Nothing is better than when Christmas crafts double as a decoration you can hang on your Christmas tree or elsewhere. Or even better when the thing you or your kids make lasts for years. This is why we love making salt dough ornaments, they are a fun project the whole family can make together and it’s great for making memories.
From salt dough handprints to salt dough Christmas ornaments to hang on your tree these ideas will kick start your imagination. Most likely you already have everything you need at home to start making salt dough Christmas ornaments with your kids and even if you don’t a quick stop at a grocery shop will have you all set (and it’s cheap).
No matter what kind of ornaments you make, the base recipe is always the same, although you can adjust it a little by adding spices like cinnamon for scent and color. We are also sharing our favorite salt dough recipe to make your experience a success!
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How to Make Salt Dough – Simple Salt Dough Recipe
If you have never made salt dough before, here is a quick and simple recipe you can use. This one works best for us. Making handmade ornaments is the best part of the holidays (besides food).
- flour (1 cup) – all-purpose flour is great
- half a cup of salt (1/2 cup)
- water – lukewarm (1/4 to 1/2 cup – start with 1/4 and add more if needed)
- First mix dry ingredients
- Slowly add water and stir and mix as you are adding it
- Knead the dough until the dough has an even consistency
- Roll the dough (ideally to 1/4 inch)
- Shape up your ornament (remove excess dough)
- Bake at about 200°F / 100°C (lay them on parchment paper) ) after an hour carefully turn the ornaments and bake for another hour. Check if it’s done, if not bake it for another hour, checking every once and a while.
For more tips and tricks read our whole tutorial on how to make salt dough.
Important! When making ornaments, you need to make the hole on top of each ornament for the string before you bake them. Using a straw to make the holes works great.
The Best Ideas for Salt Dough Ornaments
It’s beginning to look, and if you mix in cinnamon, smells, a lot like Christmas! We just know you and your little ones will love these ideas for homemade ornaments. These are a great way to start a fun tradition this holiday season, why not make new ones each and every year and add to your collection?
Here is a selection of our favorite salt dough ornaments.
Fingerprint Christmas Tree
This one is easily one of our favorite holiday traditions. Make a larger saltdough ornament shaped like a Christmas tree. Press in the fingerprints of all family members. Bake. Paint the ornament, turning fingerprints into baubles. Don’t forget to write the year when this handmade ornament was made.
Paw Print Salt Dough Ornament
You can include your fur babies in your ornament-making sessions. Kids will love the idea, however, this one is best done with an adult as you do need to assess if your pet is up for cooperation. That said, this is a quick one for the pet. Prepare the dough, gently press the paw to the dough, and shape the ornament. Bake and done! You can leave it as is or you can color in the print. With the use of Mod Podge, you can also add some biodegradable glitter to make this one sparkle.
Puff Paint Stars
Puff paint or puffy paint as a wonderful craft paint that has a slight 3D effect. Most of these paints are sold as fabric paints but work for regular crafts as well. Finish up your creations with these paints and they will look amazing.
Handprint Santa Salt Dough Ornament
This handprint Santa salt dough ornament is one of the Christmas staples.
Footprint Reindeer
salt dough handprint ornaments might be the most popular ones but you don’t need to limit yourself to using only handprints when footprints can work out just as great. Learn how to make a reindeer footprint keepsake.
Gingerbread Salt Dough Ornaments
These are the sweetest and not only do they look great, but they also fill your home with a festive aroma. They are made using almost the same salt dough ornament recipe as others, the difference being you will add a teaspoon or two of cinnamon to the dry ingredients and a pinch of ground cardamon. This will add a signature brown color to the dough as well as a Christmasy smell. Use a gingerbread man cookie cutter to shape them and white (preferably puffy) paint to make the decorations.
Mushrooms
Not everything has to be Christmas-themed, you can make the cutest ever mushroom homemade salt dough ornaments. Use mushroom-shaped cookie cutters (or freehand them). Once they are done, paint the top part with red or other paint and make white drops. You can also use puffy paint which will raise up the mushroom’s hat and the spots as well as give them a glossy appearance.
Nature Stamped Ornaments
When you are out and about grab some pine boughs or branches from another type of coniferous tree. You can use leaves as well, but coniferous trees capture the holiday spirit the best.
Roll out the dough, and press in the boughs and branches to emboss them on the dough. Use cookie cutters or a glass jar to cut out the shapes. Make a hole and transfer the pine-pressed ornaments to a baking sheet to bake them. Once done and once they cool down, paint the embossed parts to make them pop.
Glittery Salt Dough Ornaments
If your kids love to craft using glitter (with so many biodegradable options these days glitter is fun to use again), making glittery twinkle little stars is a must. Once baked, paint the stars with yellow or gold paint. Let it dry. Apply glue or mod podge and shower with biodegradable glitter magic.
Name Stamped Idea
If your kids want to make ones that can truly be called their own salt dough ornaments have them make these simple name-stamped ones. This one does require a bit more supplies as you will have to purchase letter stamps but it’s a great one (especially to make in the classroom as a name craft). Once done, carefully paint inside the stamped letters to make the names stand out.
Dry Pressed flowers salt dough crafts
When it comes to making this type of craft the magic is in the whole process, not just the end result (although the end result is more often than not magical). It’s the measuring, the mixing, the kneading… Getting excited to bake salt dough ornaments and taking them out of the oven. Kids should be involved in the whole process. Most of the fun with dry-pressed flower ones comes from making and baking the dough. Once out of the oven and dry, have the kids carefully apply Modge Podge or papier mache glue on the ornament and place a dry flower on top. Simple and elegant.
Heart Salt Dough Ornament
These are great for Christmas, but are even better for Valentine’s Day! When you are making a batch of salt dough, you can also add food coloring to it to turn the dough red (or another color). Depending on the food coloring (not all are equally strong) you will get different shades. You can always paint over the dough if you aren’t happy with how it turned out. To make these beautiful salt dough ornaments, press lace, a doily, or even better use an embossed cookie cutter.
Beautiful Ornaments Made With Handprints
The most heartfelt diy salt dough ornaments are without a doubt the ones made with a handprint. And even if you keep things really simple, the end result is amazing. Once the dough is rolled, have your child press their hand in. Cut out to make the desired shape and bake. Once out of the oven and cooled down, apply glue or mod podge on the handprint and sprinkle biodegradable glitter all over it. Let the glue dry and then remove excess glitter.
Use Them as Little Canvases
A classic salt dough recipe is basically just a way for you to make moldable clay at home instead of purchasing fancy air dry clays and similar, so sculpt the ornaments and make little painted artworks. This is a great idea for older kids, all it needs is a little bit of creativity. Make round or other shaped ornaments and have the kids paint little pictures on them. The sky is the limit.
Mommy and Me / Daddy and Me
One of our favorite activities when it comes to crafting are the ones that involve the whole family or at the very least a pair. This is why we love this mommy and me or daddy and me ornament.
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