Homemade salt dough ornaments couldn’t be simpler to make. With only three ingredients, they’re the perfect easy craft for kids of all ages.
When B and I made homemade cinnamon ornaments a couple weeks ago, she was pretty disappointed she didn’t get to paint or decorate them. I knew right away she would love making and decorating these homemade salt dough ornaments and, since they’re almost as easy as the cinnamon ones, we whipped up a batch the next day.
I broke out a bunch of acrylic paints and we had a blast decorating Christmas trees, snowmen, and angels. Because I want these ornaments to be around for a long time, I let the paint dry and them sealed them with clear acrylic. You could use a spray; I used a jar left over from sealing the furniture in the nursery.
We put the first batch on our tree at home and, since the activity was such a hit, I made a double patch for the kids to paint and give to teachers and staff members at school. Homemade salt dough ornaments will definitely be a new Christmas tradition for the Winstead family.
When your homemade salt dough ornaments are dry, string them with ribbon, embroidery floss, or festive baker’s twine. They’re ready to display (or give away)!
Homemade Salt Dough Ornaments
Ingredients
1 c. flour (plus more for sprinkling)
1/2 c. salt
1/2 c. + 2 tbs water
Instructions
Preheat oven to 250 degrees. In a large bowl, stir together flour and salt. Add the water and mix until well-combined. Form the dough into a ball and transfer it to a floured surface. Sprinkle the top with more flour and use a rolling pin to roll it to one quarter inch thickness. Use cookie cutters (I love this Christmas-themed set) to cut shapes from the whole surface of the dough. Pull the scraps of dough up and use your fingers or a spatula to transfer the ornaments to a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Form the dough scraps into a ball and repeat the above process until the dough is gone. Use a toothpick or a drinking straw to make holes in each ornament to hang them. Bake ornaments for two to three hours, until hard, turning once during baking. Allow the ornaments to cool and then decorate as desired.
Notes
This recipe made about 14 medium-sized ornaments.
Use your child’s hand print to make a sweet ornament to keep or to give to grandparents.
For an extra holiday touch, add festive-smelling essential oils to your dough.
(this post contains affiliate links; to learn more, see my disclosure policy)
I remember making these with a babysitter as a child and they were kept and hung for years! What a great activity that we could do together this Christmas!
I remembered them from my childhood, too. I’m hoping they’ll be a fun memory for years to come.
Oh how fun!! I’m sure your kids had a blast with these- both helping make them and decorating them!
They did! I had fun, too. We also did hand prints of all three kids; you’ll have to make one next year for Baby K!
Love them!! Look so cute
I have try to make the dough but it never never works! Lol don’t know what i do wrong
You’ve tried this recipe, specifically, Nallely? I’ve made it three or four times this year and haven’t had any problems. Can you tell me what’s wrong with your dough?