DIY Colorful Baking Soda Galaxy Ornaments

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Colorful baking soda galaxy ornaments are a simple, hands-on craft for making lightweight decorations with a marbled, space-inspired look. This is not a crochet project, so you won’t need yarn, a hook, or crochet stitches. Instead, you’ll mix a baking soda dough, shape it with cookie cutters, and let it dry before hanging it up. It’s an enjoyable activity for beginners, families, or anyone who wants to make thoughtful handmade decorations for the holidays, parties, or gifts.

Why You’ll Love This Ornament Craft

These ornaments are easy to personalize, even if you have never tried a craft project before. Cookie cutters do the shaping, and food coloring lets you create anything from soft pastel swirls to bold galaxy-inspired colors. You can make a matching set or give each ornament a different pattern.

The process is also wonderfully low-tech: mix, shape, dry, and hang. The main hands-on work is relatively brief, though the ornaments need a full day or two to dry. That makes this a satisfying project to prepare ahead of a holiday gathering or gift exchange.

Homemade ornaments have a personal touch that shop-bought decorations can’t quite replicate. Try initials, a special color combination, or shapes that suit the recipient. Just remember that these are decorative items, not edible treats or toys. Keep them away from young children and pets, especially while they are drying.

“I made a small batch with star cookie cutters and two colors of food coloring. The shapes were easy to form, and leaving them alone to dry was the hardest part. They looked lovely on our holiday tree.”

Before You Begin

You’ll make flat, shaped ornaments from a baking soda and water mixture tinted with food coloring. First, combine the ingredients in a bowl. Then use cookie cutters to form ornaments on parchment paper and allow them to dry completely. Once dry, add string or a hook so they can be displayed.

This is a beginner-friendly craft rather than a crochet pattern: there are no stitches, gauge, yarn amounts, or hook sizes to manage. The shaping is simple, but pressing the mixture evenly into each cutter helps the ornaments dry more consistently and look neat. Set aside 24–48 hours for drying, depending on how thick the shapes are and the conditions in your room. The project’s active preparation is much shorter than its drying time.

Supplies You’ll Need

• Baking soda: 1 cup
• Water: 1/2 cup
• Food coloring: A few drops, adjusted to suit the color you want
• Mixing bowl: For combining the ingredients
• Cookie cutters: Choose shapes that are easy to fill and lift away
• Parchment paper: To keep the shaped ornaments from sticking to the work surface
• String or a hook for hanging: Add this after the ornaments have dried

Use a clean, stable work surface and keep the bowl and cutters separate from food-preparation items while crafting. If you’re working with children, an adult should handle any small hooks and supervise the use of string. Avoid treating the finished ornaments as food, even though the ingredients may seem familiar.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Mix the baking soda, water, and color.
   Add 1 cup of baking soda and 1/2 cup of water to a mixing bowl. Add a few drops of food coloring, then stir until the mixture is well combined. Mix thoroughly so the color is distributed as evenly as you want it to be.

2. Prepare the shaping surface.
   Lay a sheet of parchment paper on a flat surface. This gives you a place to shape and dry the ornaments without placing the mixture directly on the counter.

3. Shape the ornaments.
   Set a cookie cutter on the parchment paper. Place some of the mixture inside it and press it into the shape. Repeat with your other cutters, leaving space between each ornament. Try to fill the cutters evenly so the pieces have a consistent thickness.

4. Let the ornaments dry completely.
   Leave the shaped ornaments on the parchment paper for 24–48 hours. Drying time can vary, so check that each piece is fully dry before handling it for hanging. If an ornament still feels damp or soft, give it more time rather than trying to attach a string or hook too soon.

5. Add the hanger.
   Once the ornaments are dry, use a string or hook to hang them. Handle each piece gently as you do this. The source instructions don’t specify a hole-making method, so avoid forcing a hook through a dry ornament if it resists; that could crack or break the shape.

6. Display or gift your ornaments.
   Hang the finished ornaments as holiday décor, or package them as handmade gifts. Keep them in a safe place where they won’t be crushed, soaked, or mistaken for edible decorations.

Ways to Display or Gift Your Ornaments

A classic use is to hang the ornaments as holiday décor. Choose a color palette that complements your tree or room, or mix different shapes for a more playful display. They can also decorate a seasonal garland, provided the ornaments are hung securely and kept away from places where they might be knocked down.

For a handmade gift, arrange a few dried ornaments together and include a note explaining that they are decorative and should be kept dry. A coordinated set can make a thoughtful small present for a host, teacher, friend, or family member. If you’re making ornaments for a particular occasion, select cutter shapes and colors to match the celebration.

These pieces are best suited to dry, gentle display. They aren’t designed as kitchen accessories, bath decorations, or outdoor ornaments, where moisture and frequent handling may damage them.

Cleaning and Storage

These are baking soda ornaments, not crochet pieces, so yarn-care advice such as machine washing, blocking, or fiber-specific laundering does not apply. Keep the ornaments dry and avoid washing or soaking them. Moisture can soften or damage the dried shapes.

When they are not on display, store them in a dry place where they won’t be crushed. Lay them in a box with enough room that the shapes do not press against one another, or wrap them individually in soft, dry packing material. Handle them gently when packing and unpacking, since dried ornaments can be fragile.

If an ornament becomes dusty, use a dry, soft cloth or a gentle brush to remove loose dust without pressing hard. Avoid cleaners or wet cloths, and don’t pull on the hanging string or hook to lift the ornament. Instead, support the ornament itself as you move it.

Tips for Neat, Durable Results

• Mix the color thoroughly. Stir until the mixture looks as even as you want it. If you prefer a galaxy-like appearance with visible variations, avoid overmixing once the color has been added; the result will depend on how the color blends through the mixture.
• Fill cookie cutters evenly. Consistent thickness helps each ornament dry at a similar pace. A very thick shape may need more time than a thinner one.
• Keep the cutters steady. Press the mixture into the cutter rather than sliding the cutter across the parchment. This helps preserve clean outlines.
• Leave space between shapes. Crowding the ornaments can make them awkward to lift or handle later. Give each one room on the drying surface.
• Be patient with drying. The stated drying window is 24–48 hours, but it is a guide, not a guarantee. Don’t hang an ornament until it is fully dry.
• Handle dried pieces carefully. Dried baking soda shapes are not flexible like crocheted ornaments. Avoid bending, squeezing, or forcing a hanger into them.
• Plan your color before mixing. Food coloring can be vivid, so begin with a few drops as directed and decide whether you want a light tint or a stronger color before making a larger batch.
• Keep the project away from children and pets when unattended. The ornaments may look like treats, and small hanging parts can pose a safety concern.

Creative Ways to Personalize the Shapes

Cookie cutters give you plenty of options for changing the look without changing the basic process. Use stars, circles, hearts, or other cutters you already have. For a coordinated set, repeat one shape in several colors; for a more varied collection, combine different shapes in a shared palette.

Food coloring is an easy way to customize the ornaments for different occasions. Choose traditional seasonal shades, soft pastels for a gentle display, or deep colors for a dramatic galaxy-inspired effect. Because the instructions call for only a few drops, add color gradually and mix until you’re happy with the appearance.

You can also change the overall size by choosing larger or smaller cookie cutters. This changes how much mixture each ornament needs and can affect drying time: larger or thicker pieces may take longer to dry. Keep the shapes reasonably even if you want the batch to finish drying at a similar pace.

You may be tempted to add paint, glitter, or other embellishments after drying. These extras are not part of the supplied instructions, so their results and compatibility aren’t guaranteed. If you experiment, test on one ornament first and keep the finished pieces dry. Any added decoration may change the surface or make the shapes more delicate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a crochet pattern?

No. Despite the crochet-focused format of this article, the supplied project is a baking soda ornament craft. It uses baking soda, water, food coloring, cookie cutters, parchment paper, and a string or hook for hanging. No yarn, crochet hook, or stitches are involved.

Is this craft beginner-friendly?

Yes. The steps are straightforward: mix the ingredients, shape the mixture, let it dry, and add a hanger. The main points to watch are filling the cookie cutters evenly and allowing the ornaments to dry completely before handling them for display.

How long do the ornaments take to dry?

The instructions recommend allowing 24–48 hours. Actual drying time can vary with the thickness of the ornaments and the room conditions. Check each piece before hanging it, and allow extra time if it still feels damp or soft.

Can I use different cookie cutter shapes?

Yes. Use the cookie cutters you have, as long as the shapes are manageable to fill and leave to dry on parchment paper. Larger or thicker shapes may take longer to dry than smaller ones.

How can I make different colors?

Add a few drops of food coloring to the baking soda and water mixture, then stir until well mixed. You can adjust the color by changing the number of drops, but add them gradually so you can control how strong the color becomes.

How do I attach the string or hook?

The instructions call for adding a string or hook after the ornaments are dry, but they don’t give a specific attachment method. Handle the dried shapes gently and don’t force a hook into an ornament if it resists, as it may crack. Choose a hanging approach that doesn’t put undue pressure on the ornament.

Can I wash or get the ornaments wet?

No. These ornaments should be kept dry. Water may soften or damage the dried shapes, so don’t wash or soak them. For light dust, use a dry, soft cloth or a gentle brush.

Are these ornaments safe for children or pets?

They are decorative items, not food or toys. Keep them out of reach of young children and pets, especially if they could be mistaken for treats or if the hanging string or hook could pose a hazard. Supervise children during the craft and store finished ornaments safely.

Can I sell ornaments made with this process?

The provided instructions do not state whether finished items may be sold or give any licensing terms. If you are following a designer’s original pattern or craft directions, check the original creator’s usage terms before selling finished pieces.

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