Salt dough ornaments are at the heart of creative handmade christmas tree ornaments. Its a craft that has been enjoyed by little hands for decades. For me...only two decades...but even so...it still is a wonderful holiday tradition steeped with memories and treasured times. Our salt dough ornament adventure was several days in the making. Depending on the current vibes in the house we're not always ready to bring out the paint! Everything came together this morning though, and although the little man looked like a painted salt dough ornament himself by the time we were done, it was, again, one of the many treasured moments of this holiday season.
There are countless sources for salt dough recipes available, it's no secret, but since you're already here, I'll share my recipe and process with you!
Salt Dough
2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup salt
~1 cup water
1. Mix the salt and flour together in a bowl.
2. Mix in about 1/2 cup flour, then add the rest a little at a time until the dough is the desired consistency.
3. Roll out the dough to ~ 1/4-1/2" thickness and cut out with cookie cutters, or form into desired shapes as though playdough. Poke a hole in each ornament with something...! I used the head of a finishing nail that happened to be in my pocket while we were making these, but any small round pointy thing will work!
4. Place on a cooling rack and allow to dry or encourage to dry by placing the ornaments on a cookie sheet in the oven at 200 degrees for 10-15 minutes.
5. When dry paint away!
6. Coat with clear coat, or varnish to seal the ornament and help it to last through the years.
Hang them on the tree, tie one to a gift, bundle a few together as a gift...and enjoy your handmade holiday season.
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