Salt Dough Hand and Foot Imprint Keepsakes and Holiday Ornaments.
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I love a good craft. I just really do. And I’m certainly guilty of getting too involved at times but am usually so proud of myself (and my daughter if she’s helping) and the end result.
Homemade holiday gifts are the best kind I think. As a culture in America we often put so much emphasis on things and the purchasing of gifts. Less can be more, and we are hoping to adopt this more and more in our lives so our daughter can too! Salt dough ornaments are about the cheapest craft that you can do! They also allow for a wide range of time commitment and creativity level (also a huge bonus). Depending on the age of your kiddo, they can even be involved in much of the project, which is an activity-creating bonus. What I’m trying to say is, you can’t go wrong.
Salt Dough for Ornaments and Imprints
Equipment
- Oven
- Rolling Pin
- Knife or cookie cutters
- Baking sheet and silicone non-stick mat
- Metal straw or item to poke hole
- Paint and/or other items for decoration (Tempera Paint recommended)
Ingredients
- 2 cups All-Purpose Flour
- 1 cup Salt (Fine works better than coarse)
- 1 cup Water
- 1/8 teaspoon Cinnamon Optional, but great for added color and scent
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 250°F.
- Measure and mix the flour, salt and cinnamon together.
- Add the water and mix. Once a dough starts to form, kneed until firm and well mixed. This will take a few minutes.
- Sprinkle some extra flour onto a clean countertop and onto a rolling pin. Roll dough until it is 1/4-1/3" thick.
- Decide what types of shapes or imprints you could like to create. If using cookie cutters for shapes, cut out shapes. If creating imprints of hands or feet, firmly place into dough until imprint is visible to at least several millimeters deep. Use a circular item or knife to cut around imprint as desired. Smooth edges.
- If creating an ornament or desire to hang the salt dough, punch a hole in the dough prior to baking. Metal straws are a perfect tool for this.
- Place onto silicone mat lined baking sheet, with imprint or best side facing up.
- Bake for 1.5 hours.
- Flip dough and bake for another 1.5 hours.
- Leave out to continue to dry overnight at minimum prior to decorating.
- Decorate or leave simple as desired.
There are so many options for decorating (or not). These are a great way to remember those newborn footprints and handprints without any decoration at all (and a cheaper alternative to the kits that can be purchased).
For the holidays, I decided on hand print Santa Clauses as we celebrate Christmas in our house hold. I have a dream and hope to create these every year to watch as Poppy’s handprints grow and change. Two years down and many to go (fingers crossed).
This year I also decided on trees. I used cookie cutters to cut out the shapes, painted the bases green (let it dry) and gave Poppy some q-tips to dab in paint and create ornaments on the trees. This worked even better than expected and was so easy and she really enjoyed herself. My favorite paint is Crayola Tempera Paint but I’m sure most paints would work without issue. Several coats may be needed depending on the desired look for the project.
I also cut a few additional shapes such as a snow man and let her freestyle paint her own “painting” – which she has been affectionately calling it for weeks now as she puts it on and off the tree.
My husband also decided to get his creative juices flowing and jumped in on the action creating this excellent reindeer. (I couldn’t help myself but to include it too!). He even found a pom pom for the nose!
The most important take away here is the fun and heartfelt keepsakes they create. Keep them for yourself or share with friends and family – either way they will certainly create joy.
What shapes should we try next? Have you tried and enjoyed salt dough imprints? Leave your comments below!
Let’s talk soon,
Al