This is an easy salt dough recipe for ornaments that works perfectly with any cookie cutter shape. Plus, this salt dough recipe makes 40-60 ornaments (depending on size of course) that will keep the whole family painting for days!
There are few occasions that can’t be spruced up by a beautiful ornament. They adorn our trees on Christmas, are hung throughout our homes on Easter and Valentine’s Day, and can even add a spooky touch to our Halloween decor. Whatever the reason behind your ornaments, they hold a special place in your heart. This can be especially true for salt dough ornaments that you put some hard work and a lot of love into handmaking.
Salt dough ornaments are a neat alternative to impersonal store-bought decorations.
They give you complete control over the final look, from the shape of the ornament to how it’s decorated. Best of all, these baked baubles are relatively easy to make.
3 Ingredient Salt Dough Recipe
Before we get to discussing the specifics of decorating the ornaments, you’ll need to know how to make salt dough. For your ornaments, let’s use my crafting recipe.
It’s a tried-and-true concoction that’s created many delights. Be sure to follow every step to ensure your salt dough will stand up as an ornament and can be hung with ease. The recipe is followed by a few common questions you may have while mixing your dough.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 cup table salt
- 1 cup cold water
- Straw
- Cookie cutters
- Baker’s twine
How to make Salt Dough
Mix flour and salt together in a bowl.
Add water and mix until dough forms.
Remove from bowl and knead on a lightly floured surface for 5 minutes.
Let stand for 10 minutes.
Working in small batches, roll dough 1/8” thick.
Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes.
Transfer to a baking sheet.
Use a straw to cut holes into the cut outs after you move them to the baking sheet.
Preheat oven to 250 and bake for 2 hours or until dry.
Remove from oven and cool completely before cutting a string and attaching.
Is Salt Dough Waterproof?
No. Like just about anything that is flour-based, salt dough is susceptible to moisture. It’s important to keep your dough away from heavy moisture until you’ve had a chance to seal it.
Water can break down the ornament and even lead to mold formation if not properly treated.
Can You Air Dry Salt Dough?
Yes, you can air-dry your salt dough if you prefer it to oven-drying. Air drying will increase the completion time, possibly by more than a day, if the conditions are too humid. Oven-drying is much more convenient and quicker, but the process can alter the dough’s color and texture. If you have the time (and patient kids), air-drying can deliver the most durable and smoothest results.
Why Did My Salt Dough Become Sticky?
A sticky dough simply means that there is too much moisture. When salt dough is too wet, the finished product can be difficult to work with. Simply add flour one tablespoon at a time until the dough feels dryer. Also, be sure to keep the kneading surface floured.
Will Salt Dough Rise?
It shouldn’t. Since salt dough doesn’t use yeast, you shouldn’t see a change in its size. If you see that it has risen, check to make sure you didn’t use self-raising flour. Drying it in an oven that’s too hot can also lead to the dough puffing up.
How to Make Salt Dough Ornaments
Arguably the most important step of the salt dough recipe is using the straw to cut out the hole for the baker’s string. It’s what helps make it an ornament you can easily display on a Christmas tree or as part of any holiday garland.
With the dough cut out and cooled, it’s time to decorate them for the season. If this is your first time working with salt dough, questions are commonplace. To ensure your ornaments come out exactly as you imagined, read ahead for an FAQ on the best practices for decorating salt dough ornaments.
What Do I Need to Decorate Salt Dough Ornaments?
You need only our imagination, some paint, paintbrushes, sealant, and any other adornments you want to use. You can add quite a bit to your salt dough ornaments to personalize them and make them unique. It’s also good to have a few rags, some water, and a tablecloth on hand to minimize the mess.
What Paints Can I Use?
Though you can use watercolor paints (sparingly and with a higher paint to water ratio), the best type of paint for salt dough ornaments is acrylic. Before applying your colors, though, it’s recommended that you cover the ornament with a white base. You can use simple wall primer to make sure you get good coverage with the acrylic paint you’ve chosen. No two acrylics are alike, so you may find some dry different than others and may crack. It may be worth trying the paint on a test ornament to ensure it is satisfactory.
Have a healthy supply of brushes on hand. You will bounce between colors and find that thicker brushes are more difficult to do finer detailing with.
- Our Favorite Brushes for Kids
- Our Favorite Water Color Paint for Kids
- Our Favorite Acrylic Paint Set For Kids
How Do I Make Glitter Stick?
The easiest way is to use wet paint. Use a paint that’s similar in color to the glitter to work as the glue. This way, should some of the glitter fall off over time, it’s not noticeable. Be sure to let the paint dry completely before handling the ornament to prevent too much glitter loss.
Do Salt Dough Ornaments Need to be Sealed?
You absolutely want to seal your salt dough ornament. The proper sealant with help your finished décor survive through the years so you can pass it down to future generations. Mod Podge clear acrylic sealer will do the job, as will any standard clear spray-on glaze. That layer of sealant not only preserves your ornament but also gives it a shimmering glossy appearance.
How Do I Store My Ornaments?
Though the sealant should protect your ornament, it’s still a fragile item that needs to be stored properly. Try to keep them away from high heat and humidity by storing them indoors and not in an attic. Use wax paper to layer them and store them in a sturdy box that’s not too big.
Can You Repair Salt Dough Ornaments?
Unfortunately, you can’t really repair a crack in a salt dough ornament. You can, however, reinforce the crack with craft glue and cover it with paint. Alternatively, you can use colored craft glue to fill in the crack and add a new element to your ornament.
You are officially ready to tackle making your own salt dough ornaments. Refer to the information above as needed during the process, have some patience with your first attempt, and remember to have fun! Making the ornaments is just as much about the memories as it is about putting your holiday creations on display.
Salt Dough Recipe Only 3 Ingredients!
Materials
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 cup table salt
- 1 cup cold water
- Straw
- Cookie cutters
- Baker’s twine
Instructions
- Mix flour and salt together in a bowl.
- Add water and mix until dough forms.
- Remove from bowl and knead on a lightly floured surface for 5 minutes.
- Let stand for 10 minutes.
- Working in small batches, roll dough 1/8” thick and use cookie cutters to cut out shapes.
- Transfer to a baking sheet. Use a straw to cut holes into the cut outs after you move them to the baking sheet.
- Preheat oven to 250 and bake for 2 hours or until dry.
- Remove from oven and cool completely before cutting a string and attaching.
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