Whether you have fond childhood memories of making salt dough ornaments around the kitchen table, or you just want to bring a touch of retro nostalgia to the holidays, this creative DIY craft may just become your new favorite family tradition. Perfect for gifting, or decorating a tree; vintage-inspired salt dough ornaments cost mere pennies to make, and use three simple ingredients already found in your kitchen: salt, flour, and water! So preheat your oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit, set up a clean workspace on your kitchen countertops, and let’s get crafting!
How To Make Salt Dough
In a large bowl, mix two cups of all-purpose flour with a cup of salt and a cup of water from your kitchen sink (depending on how many ornaments you want to make, this recipe can be easily doubled or halved, accordingly). Blend with a wooden spoon until a sticky dough forms.
Turning Salt Dough Into Ornaments
The easiest way to make your own salt dough ornaments is to use cookie cutters in festive seasonal shapes. Roll your dough a quarter-inch thick on a lightly floured surface, cut out your ornaments, add them to a parchment-lined cookie sheet with a spatula, and use a toothpick to pierce a hole at the top (for adding ribbon later). Bake your ornaments for 4 hours or until set, and allow them to cool completely before decorating with acrylic paint or permanent markers. Don’t worry ‑ although cute, these ornaments are nowhere near edible, so have fun!
If you’re crafty, get creative by making your own unique creations, be it hand-formed snowmen, or ornaments that look like your family members! Just shape the salt dough any way you see fit. For people, form and flatten a small ball for the head. Cut strips of dough for the arms and legs, pressing each piece together securely to the torso — whether you choose round, rectangular or triangular, it’s up to you! Be sure to brush on a little warm water first as glue. Roll out small bits of dough for the hair, and add curls, dips and flips if required. Use a toothpick to press in the small details securely, again with a drop of warm water to help it stick. Once fully baked and cooled, decorate to your hearts content.
While they take a little more work and creativity than using cookie cutters, salt dough people are one-of-kind ornament made with love. And if you can DIY kitchen cabinets, you can certainly make vintage salt dough ornaments in your kitchen — just like you did when you were a kid.
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