Martha Stewart’s website is just a store house of inspiration. I saw a very similar wreath on her website and knew I wanted to make my own.
She used real gingerbread cookie dough but I wanted mine to last longer than just this season so I used a salt dough instead. This is the recipe I used:
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup salt
- 1 3/4 cups warm water
- 1/4 cup cinnamon (this was just for the coloring and scent…I’m sure food coloring would work just as well for color)
Preheat the oven to 300 degrees.
Mix the flour, cinnamon and salt thoroughly. Then gradually add the water stirring with a spoon and then kneading with your hands until the dough is soft and pliable.
Roll out on floured surface until dough is desired thickness. Then cut gingerbread men with cookie cutter and place on cookie sheet.
Bake at 300 for 1 hour. ***Remove from cookie sheet immediately after coming out the oven***
I cut out the gingerbread men (with a little help from my assistant) and placed them on the cookie sheet in a circle. I put a little bit of water on the hands and feet as I attached the gingerbread men together.
After baking them, I removed them from the pan immediately. I can’t stress how important this is…I had some extras on my last pan that I forgot to take off immediately and it is virtually impossible to get them off…at least in one piece.
Looking back I should have wiped the flour off of them before baking. I had some color variations after baking that I wish I could have avoided.
I wanted my wreath to last for a while so I put a coat of polyurethane on the wreath and while it was still wet, sprinkled some kosher salt on it to make the gingerbread men look like they had sugar on them.
Finally, I weaved a ribbon in and out of the gingerbread men and then just tied it at the top.
I used the extra dough to make some little gingerbread ornaments. We’ll use those ornaments for gifts for some Awana leaders and Sunday School teachers.
Feral Turtle says
This is so cute. I have pinned it as I would like to make one soon! Thanks for sharing.
Kristy says
That is so pretty!!!
labbie1 says
How cute! I made a similar thing years ago. I mixed applesauce and cinnamon to make a paste, rolled it using cinnamon instead of flour to keep it from sticking and put them in a low oven, turned it off and let them sit overnight. I painted them after like they would be if it was icing and put a ribbon through them. Never a problem with bugs or mice eating them. Yours looks so cute! I never thought of a wreath! Great!
Margo says
This is sooooooo adorable!
Rosemary@villabarnes says
LUV IT.
Kelly @ The Nourishing Home says
Hi, Carrie! Just saw you post this at the Homemaking Link-Up as I was posting some healthy Christmas cookie recipes. This is GORGEOUS! I love making salt dough ornaments and this is just adorable. I am going to share it on my FB page. So hopefully you’ll see some new friends coming your way. So happy to find you! What a fun and inspiring blog you have! Blessings for a Merry CHRISTmas! 🙂 Kelly
Cozy Home Scenes says
I loved that Martha wreath but did wonder how it would hold up long term. Sounds like you came up with a great alternative. Yours is very cute too.
I’m having a gingerbread party over on my blog and would love to have you link this up! Details are on my blog if you’re interested.
Beansieleigh says
This is ADORABLE! I LOVE it!.. I just recently made my own little cinnamon ornaments, but the recipe I tried included glue. Now I may have waited too long to take them off the tray?.. But I’m thinking maybe the next recipe I’ll make WITHOUT the glue?… Anyways, I am definitely going to try making this wreath! So PERFECT for my little country (but stuck in the suburbs) kitchen! (0; Thanks for sharing this great tutorial, and Happy Holidays to you! ~tina
Jodie says
Adore this wreath! What a fun family craft!
Warm Wishes,
Jodie
http://lovelaughteranddecor.blogspot.com/
Artsy VaVa says
This wreath is adorable! I’m pinning it!!!
Danielle says
Absolutely gorgeous! I’d love for you to link up to my Christmas Carnival.
http://blissfulanddomestic.blogspot.com/2011/11/homemade-in-december-link-carnival.html
Megan says
this is really charming. I just love gingerbread men. your wreath is so creative.
megan
craftycpa.blogspot.com
folkhaven says
It’s gorgeous! Thank you for showing us how this is made! I really like how you wove the ribbon amongst the gingerbread men.
Stacey says
I love that you’ve taken the traditional “gingerbread” ornament and made it into a wreath. So creative. And easy too. My boys will enjoy making one for our tree!
BigBearswife says
that is just adorable! I am so making one of these!
Beansieleigh says
O.K., Carrie!! I’ve made my wreath, and in all my excitement, I JUST LOVE IT! I posted mine today, so I hope maybe you’ll take a peek when you can!..
http://beansiebabbles.blogspot.com/2011/12/snowman-assembled.html
Thanks so much for sharing how to make it! ~tina
Heather at Dragonfly Designs says
Darling!! Thanks for sharing! xo
Robyn Rasmussen says
What a darling project! I found you over on the Strut your Stuff Saturday link up. I am now following your blog, twitter, facebook and pinterest. I’ve also pinned the wreath to do someday!
-Robyn from http://tipsfromtheheart.blogspot.com
Kerryanne @ Shabby Art Boutique says
I sooooo love this Carrie and it is now a must do activity with my girls this week. Thank you so much for the tutorial.
I’d love it if you could link this project to my Simply Christmas Inspiration party at http://shabbyartboutique.blogspot.com/2011/12/inspiration-friday_09.html
This is definitely one I’d lvoe to feature.
Festive hugs, Kerryanne
Alissa@CraftyEndeavor says
cute! but it kinda makes me hungry
A To Zebra Celebrations says
sooo stinkin’ cute!! love it! first time visitor 🙂
Toodie says
So cute! I’m a gingerbread lover so this really appeals to me! Looks great and the tutorial is awesome as well. Thank you!
Funky Junk Interiors says
This is amazing! It turned out so sooo well.
Shared on FJI Facebook and pinned for SNS 111. 🙂
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150501686746141&set=a.192514281140.164586.175378011140&type=1&theater
Donna
Beth (www.livinglifeintentionally.blogspot.com) says
This is awesome!! I have been looking for something like this to fit with my gingerbread stuff – SUPER CUTE! I pinned it & am totally going to try it. I am your newest follower. I’d love for you to follow me back, if you want to =-)
Beth
Mindie Hilton says
Super cute wreath. I would love for you to share at Bacon Time. The linky is Friday – monday anything goes. Come share your talents.
Lakota [Faith Hope and Charity Shopping] says
Very cute indeed, I love it x
Lindsey @makeandtakes.com says
I love this–especially using the salt dough instead of cookie dough.
Would love for you to submit this to the Make and Takes spotlight page–http://www.makeandtakes.com/spotlight
Grandmother Carolyn says
Such a great tutorial – wonderful explanation/photos – I am wondering if you used Parchment Paper on the baking tray if that would eliminate the possible sticking? Just a thought. This is a fabulous home- and heart-made addition to the Christmas season. Thanks for sharing!
bj says
I don’t have a crafting bone in my entire body but this is so cute, I just HAVE to try it…all I have to lose is 4 cups of flour…:)))
will let u know how it works for moi.
xo bj
Michelle says
This is ADORABLE!!!! You’ve been featured on DIY Thrifty Thursday at http://www.thrifty101.blogspot.com
Hope to see you again this week!
Michelle
Anonymous says
So Cute! I made this today with my daughter. I used my round pizza stone so it didn’t turn out lopsided which I was afraid would be the case! Thanks for the idea.
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Melissa @ Two It Yourself says
Oh my goodness, Carrie, I just LOVE this idea. The gingerbread wreath with the red ribbon is just perfect. I can’t get over it. I would love it if you shared this with us this week at the LInk It or Lump It Link Party! http://www.twoityourself.blogspot.com/2013/11/link-it-or-lump-it-link-party-15-plus.html
Hope to see you there – Melissa
Heather Painchaud says
Featured on FB today!! Thanks for linking up!! xo
Tammy says
What a cute Christmas wreath idea!
Rebecca @ My Girlish Whims says
Thanks so much for linking up to Your Whims Wednesday, I featued this on my blog today! Come stop by and grab a featured button: http://www.mygirlishwhims.com/2013/12/your-whims-wednesday-140-and-features.html
Gurvy Green says
Adorable! These little gingerbread men came out so perfect. Thanks for sharing your salt dough recipe.
Softies By Olga says
Hi, I loved it so much, I’ve done almost the same one! Thank you for inspiration!!!
And the proof is here:
http://instagram.com/p/h1GqTZHjup/
penaspb.ru says
An impressive share! I have just forwarded this onto a coworker who had been conducting
a little research on this. And he actually ordered me
dinner due to the fact that I found it for him… lol. So allow me to reword this….
Thanks for the meal!! But yeah, thanx for spending the time to discuss this topic here on your web page.
Rachel ann says
Love this … I did it and I followed the instructions exactly but my lil guys haven’t gotten hard …. Did yours get hard pretty fast?