Crafting salt dough ornaments is a delightful holiday activity that’s perfect for creating lasting memories with your family. Here’s everything you need to get started:
Ingredients and Tools:
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup salt
- 1.5 cups warm water
- Rolling pin
- Mixing bowl
- Cookie sheet
- Mod Podge
Instructions:
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Prepare the Dough: Preheat your oven to 200°F. In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, salt, and warm water. Knead the dough for about 10 minutes. If it feels too dry, add a little more water. It’s a bit of a workout but worth the effort!
- Roll and Shape: Roll out the dough to your desired thickness. Use cookie cutters or shape the dough by hand to create your ornaments. Place them on a cookie sheet.
- Personalize: Press your child’s hand into the dough to create a handprint ornament. For hanging, use a straw to poke a hole at the top of each ornament.
- Crafting Snowmen: Roll small balls of dough and flatten them to form a snowman shape. Add an oval-shaped hat and use the dough scraps from the straw holes to make buttons. Create a tiny carrot shape for the nose.
- Bake: Bake the ornaments for 1 to 2 hours until they’re firm and dry.
- Paint and Decorate: Once cooled, have fun painting the ornaments with acrylic or kids’ paint. My son, Corban, loved painting the Santa Claus ornament, especially turning his handprint into a character by adding a beard.
- Add Finishing Touches: For the snowmen, cut a quarter-inch strip from a paper towel, fold it in half, and tie it around the snowman’s neck like a scarf. Trim the excess for a neat look.
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Seal with Mod Podge: Finish by sealing your ornaments with Mod Podge for a glossy, protective coat.
These handmade ornaments make beautiful additions to your Christmas tree or charming holiday decor around your home. They’re also perfect as thoughtful gifts for friends and family. Enjoy the process and the joy it brings!