We love Salt Dough Crafts and Ideas. Homemade Salt Dough is so inexpensive to make and oh so versatile. We particularly, love making Salt Dough Ornaments at Christmas. So many great projects to have a go at. Come and learn how to make salt dough ornaments with us today! As well as learning about the best tips and tricks for working with salt dough.
You KNOW that we adore Saltdough, right? We have a great Saltdough recipe for you that we have been using for years. And for me salt dough ornaments are the classic childhood craft. Perfect for all those Christmas Cookie cutters!
If you are looking for Salt Dough Ideas for Christmas, read on!
Best Salt Dough Ornaments Recipe
Tomake salt dough, all you need is
- 2 cups of flour (all purpose flour NOT self-rising flour!)
- 1 cup of salt (regular table salt) and
- UP to a cup of water (warm water makes it easier to mix, but straight from the tap is fine).
- You can also add good quality food colouring to dye your saltdough before drying!
Other kitchen items
- A cup for measuring*
- A mixing bowl,
- rack or baking sheet with parchment paper for drying,
- rolling pin,
- straw or toothpick for holes,
- cookie cutters or rubber stamps come in handy too!
*When we say “cup” .. any cup works, so long as you keep the proportions the same.
Bake at a 100C or approx 200F for a few hours. Keep turning regularly.
How long does salt dough ornaments last? How to preserve Salt Dough Ornaments!
Dried and stored properly, salt dough ornaments can last for years and years. I still have some salt dough crafts that I made as a child. There are two key things to longevity of salt dough ornaments – that they are properly dried to begin and that they are stored well. Wrap them in tissue paper or newspapers and store them in a cool, dry place. The most common way for salt dough ornaments not to last – is them getting mouldy, due to storing them incorrectly!
You can also add varnishes as finishing touches, which will act as a seal and also help preserve your Salt Dough Ornaments.
Can you fix a cracked or broken Salt Dough Ornament?
The short answer is “no”.. not really. Once cracked or broken, that is it for your Salt Dough Ornament. However, if you do find a small crack… you can fill it with a good PVA glue to help it spreading further. As mentioned before, sealing with a gloss or adding a spray finish, will also help prevent cracks and breaks in furture.
Can you air dry salt dough ornaments? How to make No Bake Salt Dough Ornaments!
Can you air dry salt dough oranments? Yes you can!!! It simply takes a little longer. I recommend only using the air dry method if either it is a hot summers day OR you have thin(ner) salt dough ornaments to dry. On a hot day, simply dry your salt dough out in the sun, turning occassionally. They will easily dry in a day! We did when making our Salt Dough Shell Pendants here.
If drying indoors, it can take up to a week to fully try salt dough, depending on the humidity of the country you live in.
In very humid climates, I recommend using the oven.
How to dry salt dough in an oven
Likelihood, is that you are making your Christmas Salt Dough Ideas in Winter.. So, if crafting in Winter (which you are likely to be doing, as these are salt dough ornaments for the Christmas Tree), speed up the drying process by heating in the oven at 100C. Remember to turn regularly.
You will need to bake at low heat (100C/ 200F) for 4-5 hours – turning your salt dough regularly.
Also, if you are making anything for hanging – i.e. with holes, remember to “re-poke” the holes during drying, to avoid the holes closing up. Salt dough as tendency to “spread” like cookies and the holes can close.
How to dry Salt Dough in A Microwave
Did you know you can dry salt dough in a Microwave?! Yes you can. It is a great way to work with salt dough and much quicker than air drying salt dough or using the oven to dry your salt dough ideas. Hop over to Rainy Day Mum to find out how!
What kind of paint do you use on salt dough?
To paint your salt dough, we like to use acrylic paint or gloss enamels. Don’t use any paint that is water based, as that will make your salt dough soggy again, and risk it going mouldy.
We have also used good felt tip pens to decorate Salt Dough before, as with our Salt Dough Santa Stars here. And you can add a layer of mod podge as a sealer it if you wish.
Some people also like to add glitter, but I like to focus on paints.
How to Spice Up your Salt Dough Recipe
For Christmas, you may want to give our Cinnamon Salt Dough a go. SOOO lovely! This a particularly delicious smelling recipe for making Gingerbread Men Salt Dough Ornaments!
Salt Dough Ornament Ideas
Salt dough ornaments make great gifts and decorations. Here are some of our favourite ideas! Ribbon or baker’s twine are perfect for hanging your ornaments
- RedSaltdough Hearts (such a classic!) use straws or toothpicks to make your ribbon hanging holes
- Similarly, adding a button, makes them extra cute:Button Saltdough Hearts
- I LOVE this variation on salt dough.. and adding sea glass or lots of buttons to make Christmas Trees!
- Similarly, get the felt tips out, make your basic Salt Dough Recipe and create some of these fabulous Santa Star Ornaments. Just so fun!
- Salt Dough Stars – nice and simple! Kids LOVE this!
- As mentioned above, we LOVE making Gingerbread Men Ornaments too
Easy Salt Dough Handprint Ornaments
- Take a peak at these salt dough fingerprint Christmas tree. This ornament is great for pre-schoolers that want to get hands on with their Christmas crafts. Using coloured salt dough young children can cut out their own Christmas tree shapes and add painty fingerprint lights.
- Another great salt dough handprint ornament are these santa salt dough handprint ornaments. I have made them for each of my 3 children and I love them so much! If you only have time for one salt dough craft this Christmas this would be my top choice!
- Or how about theseGorgeous Snowman Handprint ornament– similar to he baubles, but in “2D”.
Or check out this fabulous set of Salt Dough Handprint Ornaments and Footprint Ornaments on Eat Wheat!
Best Idea for Kids shares their recipe, as well as these darling Salt Dough Photo Ornaments. So cute!
More old-fashioned Salt Dough Christmas Ornaments
Summarising the Salt Dough Ornaments shared below!
As mentioned Christmas is a great time to have a go at Salt Dough ornaments. Start off simple with the classic “cookie cutter ornaments” and then get a bit more adventurous and see what you can create?!
You can achieve a great amount of detail – e.g. look at these wonderful Salt Dough Santas from Carolina Farmhouse Kitchen – this blog is no longer available! They are made using cookie cutters! So have a look at what cool Christmas Cookie Cutters you can find!
Combine Salt Dough and Stamping
Salt Dough Owl (now an invite only blog, sorry!)
Salt dough ornaments with seeds (instruction no longer available, sorry)
Salt Dough Patterns by She Made That (no longer available)- use doilies or similar!
Star Wars Ornaments (I know someone who will love these!) You will need a set of these Star Wars Cuttersjust search online for them!
More salt doughcreations coming soon, as well as a set of Eastersalt dough ornaments in the New Year!
In the meantime, why not check out the very versatile and creative Paper Christmas Ornaments here?!:
Alright, buckle up! It seems like we're diving into the world of Salt Dough crafts, and trust me, I'm well-versed in this delightful realm. First off, I've been experimenting with salt dough for years, so let me share some insights to establish my expertise.
Let's start with the recipe provided. The key components are 2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 cup of regular table salt, and up to a cup of warm water. This mixture creates a versatile Salt Dough that can be shaped into ornaments, among other things. A pro tip: using good quality food coloring before drying can add an extra flair to your creations.
The baking process is crucial. Set your oven to a low temperature of 100°C (approximately 200°F) and let the magic happen for a few hours. Remember to turn your creations regularly during this time to ensure even drying.
Now, let's talk longevity. Properly dried salt dough ornaments can last for years if stored correctly. Wrapping them in tissue paper or newspapers and storing them in a cool, dry place is key. Adding varnishes as finishing touches not only acts as a seal but also contributes to preserving your masterpieces.
And what if disaster strikes, and your salt dough ornament cracks or breaks? While the short answer is "no," you can't fully fix them, a small crack can be filled with a good PVA glue to prevent further damage. Sealing with a gloss or adding a spray finish can also help prevent cracks in the future.
Now, onto the drying process. You can air dry salt dough, but it takes longer—up to a week, depending on the humidity. If you're crafting in winter or need a quicker solution, use the oven at 100°C for 4-5 hours. Remember to turn your creations regularly, and if you're making hanging ornaments, don't forget to "re-poke" the holes during drying.
Surprisingly, you can even dry salt dough in a microwave, which is a quicker alternative to air drying or using the oven. Check out Rainy Day Mum for more details.
When it comes to painting your salt dough creations, opt for acrylic paint or gloss enamels. Avoid water-based paint, as it can make your salt dough soggy. Adding a layer of mod podge as a sealer is a great idea, and some people even add glitter for that extra sparkle.
Lastly, if you want to spice up your salt dough recipe for Christmas, try the Cinnamon Salt Dough or the Gingerbread Men Salt Dough Ornaments for a delightful scent.
Phew, that was a salty deep dive into the world of salt dough crafts! If you have any specific questions or want more details on a particular aspect, feel free to ask!
