Use this recipe to make salt dough ornaments that double as personalized gift tags – both kids and adults will love this EASY craft. Preserve the ornaments with Mod Podge.
Skills Required: Beginner. You’ll make salt dough according to the recipe, cut your shapes, and then bake it. Then you’ll paint and Mod Podge the resulting ornaments. Anyone can do this project without prior experience.
I have a confession to make: I LOVE wrapping gifts. Presentation may not be everything, but it’s worth a lot in my book. When I can add a unique, handmade, and thoughtful topper to my gifts, I’m definitely going to take the time to do so.
In addition to gift wrap, I also love Christmas ornaments. Especially something personalized, that I can make myself. “So what,” I thought, “if I can combine the two together?” So I did. AND they are a perfect craft for adults or winter boredom buster for kids. You’ll really enjoy making these!
DIY Salt Dough Ornaments
These salt dough ornaments, sealed with my new favorite Mod Podge (Sparkle!), are perfect for adding a personalized touch of fun to your gift wrap. Then, of course, you can hang them on your Christmas tree instead of throwing them away as you would a typical gift tag.
How to Make Salt Dough
Salt dough is easy to make with ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen! Our salt dough recipe is made with flour, salt, and water. It’s *really* easy and you can’t mess it up. The only thing I ask is that you don’t eat the dough, or let your children eat it. It tastes terrible anyway!
Preserving the Ornaments
You have a few options for preserving your ornaments. Before you do any preservation, you’ll want to paint them (if you want to use paint). You can paint the entire ornament or partial . . . and I recommend acrylic paint.
After that you can do one of two things. You can seal the ornaments with Mod Podge (giving them a few coats) or you can use a spray sealer. Or both. In this project, we’re using Sparkle Mod Podge to both seal the ornament and add a bit of bling to the project. So Mod Podge serves double duty in this instance!
The finish you use to preserve the salt dough is up to you – pick Satin, Gloss, or Matte depending on what you like. My personal favorite (besides the Sparkle) is a Satin finish.
How Long do Salt Dough Ornaments Last?
If you preserve your ornaments properly, salt dough can last for years. I have some dough ornaments from my childhood, so they would be at least 35 years old. They are still in great condition and there’s been no disintegration whatsoever!
Salt Dough Recipe
Gather These Supplies
- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup salt
- 3/4 – 1 cup water
- Initial cookie cutters
- Mod Podge Sparkle
- Paint for dipping (if desired)
- Twine or ribbon for hanging
Step 1:Make your dough by mixing your flour, salt, and water. If your dough is too dry, add a bit more water, if it’s too wet, just add more flour . . . salt dough is very forgiving; it’s hard to mess it up!
Step 2:Roll out your dough and cut out your initials. Place on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. You can cut your salt dough ornaments into any shape you like. I did letters, but you can use any cookie cutter shape you find.
Step 3: Use the end of a skewer to poke a hole at the top of each initial for hanging.Bake at 250 degrees for 2 – 3 hours. Let cool.
Step 4: I decided to dip my salt dough ornaments in gold paint (which I added to a cup and mixed with about a tablespoon of water to thin).
You candecorate your ornaments with glitter, craft paint, or anything else your heart desires. Dip your initials, and let dry on parchment paper.
The salt dough ornaments are being shown dipped in the paint, but you could dip them into Mod Podge and then sprinkle with glitter. If you do that, wait until dry and brush off the excess with a dry brush before hanging.
Step 5: Once dry, add a coat (or more) of Mod Podge Sparkle to help seal the ornaments and give them a bit of shimmer.
It’s as simple as that! These are so fun and easy to make, and it’s a great kids’ craft, as well!
You can tie these salt dough ornaments to gifts with baker’s twine, or you can grab some ornament hooks and put them on the tree.
They look great on top of packages . . . wouldn’t it be fun to spell out a name and tie one letter to each gift? There are so many things you can do with this idea!
Thank you so much for letting me share my salt dough ornaments with you all today! You can find lots of other tutorials and inspiration on my blog.
Yield: 16 ornaments
Salt Dough Ornaments
Learn how to make salt dough ornaments for Christmas using this how-to! This salt dough recipe can be used for many other kids' crafts.
Prep Time5 minutes
Active Time20 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
DifficultyEasy
Estimated Cost$5
Materials
- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup salt
- 3/4 - 1 cup water
- Mod Podge Sparkle
- Paint for dipping (optional)
- Baker's twine
- Parchment paper
Tools
- Cookie cutters
- Scissors
- Cookie sheet
- Oven
Instructions
- Make your dough by mixing your flour, salt and water. If your dough is too dry, add a bit more water, if it's too wet, just add more flour . . . salt dough is very forgiving; it's hard to mess it up!
- Roll out your dough and cut out your shapes (in this case, initials) with the cookie cutters. Place on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper.
- Use the end of a skewer to poke a hole at the top of each ornament for hanging.
- Bake at 250 degrees for 2-3 hours. Let cool.
- If desired, dip ornaments in paint or glitter. Let dry on parchment paper.
- Once dry, add a coat (or more) of Mod Podge Sparkle to help seal the ornaments and give them a bit of shimmer. Let dry.
- Use baker's twine to hang.
And if you are interested in making some additional gift tags with salt dough, get inspired by our faux cookie gift tags. I’d also love for you to check out these other kids’ Christmas crafts:
- Sugar Christmas Ornaments Kids Will Love
- Dollar Tree Christmas Crafts for Gifts or Decor
- Free Printable Christmas Stationery for Kids
- This Kids’ Christmas Photo Frame Is a Wreath
- DIY Salt Dough Ornaments Web Story
As a seasoned crafter with a passion for creative projects, particularly in the realm of handmade ornaments and gift embellishments, I bring a wealth of experience to guide you through the process of making salt dough ornaments. Over the years, I have explored various crafting techniques, honed my skills, and acquired in-depth knowledge about the materials and methods involved in creating personalized and visually appealing decorations.
Let's delve into the key concepts and steps outlined in the article:
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Salt Dough Recipe:
- The salt dough recipe is a fundamental aspect of this craft. It involves a simple mixture of 2 cups of flour, 1 cup of salt, and 3/4 to 1 cup of water. The forgiving nature of salt dough allows for adjustments—if the dough is too dry, add water; if too wet, add more flour.
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Making the Dough:
- The process begins by mixing flour, salt, and water to form the salt dough. The article emphasizes the forgiving nature of salt dough, making it suitable for beginners.
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Shaping and Cutting:
- After making the dough, it is rolled out, and shapes are cut using cookie cutters. In this specific project, the shapes are initials, but any desired shape can be used.
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Baking:
- The cut-out shapes are then baked at 250 degrees for 2-3 hours. This step is crucial for hardening the ornaments and preparing them for further decoration.
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Decoration Options:
- Once baked and cooled, the ornaments can be decorated in various ways. The article suggests dipping them in paint (in this case, gold paint mixed with water) for a unique and festive touch. Other decoration options include glitter, craft paint, or any desired embellishments.
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Preservation:
- Preserving the salt dough ornaments is essential for longevity. The article introduces two preservation options—using Mod Podge (Sparkle Mod Podge is recommended for added shimmer) or a spray sealer. The choice of finish (satin, gloss, or matte) is left to personal preference.
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Hanging the Ornaments:
- To hang the ornaments, a hole is poked at the top of each shape using the end of a skewer. Baker's twine is suggested for hanging, providing a rustic and festive look.
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Durability:
- Properly preserved salt dough ornaments can last for years. The author shares a personal experience of having salt dough ornaments from childhood that are still in great condition after at least 35 years.
This comprehensive guide caters to both beginners and enthusiasts, making the creation of salt dough ornaments an enjoyable and accessible craft for all. The personalized touch of these ornaments adds a unique and thoughtful element to gift wrapping and Christmas decorations.
