Salt Dough Ornaments

Salt Dough Ornament Basics

Supplies

4 cups flour

1 cup salt

1 1/2 cups warm water

Rolling pin

Cookie cutters

Toothpicks

Parchment paper

Tip: Each decorating technique calls for a unique set of supplies. Below these basic instructions, find your decorative approach and the additional supplies it requires.

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 250˚F.
2. Combine water and salt, then add flour.
3. Knead your dough by hand, adding extra flour as needed.
4. Roll out your dough into a 1/4” thick layer.
5. Cut out your ornaments with cookie cutters or use items like jars and cups to create perfect circles. Poke a hole in the top of each ornament with a toothpick. At this point you may build on your ornament with extra decorative layers of salt dough or make impressions in the uncooked dough.
6. Set your ornaments on a parchment-lined pan and place it in the oven for 2-3 hours. Drying time will vary depending on the thickness of your ornaments. The thicker they are, the longer they’ll take to dry.
7. Allow your ornaments to fully cool, then decorate to your liking.

Decorative Tips and Techniques

• Pops of color: Dye your dough before it’s cooked with the simple addition of food coloring. (Prevent your hands from staining with gloves). To add color to already-baked ornaments, use acrylic paints, felt-tipped pens or markers. Seal with polyurethane.
• Imprinted designs: For professional looking designs, search no further than the stamp aisle of your local craft store. Try stamping ink into your uncooked dough, allowing it to then bake into your ornament while in the oven. Or stamp your uncooked dough without ink prior to setting it in the oven. You can later custom tint your impression with paint. Textured items found around your home can be used too! Try using greenery, silk flowers or fruits and vegetables as stamps.
• Lovely layers: Give your ornaments added dimension by layering shapes atop your base. Create shapes with cookie cutters, or press dough into measuring spoons for small half-spheres. Help each added layer stick by lightly brushing water on the bottom before pressing it onto your base layer.
• Cinnamon-scented: Mix a cup of cinnamon into your basic salt dough ingredients for a fragrant effect that also gives your ornaments a rich, brown color.
• Ornament frames: While still uncooked, remove a portion of the inside of your shape to create a negative space where a picture can later peek through.
• Handprints: Have loved ones (pets included) press their hands (or paws) into salt dough for a heartfelt touch.

Go Beyond Ornaments

• Make a large batch of small salt dough accents and string them into a garland.
• Treat your dough as modeling clay and form it into seasonal figurines.
• Attach your ornaments to gifts as tags, or use them as place cards for winter place settings.

How have you made this timeless craft extra special? Share your tips and tricks in a comment.