and pliable. Add glitter or a few drops of essential oil if desired.

3. Roll out the dough to about 1/4 inch thickness on a sheet of baking paper to prevent sticking.

4. Use Christmas-themed cookie cutters (e.g., stars, trees, hearts) to cut out shapes. Use a straw to make a hole near the top for hanging later.

5. Place the shapes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Allow them to air-dry for 24–48 hours, flipping them occasionally, Alternatively, bake at a very low temperature (90–100°C or 200°F) for 1–2 hours, checking frequently to avoid cracking.

6. Once dry, you can paint them, add more glitter, or tie ribbons through the holes.
   

 

Making Memories with Future Foodies

Crafting isn’t just about creating something beautiful—it’s about the journey, the laughter, and the joy of spending time together. These projects are a wonderful way to bring the family together, encourage your children’s creativity, and even prepare heartfelt gifts for loved ones.

Let’s turn your kitchen into a festive workshop this Christmas! Share your creations with us using #FutureFoodiesCrafts—we’d love to see how your little kitchen elves are spreading holiday cheer.

For more insights, follow Future Foodies on Facebook and/or Instagram.