Homemade Salt Dough Christmas Ornaments

Salt Dough Christmas ornaments

The one must have of crafting for the Christmas season with kids is some kind of tree ornament. Salt dough ornament making has been around since I was a kid, and I'm not going to tell you what decade that was...lol...but it's a craft that is timeless to say the least.
My daughter and I have created salt dough ornaments using regular cookie cutters, and you can get Christmas themed ones that make it extra special. 
After they were baked we used regular child friendly acrylic paint to seal them and decorate them, then hung them from ribbons on the tree. For that added touch you can have your child write their name on the back and the year they made them, so if you plan to make them every year as a tradition your child can see the progression of their crafty talents.

Ingredients:
    1 cup water
    1 cup salt
    2 cups of flour
   

Directions:

Have you and your child measure out the ingredients together and blend until a sticky dough forms. You may need to add a sprinkle or 2 more of flour to get the dough to not stick to your hands

Form a doughy ball and transfer to a floured surface, flour your rolling pin and start rolling your dough onto a sheet about 1/4 inch thick.

Use your cookie cutters to press shapes into the dough, wiggle the cookie cutter after you pressed it a bit and the shape will release better. Transfer shape to a cookie sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment sheet on it.  You don't want those pretties to stick!
Use a straw to create holes in your shapes for the ribbon to go through.

When all your shapes are created and all your dough has been used, place ornaments in the oven at the lowest possible oven temperature, 170 degree F to 200F is good but no higher. Bake for 3 hours.

After 3 hours has passed, take them out to cool. When they are cool set up your table for painting and decorating. This step can ultimately be done on a different day so this is a good longer term project.

Use acrylic paint and decorate. Let them dry and add 5 inch length of ribbon to create a loop for them to hang.

Have your child sign the back with their name and the year.  Hang them or gift them! Merry Christmas!