Glamorous Salt Dough Ornaments

Create custom holiday ornaments using a simple two-ingredient dough. Kids will learn how to shape, air-dry, and decorate their own festive keepsakes.

Tools

• white glass marker pen (1)
• black marker pen (1)

Materials

• all-purpose flour (2 cups)
• salt (1 cup)
• water (approx. 1/2 to 1 cup, added gradually)
• brown acrylic paint (1 bottle)
• rose gold acrylic paint (1 bottle)
• gold acrylic paint (1 bottle)
• small craft pearls (1 pack)

Safety

• Adult supervision required for hot materials. Burn risk.
• Adult supervision required for sharp objects.
• Small parts pose a choking hazard. Supervise young children.
• Protect work surface. Materials may stain clothing.
• Adult supervision required for children under 8.

Steps

1. In a mixing bowl, combine 2 cups of flour and 1 cup of salt, mixing them well.
2. Gradually add water to the mixture. If the dough is too dry, add a small amount more water; if it is too wet, add a bit more flour.
3. Knead the dough with your hands for a few minutes until it is soft and pliable.
4. Roll out the dough to an even thickness using a rolling pin.
5. Use cookie cutters to cut out ornament shapes (such as gingerbread men, bells, stars, or houses).
6. Before drying, add 3D details: roll tiny snakes of dough for scarves and small balls for buttons, then press them firmly onto the ornaments.
7. Use a metal straw or the lid of a pen to poke a hole in the top of each ornament for hanging.
8. Place the ornaments on an oven rack and leave them to air-dry for approximately 2.5 to 3 days.
9. Once completely dry, paint the ornaments using acrylic paints (e.g., brown for gingerbread men, rose gold for bells).
10. Use a white glass marker to outline the shapes and add fine details or patterns.
11. Add final accents using a black marker for stripes or patterns.
12. Carefully apply craft pearls using tweezers to add a glamorous finish to the ornaments.