A few weeks ago, Craftberry Bush did a tutorial on how she made a cute garland out of clay starfish. Super cute.
The other day when I was making my faux coral out of dough, I remembered her tutorial and used up some extra dough to make a couple of starfish. Lucy left her “sea stars” the natural dough color and threaded them into an adorable garland, but I wanted mine to be white.
First, you’ll want to make up a quick salt dough. You’ll need:
2 Cups of whole wheat flour (I like texture it creates, but you can use plain flour too.)
1 cup plain salt
1/2 cup water at room temperature
Mix the salt and flour in a large bowl and then add the water. Knead the mixture for about 5-10 minutes until smooth. Cover with plastic wrap and let the dough sit for 20 minutes or so before using.
I took the dough and smushed it into a little disk. I pressed a star-shape into the disk which left me with 5 fairly equal pieces of the dough.
I rolled each of the 5 pieces into little sections, then placed them in a star shape, connecting them at the middle. Smooth your star into, well, um, a star shape… Insert toothpicks or skewers into it if you want to make your starfish a bit more durable. (I am lazy and wasn’t too worried about it.) Take a skewer and poke little holes all over it for texture.
Once they were dry, I took them outside and sprayed them a gloss white, then I took Rustoleum’s Heirloom White and gave a light mist over the top of the white.
When they’re dry, bring them in the house and, um, stick them somewhere….
I have a feeling these will get moved around a lot as I decide where to put them.
But in the meantime, this’ll work.
Shawn says
June 23, 2011 at 1:17 PMReally?
REALLY!!
I hope we can we still be friends. You’re so stinkin’ fabulous and crafty and I just buy that kind of stuff already done!
Connie Weiss says
June 23, 2011 at 2:05 PMYou continue to amaze me!
Rebecca @ My Girlish Whims says
June 23, 2011 at 2:30 PMwoah these look so cool! and real! turned out awesome 🙂
Michell @ Girl In Air says
June 23, 2011 at 2:34 PMSHUT UP!!
That’s awesome!!! They look perfect!
Perfect for the Beach Bash party too are you in on that??
Renee says
June 23, 2011 at 2:51 PMthis is really a GREAT Idea 🙂
Lesley says
June 23, 2011 at 3:29 PMHow seriously hilarious that make a starfish! I was just coming over here to feature your coral and as I was on my way I thought ” I wonder if I could fashion some sort of starfish with that dough? “
Ferris Bueller…you’re my idol.
Jenn Erickson says
June 23, 2011 at 5:21 PMWow Viv, that sea star looks like the real deal!
Maya @ Completely Coastal says
June 23, 2011 at 6:54 PMYou’re on a dough roll…, or rolling in dough! He, he…, fabulous!!
Sherry Smyth says
June 23, 2011 at 7:10 PMTotally amazing!!!!
Nicole@Thrifty Decorating says
June 23, 2011 at 8:24 PMI’m thinking that at some point in your life, someone deprived you of playdough! LOL
Actually…I love all of these ideas…if only my hubby would let me change his bathroom!!
Maggie @ Midwestern {Sewing} Girl says
June 24, 2011 at 12:53 AMAbsolutely fabulous…I wouldn’t expect any less…
Carolyn says
June 24, 2011 at 3:18 AMWow! That’s all I’m going to say.
Hugs – Carolyn
Myya says
June 24, 2011 at 7:58 AMShut up! SHUT UP!! HOW do you do things like this ALL THE TIME??
Bug and Bird says
June 24, 2011 at 9:30 AMthis is great and just in time for summer!
Kaitlin Saenz says
June 24, 2011 at 4:21 PMThis is incredible! I LOVE it! I have been really wanting to find a way to make these. I was down in Laguna last weekend and almost gave into their $5 price tag…but at last my senses kicked in and I stopped. I then was at Michael’s with a coupon 2 days ago and gave in…needless to say I am heading over there now to return them and make my own! You really have made my day!
Thanks a bunch and keep up the great work! I can’t wait to see what is next!
Kaitlin
notsosimplehousewife.blogspot.com
Sassy Sites! says
June 25, 2011 at 12:42 AMI LOVE this! Thanks for linking up to Sassy Sites! XOXO!
marni
Laura @ Our House Of Joyful Noise says
June 25, 2011 at 3:29 AMThose are SO impressive! I guess you can make anything, it seems to me! But gosh Girl….I’d have been happy to send you real ones, you know! 😉 I live on the shore, for goodness sake. But why ask, right? When you can just, you know… ‘whip some up’. Show off. 😉 lol I’m seriously WOWED.
Ruth says
June 25, 2011 at 3:35 AMThese are great. I think I’m going to be making some.
Ruth
Elz says
June 25, 2011 at 1:29 PMWOW. You are faking it & making it. Geez woman, slow down, you’re making the rest of us look bad 😉
southernscraps says
June 25, 2011 at 7:14 PMThose are so cool!
Catch A Falling Star says
June 27, 2011 at 8:07 AMThis super cute!
I love starfish!
Since my bathroom and bedroom is ocean themed,I will have to give it a try.
Thanks for sharing!
Crystal says
July 1, 2011 at 7:45 PMWow! This is amazing! I am SO going to make some of these! Thanks so much for linking up to the Summer Lovin Soiree! Have a great weekend! 🙂
Crystal
HomemakerinHeels.com
Michelle {Daydream Believers} says
July 2, 2011 at 1:59 PMWow – these look awesome! Thank you for sharing! 🙂
Alisha @ Crafty Brooklyn Army Wife says
July 5, 2011 at 1:08 AMThis is a great idea!! Stopping by from The Girl Creative linky party.
Here is what I shared this week: http://craftybrooklynarmywife.blogspot.com/2011/06/summer-pillows.html
Happy 4th of July!!
Confessions of a Stay at Home Mommy says
July 5, 2011 at 11:48 PMSo cool! I would love it if you would link up to my Tuesday Confessional link party going on now: http://www.craftyconfessions.com/2011/07/tuesday-confessional-link-up-2.html. I hope to see you soon!
~Macy from Confessions of a SAHM
trumatter says
January 6, 2012 at 5:23 AMOkay dude, this is seriously awesome. I am looking for making some clay starfish and I just got the perfect tutorial.
THANK YOU
trumatter says
January 6, 2012 at 5:33 AMA teeny question. Is this salt dough or clay?
trumatter says
January 10, 2012 at 12:17 PMHi Viv, I made these starfishes and also mentioned your blog’s URL in mine.
Love
Rukmini
Elsa says
July 9, 2014 at 8:00 AMI have been wanting to some decorating with starfish, but I could not get past the idea of the little creatures having given their all for my joy. This idea is awesome, now I can make some.
THank you!
bj says
December 13, 2016 at 7:29 PMcute…..How long does it take to dry? do u just air dry it or is an oven invol ed? thanks bj