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We’re making the messy, magical, barely lopsided ones that you just – or individuals you present this to – will cherish for years.
Salt Dough Christmas Ornaments are the final word vacation trifecta: stupid-easy, dirt-cheap, and ridiculously cute. You take 3 components you have already got in your pantry – salt, flour, and water – and switch them into probably the most charming keepsakes and presents.
Ready to make that Christmas tree a complete lot extra private – and far more lovely? Let’s dough this!
My choose is the Santa handprint if there’s a little hand in the home: it solely wants one small handprint and a few crimson and white paint, and it makes a straightforward present for grandparents. I might skip the pet paw print in case your canine can be nosing round whereas dough dries on the counter, since salt dough is dangerous for canines and also you don’t want an additional fear throughout craft time.
Santa Handprint Ornament
A basic souvenir the place a baby’s handprint is painted as Santa after baking. You want a spherical of dough sufficiently big for the hand (a 4 to five inch spherical cutter works), crimson and white acrylic paint, and a straw for the hanging gap. I feel this one fits mother and father and grandparents who need a first-Christmas model present with out fuss.
Baby’s First Christmas Footprint
A child’s foot pressed into salt dough, trimmed across the form, with the opening poked earlier than baking. One maker’s combine is about 1 cup salt to 1 cup flour with 3/4 cup water, kneaded till tender. Make it for a child’s first Christmas, and write the date on the again.
Handprint Mitten Ornament
The handprint is reduce and painted to appear like a comfortable mitten, so even wobbly toddler prints learn as cute. You simply want dough, a knife or cutter to form the mitten, and paint for particulars. I like to recommend this when your helpers are very younger and the hands-on half wants to remain brief.
Pet Paw Print Ornament
A canine’s paw pressed into dough makes a easy tree decoration you’ll be able to personalize with a reputation and yr. Salt dough is salty sufficient to poison a canine, and baked items can even trigger blockage, so maintain pets out of the craft space, let ornaments dry up excessive, and hold the completed decoration on a tall, sturdy department. Skip this decoration should you can not maintain paws away whilst you work.
Footprint Penguin Ornament
A toddler’s footprint painted as a penguin. One maker bakes them at 200°F for two to three hours, longer for thicker items, till onerous. I like this for households who need a penguin on the tree with none sculpting.
Fingerprint Christmas Tree
Fingerprints type the Christmas tree on this decoration. This decoration may be made with a microwave methodology, however I’d comply with the low-oven methodology within the how-to beneath, because the timings there are for the oven. The fingerprint tree fits children who’re glad to press one fingerprint at a time.
Fingerprint Snowman Ornament
Fingerprints grow to be little snowmen, with the small print painted on after baking. You want rounds of dough, white paint, and high quality brushes for the faces. Handy while you need just a few characters on one decoration.
Cookie-Cutter Classics
If I needed to choose one to make with a crowd, it could be the snowman cut-out: three components, and it doubles as a present tag. I might go on the fake frosted cookie decoration you probably have toddlers or canines who would possibly mistake it for an actual cookie. Salt dough ornaments usually are not meals, and the fake cookie seems to be convincingly edible.
Snowman Cut-Out Ornament
Cut with a snowman cookie cutter, baked flat, then painted and sealed. It works as an decoration or as a tag tied to a gift. Kids could make a batch for grandparents with none particular instruments.
Gingerbread Man Ornament
The shade is combined into the dough, so the gingerbread man is tinted earlier than baking, not simply painted after. This recipe makes use of 2 cups flour to 1 cup salt, plus water to deliver it collectively. Good in order for you even shade with out plenty of brushwork.
Rudolph Reindeer Ornament
A reindeer form reduce from rolled dough, baked flat, with antlers and a crimson nostril painted on. You want a reindeer cutter or a gradual hand with a knife. An simple match for a woodland or Rudolph-themed tree.
Faux Frosted Cookie Ornament
Made to appear like a embellished Christmas cookie, with salt dough standing in for polymer clay, so it’s low-cost and easy. I might reserve it for a show tree moderately than one low sufficient for little arms to seize.
Star Ornament
A clear star reduce 1/2 inch thick, baked at 250°F for about 2 to 2.5 hours till totally dry, then painted earlier than sealing. Stars are simple to chop and look good in multiples. Keep this one in your again pocket for leftover dough, while you need a easy form that also feels festive.
Color, Sparkle and Personal Touches
Colored dough is my choose right here as a result of the tint is within the dough itself, so you’ll be able to skip portray and go straight to sealing. I might skip glitter if you wish to end in a single sitting, since glitter is glued on after the decoration is sealed and desires its personal dry time.
Colored Dough Ornaments
Color kneaded into the dough so it runs right through, then reduce into bushes or tags. One maker’s batch is 4 cups flour, 2 cups salt, and a pair of cups water. Bright ornaments, no portray.
Photo Ornament
A small printed picture is decoupaged onto the baked and painted decoration for a gift-ready piece. You want a flat spherical or rectangle, clean paint beneath, and a sealer over the picture. This is the one I might make while you need a face on the tree.
Glitter Ornaments
Cookie-cutter shapes dressed up with glitter, stamped patterns, or felt. The glitter goes on with glue after sealing, not earlier than. Pick this while you need sparkle, and plan for that further glue step.
Button Ornament
A flat spherical made to appear like a button, with button holes poked by way of the middle. You want a spherical cutter and a straw or skewer for the holes. This decoration is charming on a country or sewing-themed tree and simple for teenagers to color.
Stamped, Molded and Vintage-Look Ornaments
Stamped ornaments and present tags get my vote should you already personal rubber stamps, as a result of they give the impression of being detailed with none sculpting. The Belsnickel mould decoration is the one I might go on except you might be glad to purchase that particular silicone mould.
Stamped Ornaments and Gift Tags
Rubber stamps pressed into tender dough go away patterns that work for ornaments and present tags alike. Roll evenly, stamp firmly, then bake flat. Reach for this should you like a classic farmhouse or boho look with little portray.
Embossed Ornaments
Made with an embossing instrument or silicone molds for raised element. If you employ a silicone mould, bake the dough within the mould and carry it out after, or the items can squish. I like to recommend this for crafters who need texture with out freehand work.
Cookie-Mold Vintage Ornaments
Dough pressed into classic cookie molds for an old style aid. Plain salt dough may be sticky in molds, so you’ll need a launch method to get clear prints. Worth the fuss should you love that pressed, heirloom look.
White Gift Tag Ornaments
A bright-white dough used for small tags and ornaments that look clear tied to brown paper or ribbon. Keep the items skinny and even so that they dry flat, then seal all sides. Make these while you need tags that double as souvenir ornaments.
Cinnamon-Scented Ornaments
Salt dough with cinnamon added for scent, which is completely different from cinnamon-applesauce dough. Store these in a sealed bag or container in a cool, dry place. I like this while you need the tree to odor heat.
Belsnickel Mold Ornament
An old-world Santa, or Belsnickel, forged in a silicone mould from three-ingredient dough. The mould provides the element, so you don’t want to be a sculptor. Save it for while you need a vintage-style Santa on the tree and don’t thoughts shopping for the mould.
Sculpted 3D Ornaments
My favourite on this group is the crimson toadstool mushroom: it’s simply easy shapes painted crimson, and it sits properly on a natural-themed tree. I might skip the sculpted Santa for little children, as a result of it wants detailed hand-modeling that’s irritating for small fingers. Thicker 3D items additionally want an extended, low bake to dry right through.
Red Toadstool Mushroom Ornament
A small mushroom cap and stem formed from dough, painted crimson, and hung as an decoration. Any shade works if you wish to match your tree. The toadstool is an effective choose for woodland decor and for makers who prefer to form moderately than reduce.
Sculpted 3D Snowman
A bit snowman constructed up from rounds of dough and accessorized, with just a few variations to attempt. Keep the scale modest and the thickness even so it dries by way of within the oven. Go this fashion while you need a dimensional character as a substitute of a flat cut-out.
Sculpted Santa Ornament
A hand-sculpted Santa constructed step-by-step, with beard, hat, and coat particulars. It takes extra time and a gradual hand, plus a radical dry earlier than portray. I feel it’s best for adults or teenagers who take pleasure in modeling.
How to Make Salt Dough Ornaments
Salt dough, generally known as selfmade clay, will not be the identical as store-bought air dry clay. Salt dough is flour, salt, and water that hardens in a low oven. Recipes disagree on occasions and temperatures as a result of thickness, flour, and ovens all change the timing, so the steps beneath give ranges that maintain your dough ornaments flat and onerous.
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Mix 2 components flour to 1 half salt, then add about 1 half heat water. Some makers use rather less water, about 3/4 cup per 2 cups flour. Use plain all-purpose flour, not self-rising flour, which may make the dough puff. Knead 5 to 10 minutes till tender and clean. If the dough is sticky, knead in somewhat extra flour, a few tablespoon at a time. If it’s stiff, add water the identical means.
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Roll to an excellent thickness, about 1/4 inch for many ornaments. Thinner items bake sooner, and really thick items can cut up from trapped air. Keep the thickness even throughout every bit so it bakes evenly.
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Make the hanging gap earlier than baking with a straw or skewer.
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Bake low and gradual, 200 to 250°F, till onerous and dry, checking each 20 minutes. Thin cut-outs typically take 90 minutes to 2 hours. Handprints and thick or sculpted items often want 2 to three hours or extra, and a few 200°F recipes run 4 to six hours. The decoration ought to really feel agency with out a lot give, not tender or squishy.
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If your dough puffs, the oven is probably going too scorching otherwise you used self-rising flour, and generally it occurs anyway. Lower the warmth and bake longer. Do not flip the temperature on top of things issues alongside.
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You can air dry salt dough ornaments, however it takes about 4 to 7 days and is gradual in cool or humid climate. A brief bake helps take away the final moisture and lowers the possibility of mould. Microwave strategies exist too, however I might stick to the oven, since that’s what these timings cowl.
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Once the ornaments are totally dry and funky, paint with acrylic craft paint. If you paint a background after which particulars, let the primary shade dry earlier than including the following. Seal each facet and edge with Mod Podge or a transparent spray sealer, doing one facet, letting it dry, then the opposite. Never seal a moist piece, as a result of you’ll lock the moisture inside.
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Store completed ornaments wrapped in bubble wrap in a tough container, away from moisture and the place they won’t get knocked round. Keep them dry between seasons so they don’t soften.
FAQ
How Long Do Salt Dough Ornaments Last?
Sealed and stored dry, they will final for years. There isn’t any measured lifespan to cite, however makers report lengthy life when items are totally dried, sealed on all sides, and saved away from humidity. Moisture is the principle menace. It can soften them, make them crumble, or trigger mould, so wrap and field them for storage.
Are Salt Dough Ornaments Safe Around Pets?
Only with care, as a result of they don’t seem to be meals. The salt content material is excessive sufficient to poison a canine, and a baked decoration can even trigger ache or blockage if chewed or swallowed. Keep pets out of the realm whilst you combine, roll, and dry, let items dry up excessive, and hold completed ornaments on a tall, sturdy department. If a pet eats any, name your vet or an animal poison helpline straight away.
Can You Make Salt Dough Ahead?
Yes. Raw dough retains for a few days in an hermetic bag or container with as a lot air pressed out as potential. If it went within the fridge, let it come again to room temperature earlier than rolling, as a result of chilly dough turns onerous.
For three kitchen staples, salt dough asks for lots of endurance. Make somewhat further for a take a look at piece so you’ll be able to verify your oven’s timing earlier than the handprints go in, then seal each edge, and this yr’s ornaments can nonetheless be on the tree subsequent December.
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