If you’re someone who loves adding a personal touch to your holiday decorations, you’re going to adore this DIY Salt Dough Ornaments: Simple Homemade Crafting for Holidays Recipe. These charming, handcrafted ornaments are not only a fun project for all ages but also a heartfelt way to bring warm memories into your festive season. With just a few everyday ingredients and a little creativity, you can craft beautiful keepsakes that brighten your tree and make unforgettable gifts. Let’s dive into this delightful tradition that turns simple dough into lasting holiday magic.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The beauty of this DIY Salt Dough Ornaments: Simple Homemade Crafting for Holidays Recipe lies in its simplicity. Each ingredient plays a vital role in delivering the perfect texture and durability for your ornaments, making sure they’re sturdy enough to last year after year.
- 4 cups all-purpose flour: This forms the dough’s base, giving it structure and a smooth feel for easy rolling.
- 1 cup table salt: Adds firmness and helps preserve the dough so your ornaments dry hard and maintain their shape.
- 1 ½ cups warm water: Binds the flour and salt together, making the dough soft and pliable without being sticky.
How to Make DIY Salt Dough Ornaments: Simple Homemade Crafting for Holidays Recipe
Step 1: Make the Dough
Begin by whisking together the flour and salt in a large bowl. Gradually add warm water while stirring gently, then switch to using your hands to knead the mixture. Knead for about five minutes until you have a soft, workable dough that’s not sticky. This tactile step is therapeutic and sets the stage for playful crafting ahead.
Step 2: Prepare for Shaping
Preheat your oven to a low 200°F to ensure slow, even drying. Split your dough in half and sandwich it between two large sheets of parchment paper. Roll it out carefully until the dough is about an eighth of an inch thick, creating the perfect canvas for shapes and patterns.
Step 3: Cut Out Your Ornaments
Remove the top parchment sheet and use cookie cutters to create festive shapes. Leave the cutouts on the bottom parchment while peeling away the excess dough. Remember to gently poke a hole near the top of each piece with a straw or toothpick so you can easily thread ribbons through later.
Step 4: Bake the Ornaments
Slide the parchment with your dough shapes onto a baking sheet and place it in the oven. Bake slowly, checking around the one-hour mark, but be prepared for up to two hours depending on the thickness. The key is to bake until the ornaments harden throughout without browning or cracking.
Step 5: Decorate and Finish
Once cooled completely, unleash your artistic side: paint, add glitter, or even write personalized messages. To protect your masterpieces for years, a light spray of polyurethane works wonders. Thread ribbons through the holes, and your delightful DIY Salt Dough Ornaments: Simple Homemade Crafting for Holidays Recipe are ready to hang or gift.
How to Serve DIY Salt Dough Ornaments: Simple Homemade Crafting for Holidays Recipe
Garnishes
While these ornaments aren’t edible, think of your decorating as the garnish that brings their character to life. Use vibrant paints, shimmering glitter, or even tiny beads to give each piece its unique personality. Metallic markers or cute handprints are charming ways to make your ornaments stand out.
Side Dishes
Pair your crafting session with some cozy side “dishes” like hot cocoa, holiday cookies, or an upbeat playlist to make the whole experience more festive. These little extras set the mood and make creating your DIY Salt Dough Ornaments: Simple Homemade Crafting for Holidays Recipe feel even more special.
Creative Ways to Present
Once ready, consider gifting these ornaments in rustic tins, festive boxes, or wrapped in tissue paper with a sprig of pine. You can also create themed sets—think snowflakes, hearts, or stars—making every gift beautifully curated and personal.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you have leftover dough, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator for up to a week. When you’re ready, knead it gently to restore pliability before rolling it out again for another crafting session.
Freezing
While freezing raw dough is not recommended because it can affect texture, you can freeze fully baked and painted ornaments. Wrap them securely in tissue paper and place them inside airtight containers to protect during storage.
Reheating
Since these salt dough ornaments are a crafting project rather than edible items, reheating usually means gently warming them to fix any slight moisture. If ornaments become damp, place them in a low oven (around 150°F) for 10–15 minutes to help dry them out and restore crispness.
FAQs
Can I use a different type of flour for this DIY Salt Dough Ornaments: Simple Homemade Crafting for Holidays Recipe?
All-purpose flour works best for the right texture, but you can experiment with whole wheat or gluten-free flours. Just keep in mind they may change the softness or color of your final ornaments.
How long do these salt dough ornaments last?
Properly baked and sealed with polyurethane spray, these ornaments can last for decades. It’s a great way to preserve family memories year after year.
Is it safe for kids to make this dough?
Absolutely! The ingredients are safe and non-toxic, making it a perfect hands-on holiday activity for children with adult supervision during oven use.
Can I add color to the dough itself before baking?
Yes, you can mix in food coloring or natural dyes into the water before kneading to create colored dough, which adds an extra layer of fun to your crafting.
What if my ornaments crack while baking?
Cracks usually happen if the dough is too thin or too dry. Try rolling the dough evenly and keeping the oven temperature low to avoid rapid drying, which helps maintain smooth, crack-free ornaments.
Final Thoughts
This DIY Salt Dough Ornaments: Simple Homemade Crafting for Holidays Recipe is such a joyful way to connect with the spirit of the season while creating timeless keepsakes. Whether you’re crafting solo or making it a family tradition, these ornaments bring endless smiles and sparkle to holiday décor. Give it a try—you might just find your new favorite holiday ritual!
Print
DIY Salt Dough Ornaments: Simple Homemade Crafting for Holidays Recipe
- Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
- Yield: 30 ornaments
Description
Create fun and lasting holiday ornaments with this easy homemade salt dough recipe. Combining simple pantry ingredients, you’ll make decorative shapes to bake and personalize, perfect for gifting or festive decor that can last decades with proper sealing.
Ingredients
Salt Dough Ingredients
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup table salt
- 1 ½ cups warm water
Instructions
- To Make Dough: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. Slowly stream in the warm water while stirring continuously until the mixture begins to form a dough. Finish mixing with your hands and knead the dough until it becomes soft and pliable, about five minutes.
- To Roll Out Dough: Preheat your oven to 200°F (93°C). Divide the dough in half. Place one half between two large sheets of parchment paper and roll it out evenly until it is about 1/8 inch thick. Remove the top piece of parchment paper carefully to expose the rolled dough.
- To Cut Shapes: Use cookie cutters to cut out desired shapes from the rolled dough, leaving them on the parchment paper. Carefully peel away the excess dough surrounding the shapes.
- To Prepare for Baking: Transfer the parchment paper with the cut-out shapes onto a baking sheet. Use a straw or toothpick to poke a small hole near the top of each ornament for threading ribbon or hangers later.
- To Bake Ornaments: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven. Bake until the ornaments are hard, starting to check at the 1-hour mark. Depending on thickness, baking can take up to 2 hours. Remove from oven once firm and let cool completely.
- To Decorate and Preserve: After cooling, decorate your ornaments using glitter, paint, or other craft supplies. To ensure longevity and durability, apply a light coat of polyurethane spray. Once dry, thread a ribbon through the hole and hang your handmade ornaments on the tree or gift them.
Notes
- Make sure the dough is kneaded until soft to avoid cracks in your ornaments.
- Baking time varies with thickness; check periodically to prevent overbaking or browning.
- The polyurethane spray preserves ornaments for decades; use in a well-ventilated area.
- Store finished ornaments in a dry place to avoid moisture damage.
- Use different cookie cutter shapes to create a variety of ornaments.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Category: Crafting
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
