Very nice hub! Claudia Mitchell (author) on January 10, 2013: Thanks theraggededge! Use this quick and easy recipe and you will have your own dough in no time. Claudia Mitchell (author) on November 29, 2012: Hi ktrapp. We like to knead for at least 10 minutes to thoroughly mix the dough. Kids (and big kids like me) love it! Susan Zutautas from Ontario, Canada on November 27, 2012: My kids used to make ornaments out of salt dough at school and I did too. Claudia Mitchell (author) on May 29, 2019: Thanks Tressia. Sherry Hewins from Sierra Foothills, CA on November 24, 2012: I love home made ornaments. 1. .. it was so much fun. All activities should be supervised by an adult. :) Love it and sharing! Happy New Year!---Lisa. Colored dough can save a lot of time when making ornaments as it's so much easier than painting the finished item. Use a straw or chopstick to create a single hole in the middle of the top of the salt dough heart crafts to make it easy to hang them. Follow The Best Ideas for Kids on Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram, posted by The Best Ideas for Kids on November 20, 2018. This post may contain affiliate links. I think the traditional easy way to seal salt dough is with a diluted permanent white glue (like Elmer's GlueAll) though. I think all kids like making fun things with dough and it really brings out their creativity. Success! Once you start mixing the dough it will be very dry and flaky. https://www.learning4kids.net/2012/12/09/how-to-make-salt-dough-recipe Kim is the author of the kids craft book, Fun & Easy Crafting with Recycled Materials. – 1.5 cups warm water (maybe a little more), – Ornament Cookie Cutter – we used this one. Watch the full tutorial video here before you get started! Thanks for the idea. You hit the nail on the head...easy, fast & cheap and fun too! You will definitely need some elbow grease to knead your salt dough. As a child I remember using dough to make crafts but this is a great reminder of how much more creative one can be. on February 08, 2013: Very creative. Moisture is a no-no for salt dough, which is why it best to have them sealed. Claudia Mitchell (author) on November 23, 2012: It is definitely something anyone can do! We do recommend some baking in the oven to ensure all moisture is removed from the ornaments. Using your ornament cookie cutter, cut out your shapes from your dough. Thanks for sharing this. Salt dough on it’s own will last up for a long time without sealing too, if you handle it properly! She is a mom of two that loves to share easy crafts, activities and recipes for kids. It will be an ornament they treasure every year as they place it on their Christmas tree! Hi Rebecca - The lemon makes the ornaments harder when they are dry. Stephanie Henkel from USA on November 29, 2012: Making things from salt dough is something I used to do as a kid (long, long ago! Thanks for commenting! Great hub and too cute crafts. If you find your ornaments are still a little doughy on the bottom, put them back in for another hour. My boys and I enjoyed this craft every Christmas. Jamie Brock from Texas on December 09, 2012: This stuff is so neat.. not to mention easy and pretty cheap to make! how durable is the dough once its dried, painted, etc.? 4. Join Us! I received a salt dough wall decoration before and it was so beautiful. Due to the salt content in the dough, the ornaments can be toxic to pets if they consume them. Paint the ornament with acrylic paint, then, once paint is dry, spray with acrylic sealer and let dry again. This is a very fun and creative craft! They will stick easily. It is a good one for Christmas. I’m looking to make them at school so trying to estimate how much I would need. Children enjoy making little animals or funny faces. Voted up and shared. Sending Angels your way. Does sound fun and surely food for thought on what all we could do with it. Your tutorial is inspiring and makes me want make up a batch so my son and I can create some new ornaments for the Christmas tree this year. Nicole Quaste from Philadelphia, PA on December 11, 2012: I can't wait to do this with my siblings for Christmas :) Thanks so much. They are easy to make and have a natural-look to them without any paint! They are so nice and fun to work with. Now add clear glue on top of your ornament and shake glitter on top until you fill the ornament with glitter. If printing photos from your computer you can use regular glue. If the oven temperature is set too high, the pieces will dry more quickly, but they may brown or get air bubbles. See how we made these Christmas salt dough ornaments but with different Christmas cookie cutters! 2. If your dough is too dry, add a tablespoon of water at a time. .. it was so much fun. Here’s our recipe to make salt dough for quick, easy and fun crafts with kids – let their imagination run wild! You can make anything you want. Nell - I appreciate the comments! Thanks for sharing the recipe for making the dough. Hope you and Bev had a lovely Thanksgiving. Sigh--reminded me that my mother and sisters used to make these salted dough ornaments glaze and paint them--thanks for sharing. Check them in the morning and if they need to still dry out more, you can place them back in the oven for another hour. These salt dough ornaments are similar to these which we did last year. Mary Hyatt from Florida on November 24, 2012: Oh, my goodness. Thanks for sharing this crafts with us. moonlake from America on November 24, 2012: I think years ago I made salt dough. Liz Rayen from California on January 03, 2013: This is such a wonderful hub. This is one of those fun old fashioned crafts that is so easy to do. How to make salt dough ornaments shiny: If you like more of a shiny ornament, choose a gloss finish for the enamel spray. It brought back so many memories growing up and using salt dough. This is fun for everyone and I noticed the my dog likes the smell of it so I have to keep the dough away from him or he'll eat it! Hi vespawoolf - Many thanks for the support. And who does not like a homemade gift at the holidays. Sherry - Thanks so much for commenting. This will give the ornament a little bit of sheen. This one I am saving for when the grandchildren come over. If your dough is too dry, add a tablespoon of water at a time. We prefer to paint with acrylic paint. Use a smaller circle cookie cutter to cut out the center of some of your ornaments. Sometimes the "old" traditional crafts are the most fun and the ornaments are the most treasured. How do you seal salt dough? Salt Dough Ornaments: Learn from my mistakes! You can seal the salt dough with a mod-podge or clear glaze. I have always heard of salt dough but have yet to try it. And for me, lol. Not only is this a great gift idea for kids to make for Christmas, they will also enjoy making them! Salt dough ornaments are some of our favorite ornaments to make for Christmas! Your kids will love it. Shining Irish Eyes from Upstate, New York on November 26, 2012: This was a wonderful activity my mother accomplished with us as children. AJ Long from Pennsylvania on December 21, 2012: Very nice Hub Glimmer Twin Fan! It should be the texture of play dough. They always enjoyed working with the clay. My daughter and I had fun making these for this hub. Thank you! Slowly add water to dry ingredients and stir until the texture resembles dough. Haven't thought about this craft in some time. I had forgotten all about those maps until you mentioned them here. Voted up and useful. Adults will need to do the baking part, but kids can help decorate! It dries clear. There’s nothing better than using your creativity to decorate the Christmas tree or make DIY gifts for the grandparents. Paint a coat of glossy Mod Podge over the entire ornament to seal and protect it, and to give it a shiny finish. Thanks a bunch! Salt dough crafting is easy and fun, but, sadly, relegated only to the kindergarten class. Knead the mixture for approximately 5 minutes or until smooth. Thanks Mary! Resembling play dough or modeling clay, salt dough hardens and can be made into many different things, like ornaments or figurines. It definitely does not taste as good as your recipes! By signing up you'll also receive our free weekly newsletter. Thanks for commenting! I appreciate the comments. this is great. Bill Holland from Olympia, WA on November 23, 2012: We made a variation of this in my geography classes, and then we made landforms with it and painted them. The most important thing is to have fun. Combine your flour, salt and water and mix. You can seal with either a  mod podge or a clear glaze spray. Claudia Mitchell (author) on December 02, 2012: Kris - I hope you give it a try. Depending on the size of the craft, it can take between 45 minutes and a few hours to dry in the oven. Ha. Combine all of your ingredients (flour, salt, warm water) and mix well until it starts to form a dough. Once dry, paint beads as desired, dry again, then seal with acrylic spray sealer. Preheat your oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. ), and it still looks like a lot of fun for kids of all ages. Vespa Woolf from Peru, South America on November 27, 2012: My family and I used to make figurines and such with this dough when I was a child. Now it is time to roll out your salt dough. Claudia Mitchell (author) on December 03, 2012: Thank you MargaritaEden. It's a great reminder. I appreciate the comments. If desired, paint the figures and, once the paint has dried, seal with acrylic sealer spray (not necessary, but pieces will last longer). Claudia Mitchell (author) on January 03, 2013: Thanks so much Rusticliving. To join pieces to each other, like eyes or a nose, lightly wet down both pieces where they will be joined and gently press together. Gail Meyers from Johnson County, Kansas on November 28, 2012: I enjoyed your hub! Adults should do the spraying and always follow directions of the product chosen. Your dough needs to be completely dry / baked before you can seal it. Voted up. Hi My daughter's snow man before being painted. And I can vouch for the fact that it tastes very salty! Once you’re done kneading, roll out the dough to about 1/2 cm thickness. Voted it up and marked it useful :). Thanks so much for your support Stephanie. Start rolling beads of any size. I would've never thought to make beads out of it. I bet you can come up with all kinds of creations. Commemorate the whole family with an ornament that immortalizes each person's fingerprint in a single place. Roll out your dough and cut out your shapes (in this case, initials) with the cookie cutters. Spray with a clear glaze spray (adults only) or finish with mod podge. Add a layer or two of either product to create the perfect seal. 2. Kristin Trapp from Illinois on November 29, 2012: I remember making something out of salt dough in Sunday School when I was a kid; ironically we were supposed to make a sculpture of Lot's wife who turned into a pillar of salt. Of course, this can be done year round too, but the ornaments are the most fun! I love looking at ornaments made over the years. I have played with it for sometimes and found there are 3 modified recipe for different drying method.Check it out! Jackie Lynnley from the beautiful south on November 23, 2012: This sounds like anyone could do it...even me! Making salt dough is a really fun and easy activity for kids and the chances are you will have all of the ingredients in the cupboard ready to … We love that you only need a few ingredients from your kitchen to make them too – flour, salt and water! We recommend thinner ornaments to reduce baking time. Voting this Up and Useful. Parents and grandparents will love to receive this salt dough photo ornament. Claudia Mitchell (author) on December 10, 2012: Thanks so much Terrye - I appreciate the support. The amount of water needed is about ½ to ¾ cup. Hi Cathy - I bet your boys will enjoy it again. Great suggestions here; I can see this being a hit for those who do crafts. https://kidactivities.net/easy-salt-dough-recipe-and-craft-ideas-for-kids Miss those innocent days... Claudia Mitchell (author) on December 11, 2012: I really appreciate the comments uNicQue! If it’s a printed photo you can use regular glue. I appreciate the comments. Color can also be added to the dough for a different look. Claudia has been writing about crafts online for many years. Thanks for commenting. I think homemade ornaments are the best. The thickness of these salt dough heart crafts makes it necessary to allow the salt dough hearts to dry a bit before cooking. Shared and voted up! We now have some from our daughter too. Once you are done, don’t forget to seal with either mod podge or a clear glaze spray. There are two key things to longevity of salt dough ornaments – that they are properly dried to begin and that they are stored well. Tip: Add extra flour to your kneading surface, rolling pin and cookie cutters to help stop the ornaments and dough from sticking. Written Up from Oklahoma City, OK on November 24, 2012: Sounds fun for kids. jenbeach21 from Orlando, FL on November 24, 2012: Looks like fun. Salt dough is a pliable medium that requires only a few inexpensive ingredients and tools. I appreciate your support Gail. What a clever idea! Bake for 2 hours at 250 degrees Fahrenheit. Please do let me know. Also will Pin. Home » Blog » holiday crafts » Salt Dough Ornaments: Learn from my mistakes! Thanks for commenting. Not only is it fun for the child to play with the dough, and later to decorate the handprint, but you also end up with a very special keepsake. We love these salt dough star ornaments. LaThing from From a World Within, USA on November 23, 2012: This is a wonderful idea..... My kids always want to play with dough, this would be great for them to try. They all still look absolutely fine (got them down from the loft yesterday). This recipe can be doubled. I'm glad you enjoyed the hub. Yes if it’s a laminated photo use hot glue. Claudia Mitchell (author) on November 24, 2012: I really appreciate the support jenbeach! Set the ornament on the prepared baking sheet. You can make simple salt dough from everyday ingredients in your kitchen cupboards. The main difference with these ornaments is that we are using a cookie cutter that is shaped like an ornament! This is definitely and oldie but a goodie when it comes to crafts. Once you’re done, add your gold twine for hanging them on the tree. Thanks for sharing it...will share this too!! I remember making these with kids for Spanish class. Tip: To avoid puffing, make sure your ornaments are not too thick and your temperature is low (250 degrees Fahrenheit). Salt dough is an ideal medium for children and this book offers how-to’s for animal finger puppets or fun dinosaur models. If you plan on hanging on your Christmas tree, place high enough that any pets will not be able to reach them. My Mamma used to make this with us when I was a young child. Once it's painted it's hard to tell what it is sometimes. My daughter is painting her things as I type this. These ornaments will be so special hanging on the Christmas tree. I really like the homemade touch! Snowman Salt Dough Ornament. Some people even use an acrylic spray, but again several coats because it's thin. It is definitely one of those wonderful family traditions. Sarah. I appreciate the comments Written up. It's one of my go to crafts at the holidays. I wonder what the lemon juice does. I will have to try it with my kids and in the classroom. Have fun! I usually just add the oil because it makes it easier to handle. Nell Rose from England on November 26, 2012: What a great idea! Voted up and pinned. You’ll only need flour, salt and water to make your ornaments. If you make your ornaments thicker, they will take much longer to bake. ... all the joy and family time they bring. Once done, follow drying directions in the recipe above. Roll out the dough to the desired thickness and cut out shapes. It is fun thinking up different things to emboss the dough with. Making salt dough ornaments are the perfect Christmas craft activity for kids. I bet you've seen stuff made out of this before. Bev G from Wales, UK on January 10, 2013: Love this hub! Once cool and completely dried, paint with acrylic paint. I made some flat salt dough star decorations about 6 years ago; they were painted with acrylic paint then half were sealed with a spray on clear varnish I bought from homebase. Have fun doing this. Salt dough ornaments are such a classic kids Christmas craft and so easy to make! Boy if I could make that kind of money I would perfect my salt dough technique! Instructions. Just remember that the larger the bead, the heavier it will be on a necklace. I never thought of using rubber stamps to emboss the clay...guess the stamps came years later. Have fun Just Ask Susan! Tammy from North Carolina on December 01, 2012: I haven't done this in many years! So you’re going to get the look of a real bauble and then you can even add a circle cut-out in the center to add a photo (which we love!). ... Mod Podge is the best way to seal your salt dough Christmas ornaments. This is my kind of stuff. I especially like the wreath ornament. Best of all, with only 3 ingredients, this salt dough … If not using right away, it will last for up to a week in an airtight container. Once you know how to seal salt dough crafts, they can last for years and years! Just remember that while the uncolored raw dough is non-toxic, it should not be eaten because of the incredibly high salt content. See over 25+ Salt Dough Ornament Ideas – these are such cute keepsakes! One of the easiest things to do with salt dough is to make beads. Rajan Singh Jolly from From Mumbai, presently in Jalandhar, INDIA. This recipe is really easy to follow and gives great results for your salt dough crafts. I appreciate the votes! Thanks for commenting. If desired, once hardened, projects can be painted and decorated. Terrye Toombs from Somewhere between Heaven and Hell without a road map. Once finished, leave your creations out to dry for at least 24 - 48 hours. Ideal for those rainy days or long summer afternoons, crafting with this dough is the perfect hobby for all ages. Just keep kneading until it turns into a dough-like consistency. Thanks LaThing. Allow to dry. If your dough is … The dough should not be too moist or dry. Note: Only use the acrylic sealer in a well ventilated area and away from children. I may have to give this a try with my nieces and nephews. Voted up and useful;-). However 3 small ornaments are totally fine. Then try out one of the fun projects provided. Beads are fun and if they break of get lost it is no big deal. The more you knead the dough, the smoother it gets. The photo version adds a special personalized touch to the ornament. Emilie S Peck from Minneapolis, MN on November 25, 2012: What a neat idea! These Salt Dough Handprint ornaments are our most popular salt dough ornament. They can also be great keepsake ornaments to hang on your Christmas tree! 7. This helps to reduce any puffing you may encounter when baking. 1 tablespoon vegetable oil (makes the dough easier to handle, optional), 1 tablespoon lemon juice (makes finished product harder, optional). I still have a couple from many years and my collection gets bigger every time my daughter does one. Great article. I'm glad this brought back memories. Kris Heeter from Indiana on December 01, 2012: I had forgotten about this creative craft! We used gold acrylic paint for the tops of the ornaments. We like this spray for a durable finish. Glue a photo to the back of the ornament. did you use glue or hot glue? Thank you so much shiningirisheyes. Hope that helps! It is also a craft we have passed on to our next family generations. Sign up now and get our FREE newsletters packed with fun ideas and things to do with the kids, family-friendly recipes, expert advice, parenting tips and great competitions. Every Christmas season we would make new ornaments...it was so much fun and a great way to spend some of our vacation days. Well done! Recently, we decided to be bold and adventurous and try our hand at salt dough ornaments! We loved creating them. Looking for an easy and inexpensive homemade craft? I do not remember the lemon juice but that seems helpful. I haven't thought of making this dough for years! Hi, I made a couple ornaments and 2 large ones have cracks around the centre, 1 large broke in half because of the crack. If they are still not dried through after this you can leave them to air dry overnight on a cookie drying rack. Best Paint for Salt Dough Ornaments. Now check your email to confirm your subscription. No. Your idea of making Christmas ornaments is a great idea. I appreciate it ESPeck. Thanks Eddy! Using the skewer or another sharp tool, make a hole in the ornament where you want the top to be. Salt dough handprints are popular crafts for children and parents make together. :) ps. Thanks for commenting. Wrap them in tissue paper or newspapers and store them in a cool, dry place. I voted this UP, and will share. Patricia Scott from North Central Florida on December 06, 2012: This was a walk down memory lane.