These have to be theBEST salt dough ornaments around! Finally, an simple salt dough recipe you don’t have to bake! Kids love homemade dough and it works magically for a variety of ages. Add these salt dough ornaments to your bag of Christmas activities, and you will have something fun and easy for the kids to do this holiday season!
Salt Dough Ornaments For Christmas Crafts
I don’t know too many kids who don’t love a fresh batch of homemade dough. DIY Christmas ornaments for kids make for a wonderful sensory play activity, enhance learning activities, and feels amazing for the senses!
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Cinnamon Ornaments
All you need are a few simple ingredients and some Christmas cookie cutters to enjoy making your own salt dough Christmas ornaments. I am excited to share with you our awesome go-to salt dough recipe. Change it up for the seasons and holidays too! There are so many things you can do with salt dough!
Below we will show you how to make salt dough, how to preserve salt dough ornaments and how to make them shiny. Super easy, these homemade ornaments are sure to be a fun Christmas activity for kids.
How To Preserve Salt Dough Ornaments
These salt dough ornaments are made from a mixture of flour and salt that creates a type of modeling clay, that can be baked or air-dried and then saved.
Why is there salt in the dough? Salt is a great preservative, and it adds additional texture to your projects. You’ll notice the dough is heavier too!
How long will salt dough ornaments last? They should last for many years. Store them in a dry, airtight container, away from heat, light or moisture and you will be able to enjoy these homemade ornaments year after year.
PLEASENOTE:Salt dough is NOT ediblebut it is taste-safe!
Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose bleached flour
1 cup of salt
1 cup of warm water
How To Make Salt Dough Ornaments
1: Combine all the dry ingredients in a bowl, and form a well in the center.
2: Add the warm water to the dry ingredients and mix together until it forms a dough.
NOTE: If you notice the salt dough dough looks a little runny, you might be tempted to add more flour. Before you do this, allow the mixture to rest for a few moments! That will give the salt a chance to absorb the extra moisture.
3: Roll the dough to ¼ inch thick or so and cut out your Christmas ornament shapes. We used a star shape cookie cutter for ours.
4: Use a straw to make a hole in the top of each ornament. Place on a tray and leave for 24 to 48 hours to air dry.
How Do You Make Your Salt Dough Ornaments Shiny?
Salt dough can be painted either when it’s wet or dry. What color will you make your Christmas ornaments?
We painted our stars with silver and gold acrylic paint. Acrylic paint is the best kind of paint to use on salt dough ornaments.
Once the paint is dry, spray with polyurethane spray, spray sealer or Modge Podge for preservation and to give the salt dough ornaments a shiny finish.
FUN VARIATION: Why not make your own glitter paint for a fun sparkly look! Mix together a good amount of your favorite glitter with clear glue or Modge Podge until you have a thick consistency. Then paste your dough ornaments in glitter paint!
2: Add the warm water to the dry ingredients and mix together until it forms a dough.
NOTE: If you notice the salt dough dough looks a little runny, you might be tempted to add more flour. Before you do this, allow the mixture to rest for a few moments! That will give the salt a chance to absorb the extra moisture.
NOTE: If you notice the salt dough dough looks a little runny, you might be tempted to add more flour. Before you do this, allow the mixture to rest for a few moments! That will give the salt a chance to absorb the extra moisture.
4: Use a straw to make a hole in the top of each ornament. Place on a tray and leave for 24 to 48 hours to air dry.
