Making and Storing Salt Dough Ornaments

SALT DOUGH ORNAMENTS

Are you searching for an iconic Christmas activity to do with your kids? Learn how to make classic salt dough ornaments with our quick, easy, and thorough method. We provide baking instructions, painting tips, and storage information. These ornaments make fantastic decorations, garlands, and holiday gifts for families and teachers.

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EQUIPMENT

Rolling Pin

Cookie cutters

Drinking straw for hole-making object

Baking sheet

Ribbon or twine for hanging and optional: acrylic paint, glitter, or stamps

Mod Podge (optional)

INGREDIENTS

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup salt

¾ cup to 1 cup water 

3-4 tbsp ground cinnamon (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS 

Making salt dough at home is as easy as combining three pantry staples together into a dough.

If baking, preheat the oven to 250°F.

Blend salt and flour in a large bowl. Add cinnamon if you want cinnamon-scented ornaments. Then gradually add water and knead the dough with your hands until it reaches your desired texture. If the dough feels too sticky, add more flour. If it’s too dry, you can gradually add more water.

Roll dough out until 1/4 inch thick or less, depending on the desired thickness.

Cut dough into shapes with cookie cutters, or sculpt it into desired shapes. Press handprint or stamps into soft dough if desired.

Using a drinking straw, to make small holes in the ornaments to hang them later.

Let salt dough ornaments air dry for 4-7 days (no-bake option), or bake on a cookie sheet at 250°F for 1.5 to 2 hours or until all moisture is gone.

Decorate salt dough ornaments with acrylic paint, glitter, or other decorations of your choosing. Hang with ribbon or twine. 

Tips

Saving your dough for later. If you’re not ready to use all of your dough, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and place it in the fridge for 1-2 days.

Ornament color. The bottom of the ornaments tends to be a darker brown after drying. Consider flipping the ornaments face down on a smooth cookie sheet to achieve a darker look.   You can also add more cinnamon for a deeper color.

For glitter ornaments, apply glitter while the paint is wet, or use Mod Podge before/after applying glitter.

When stored properly, salt dough ornaments will last many years. The salt itself acts as a preservative.

To preserve your salt dough ornaments properly, make sure you have fully dried the ornaments (at least one week if air-drying). Then, wrap them in tissue paper or packing paper before storing them in a low-humidity location. For good measure, you can always apply a sealer like Mod Podge.

Best Paint for Salt Dough Ornaments:  I like using regular acrylic craft paint since it holds up best on crafts.

Love hearts 💏

Painting some hearts.

Love heart garland.