Salt Dough Ornaments: A Mess-Free, Kid-Approved Craft

Kids love making a batch of salt dough and turning it into sparkling ornaments. It’s easy, inexpensive, and perfect for holidays, classrooms, or rainy day projects. 

What You’ll Need

• 4 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 cup salt

• 1 ½ cups warm water

Optional: a few drops of food coloring or acrylic paint, glitter, cookie cutters, rolling pin, wooden skewer or straw, ribbon or string for hanging

(Salt Dough)

This classic salt dough recipe is safe for kids and easy for them to mix.

• In a large bowl, combine 4 cups flour and 1 cup salt.

• Gradually add 1 ½ cups warm water, mixing until a shaggy dough forms.

• Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for about 5–7 minutes, until smooth and pliable. If the dough is too dry, add a splash more water; if too sticky, dust with a little more flour.

Optional: Divide the dough and tint portions with a few drops of food coloring before kneading if you want colored ornaments.

Step-by-Step Instructions

*Roll Out the Dough*

   Lightly flour your workspace and roll the dough to about 1/4 inch thickness. Thinner dough will bake faster and be crisper; thicker dough will be softer.

*Cut Out Shapes*

   Use cookie cutters to create fun shapes (stars, trees, hearts, bells)

*Add Holes for Hanging* 

   Use a straw, or toothpick to poke a hole at the top of each ornament. This is where the ribbon will go once baked and cooled.

*Bake*

   Place shapes on a parchment-lined baking sheet. 

Bake at a low temperature:

   - Preheat to 250°F (120°C) for a crisp, lasting ornament, or

   - 325°F (165°C) for a quicker bake with a slightly softer texture.

   Bake for 2–3 hours (check every so often). Thicker pieces will take longer.

The ornaments are done when they are completely hard and dry to the touch. Avoid browning.

*Cool*

   Let the shapes cool completely on a rack before decorating.

*Decorate*  

   •Paint with acrylic craft paints or watercolors.

   •Add glitter, markers, or decoupage with mod podge.

   •Seal with a clear acrylic sealer for a lasting finish (especially if the ornaments will be handled a lot or used outdoors).

*Hang*

   Thread ribbon, string, or twine through the hole and tie a knot. Enjoy your handmade decorations on the tree, windows, or as festive gifts.

Kid-Friendly Tips

☆Safety first: Supervise younger children around the oven. Have an adult handle the baking.

☆Texture tips: If dough is cracking while shaping, wrap it in a damp towel for a few minutes to soften, then continue.

☆Easy cleanup: use a throwaway table cloth and wipe surfaces with a damp paper towel before washing utensils to keep flour dust down.

☆Teaching moments: Talk about measurements, science of dough, and how the salt preserves the dough as it dries.

Variations to Try

*Color Burst Dough* Add a few drops of gel food coloring to the water before mixing to color the entire dough, or divide and color portions differently for multicolored ornaments.

*Marbled Look* Roll two colors together lightly to create a marbled effect before cutting shapes.

*Stamp Designs* Press the back end of a clean pencil, leaf, or small vegetable peeler into the dough to create patterns.

•Dough too dry: Add a little more warm water, one tablespoon at a time.

•Dough too sticky: Dust with a bit more flour and knead until smooth.

•Fractured dough after baking: Thick pieces take longer to dry; bake longer at a low temperature and ensure they are completely dry before decorating.

Printable Quick-Reference

Flour: 4 cups

Salt: 1 cup

Warm Water: 1 ½ cups

Bake Temperature: 250–325°F (120–165°C)

Bake Time: 2–3 hours (check periodically)

Optional: Food coloring, paints, glitter, ribbon