Salt Dough for ornaments and crafts

 

This salt dough is a staple of childhood and I love doing this Christmas activity with my kids each year—and throughout the rest of the year too! We love to make salt dough handprints, ornaments, and sometimes, just any old shape they want to. It’s an easy project that we can do together—and then share as kid-made holiday gifts, keepsakes, or house decorations.

All you need for this salt dough recipe is,

Flour

Salt

Water!

The ratio for salt dough is one part salt to one part flour; and I think the amount of salt really preserves the dough and — if you’re making salt dough ornaments — this simple recipe ensures that they will last a long time and not go moldy.

Take one cup of plain flour (all-purpose flour), one cup of table salt and mix together in a large mixing bowl.

Add a little warm water. Some recipes suggest a whole cup water but I probably used three quarters. You want to add as much water in order to make a pastry like dough. You can add a teaspoon of vegetable oil to help make it a bit easier to manipulate but it's not necessary. 

Knead the dough to form a ball – making sure the dough isn’t too dry — or too sticky.

Roll out your dough and start to cut out your shapes. If you’re making hanging ornaments, remember to make small holes at this stage for your ribbon or twine to go through (I like to use a drinking straw for this).

Lay on a baking tray and cook in the oven on a low heat. I cook ours at 100 degrees for 1 hour, then turn them over and cook for a further hour. After 2 hours, I turn the oven off but leave the dough shapes to carry on baking with the residual heat.

Paint your salt dough decorations, then leave to dry.

I hope you have as much fun making these as we do!

-Chloe