Salt dough ornaments are a classic for good reason — three cupboard ingredients, no special kit, and keepsakes that last for years. Kids roll, cut, and paint; you get handprint ornaments and homemade gift tags that beat anything shop-bought.
It's the perfect rainy-day or holiday craft, and it costs pennies. Here's the no-fail salt dough recipe plus how to bake, paint, and keep your ornaments.
Ingredients (the classic recipe)
- 2 cups plain flour
- 1 cup salt
- 1 cup water, added slowly
A quick note: salt dough is not edible — the salt content is very high — so keep it away from toddlers' mouths and pets.
Make them step by step
- Mix the flour and salt, then add water gradually until it forms a firm, non-sticky dough. Knead for five minutes until smooth.
- Roll it out to about a quarter-inch (0.5 cm) thick on a floured surface.
- Cut shapes with cookie cutters, a cup, or freehand. Press in leaves or stamps for texture, and poke a hole for hanging.
- Bake low and slow at about 210°F (100°C) for 2–3 hours until hard and dry — low heat stops them browning or puffing. Or air-dry over a few days.
- Cool completely.
- Paint with acrylics, then seal with clear varnish or PVA so they last.
- Thread ribbon or twine through the hole.
Ideas and uses
Salt dough ornaments make holiday decorations, gift tags, keepsake handprints, garlands, place cards, and fridge magnets — a whole afternoon's worth of gifts from a cup of flour.
Storing them
Keep sealed ornaments dry — salt dough hates humidity — and they'll last for years. For the squishy, playable cousin of this craft, try homemade natural playdough.
Made a batch of keepsakes? Share your shapes and imprints in the comments at ecoxee.com — we love a good leaf print.
Keep reading: How to Make Seed Bombs With Kids, Recycled Toilet Roll Tube Crafts for Kids, and How to Dry Orange Slices (Oven, Dehydrator & Air).
