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Handprint ornament recipe


The Best Salt Dough (for Ornaments and Crafting!) to Make with the Kids

Learn how to make classic salt dough with the kids, with baking, painting, and storage info. This method is straight forward, easy, and thorough—and they a perfect kids holiday gift for grandparents, teachers, and loved ones!

Salt Dough 

This salt dough is a staple of childhood and I love doing this Christmas activity with my kids each year—and throughout the rest of the year too! We love to make salt dough handprints, ornaments, and sometimes, just any old shape they want to. It’s an easy project that we can do together—and then share as kid-made holiday gifts, keepsakes, or house decorations.

Salt Dough Recipe

Making salt dough at home is as easy as combining three pantry staples together into a dough. It’s fairly fool proof (as long as you follow the measurements!) and is a recipe that even little kids can help make.

Ingredients in Salt Dough

To make this recipe, you’ll need:

  • table salt
  • all-purpose flour
  • water

TIP: That’s it! (I buy store brand, cheap flour for this since project to keep it very budget-friendly. )

How to Make Salt Dough Ornaments Step-by-Step

Here’s a look at how to make the dough for this salt dough. Scroll down to the bottom of the post for the full information. 

  1. Measure out the flour and water. (photo 1)
  2. Add the water. (photo 2)
  3. Stir with a wooden spoon. (photo 3)
  4. Keep stirring until the dough is mostly together and is hard to stir any longer. (photo 4)
  5. Knead a few times with hands to bring the dough together. (photo 5)
  6. Place dough between two pieces of parchment paper and roll out. (photo 6)

TIP: You can divide the dough in sections so multiple kids can have their own dough to work with.

How to Cut Out, Bake and Decorate Salt Dough Ornaments

Once you start rolling, here’s a look at what will follow if you want to make these into ornaments. (Skip the hole poking if you want to just make these as shapes for the kids to paint. )

  1. Roll out, changing directions occasionally, until about 1/4-inch thick. (This may not get precise if you’re working with kids and that’s okay!) (photo 1) 
  2. Stamp cookie cutters. (photo 2)
  3. Remove the dough around the shapes, then either transfer the whole piece of parchment paper to a cookie sheet OR transfer just the shapes to a parchment-lined cookie sheet. (photo 3)
  4. Poke holes so you have a place for a string to hang as ornaments. (photo 4)
  5. Press in a hand to make a handprint, if desired. (photo 5)
  6. Bake, let cool and decorate! (photo 6)

TIP: Re-roll any remaining dough after Step 3 here to make additional ornaments.

Salt Dough Handprint Ornament

Capturing a handprint in salt dough is a perfect grandparent gift, or a keepsake ornament to make for your own tree. I love pulling out our little collection year after year. Know that getting a good print may take a few tries if doing a baby’s hand!

TIP: Check the size of your round cookie cutter against your child’s hand to make sure that it’s big enough. You may need one that’s 4-5 inches in diameter.

Best Paint for Salt Dough Ornaments

If the kids are wearing smocks, the table is protected, and you are reasonably sure they won’t paint all over their hands and faces, I like using regular acrylic craft paint since it holds up best on crafts. With younger kids who may wind up wearing more of the paint, I’d recommend tempura washable paints.

TIP: We put our paint into the base of old egg cartons since we always have those on hand. You can also use paper plates.

How to Preserve Salt Dough Ornaments

To help preserve your finished dried ornaments, you can coat with a layer or two of Mod Podge or spray with a sealer. Either work well. I’d recommend coating or sealing both sides, so do one side and let it dry, and then do the second side. If using the sealer, do it in a well ventilated area without the kids too close by.

TIP: To store these ornaments from year to year, you’ll want to wrap in bubble wrap. Store in a container that won’t be banged around, dropped or exposed to excess moisture.

Why is my salt dough puffing up?

If you mistakenly use self-rising flour, they may puff. And sometimes it happens randomly. Keep the oven temperature low and if it happens consistently, you can try baking at an even lower temperature for a slightly longer amount of time.

Tips for Making the Best Salt Dough Ornaments

  • If the dough is too wet and sticky, knead in a little more flour. If it’s too stiff, add a little more water. There is a big range in the way different flours absorb liquid, so there is a normal range of variation in liquid needs. It should be easy to work with—soft and not too stiff and not excessively sticky.
  • Use paper lollipop sticks or a skewer to make your holes.
  • Use a 4-5 inch round cookie cutter to make handprint ornaments.
  • Tie on baker’s twine or thin ribbon to hang as ornaments.
  • Try to get the dough to an even thickness before baking so the ornaments bake evenly.
  • Bake for the time indicated and then longer if your ornaments still feel soft. They should be firm to the touch without much give.
  • Let cool fully before painting.
  • If you want to paint the background of a handprint ornament, do that before you paint the inside of the hand. Let dry before adding a second color. Some people like to paint the whole thing white or cream to give it a more finished look.
  • Use acrylic craft paint for older kids who can be trusted with paint and tempura washable paints with younger toddlers.since it holds up best on crafts. With younger kids who may wind up wearing more of the paint, I’d recommend.
  • To help preserve your finished dried ornaments, you can coat with a layer or two of Mod Podge or spray with a sealer.

I’d love to hear your feedback on this project and what your kids thought of it, so please comment below to share!

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 2 hours

Total Time 2 hours 30 minutes

Author Amy Palanjian

Cuisine American

Course Holiday

Calories 1kcal

Servings 2 dozen ornaments

  • ▢ 4 cups flour
  • ▢ 1 cup table salt
  • ▢ 1. 5 cups water

  • Mix the ingredients together in a large bowl using a wooden spoon. When it becomes too stiff to stir, use clean hands to bring the dough together.

  • NOTE: If the dough is too wet and sticky, knead in a little more flour, about 1 tablespoon at a time. If it's too stiff, add a little more water, about 1 tablespoon at a time. There is a big range in the way different flours absorb liquid, so there is a normal range of variation here. It should be easy to work with—soft and not too stiff and not excessively sticky.

  • Knead a few times until the dough is uniform and soft, about 3-5 minutes.

  • Divide dough into 2 or 4 sections and roll out to about 1/4-½ inch thick between two sheets of parchment paper. This will help prevent sticking.

  • Cut out with cookie cutters. Transfer shapes to a parchment-lined baking sheet.

  • Repeat rolling and cutting out shapes to use up the dough.

  • Preheat oven to 250 degrees F.

  • Do a 4-5-inch circle and press in a child's handprint if desired.

  • Use a paper lollipop stick or a skewer to make a hole to hang as an ornament.

  • If making ornaments, bake for 90 minutes to 2 hours; if baking handprints, bake for 2-3 hours. Continue baking both ornaments and handprints as needed until they are until just firm to the touch, checking every 20 minutes. (It's not a problem if yours take longer than the initial baking time—it varies based on thickness and size...which will likely vary if you are baking these with kids!) They do not need to be rock hard, but should not feel squishy. Handprints will likely take longer than smaller ornaments and may take closer to 4 hours.

  • Remove from oven, let cool, and paint if desired with acrylic or washable tempera paint.

  • Once paint is completely dry, seal with Mod Podge if desired.

  • Mixing Bowl

  • parchment paper

  • Mini Cookie Cutters

  • Divide the recipe in half to make a smaller portion of dough if desired.
  • Use paper lollipop sticks or a skewer to make your holes.
  • Use a 4-5 inch round cookie cutter to make handprint ornaments.
  • Tie on baker's twine or thin ribbon to hang as ornaments.
  • Try to get the dough to an even thickness before baking so the ornaments bake evenly.
  • Bake for the time indicated and then longer if your ornaments still feel soft. They should be firm to the touch without much give but do not need to be rock hard. It is not a sign of a problem if yours take longer than mine did to bake—flours and ovens vary!
  • Let cool fully before painting.
  • If you want to paint the background of a handprint ornament, do that before you paint the inside of the hand. Let dry before adding a second color.
  • Use regular acrylic paint for older kids who can be trusted with paint and washable tempera paint with younger toddlers.
  • To help preserve your finished dried ornaments, you can coat with a layer or two of Mod Podge or spray with a sealer.

Calories: 1kcal, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 1g, Calcium: 31mg, Iron: 6mg

Tried this recipe?Rate in the comments and tag @yummytoddlerfood on IG!

Salt Dough Recipe - The Easiest Way to Make Salt Dough!

Kim148 Comments

All activities should be supervised by an adult. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links.

Learn how to make your own salt dough ornament with this easy Salt Dough Recipe.  You only need a few ingredients from your kitchen to make this salt dough! We cover all of our tips and tricks to make sure your salt dough ornaments will last for years!

RELATED: Salt Dough Ornament Recipe

Table of Contents

  • Salt Dough Recipe – for Handprints & Ornaments
  • Salt Dough Ingredients
  • How to Make Salt Dough – an Easy Salt Dough Recipe!
  • Why Is My Salt Dough Puffing Up?
  • How Do I Seal Salt Dough Ornaments?
  • What Kind of Paint Should I Use?
  • How to Decorate Salt Dough Handprints
  • How Many Ornaments Does this Make?
  • Tips for Making Perfect Salt Dough
  • Salt Dough Handprint & Ornament Recipe
  • Get the Recipe
  • More Salt Dough Ornament Ideas

Salt Dough Recipe – for Handprints & Ornaments

One of our favorite things to do with salt dough is to make handprint ornaments. But you can also use this same recipe and use cookie cutters and paint shapes instead!

For the handprint ornaments – you can make a new one every year and have a nice memento for the Christmas tree!

Don’t forget to add the year on the back of the salt dough ornament to keep track of the different years.

Salt Dough Ingredients

  • 4 cups all purpose flour (Note: you want regular all purpose flour, not self-rising)
  • 1 cup salt
  • 1.5 cups warm water

How to Make Salt Dough – an Easy Salt Dough Recipe!

1. Combine all of your ingredients (flour, salt, warm water) and mix well until it starts to form a dough.

2. Take the dough out of the bowl and knead for at least 10 minutes.

If your dough is too dry, add a little bit more water in and continue to knead.

The dough should be smooth and roll out with not too many bumps. It should also be easy to press a handprint into it. If you’re finding it’s too hard or not smooth enough, continue to knead some more. If it’s still too dry, add a little bit more water (but not too much or it may get too wet).

Roll out the dough to between 1/4 to 1/2 inch thickness. If the dough is too thick it will take too long to dry.

Press the hand into the dough.

3. Use a circle shaped bowl to trace around your handprint.

Cut out the handprint with a knife (adults to do this part).

You can also print off a circle shape or heart shape to trace around with a knife (adults to do this part).

If you have a smaller handprint you can use a circle or large heart cookie cutter.

TIP: It’s easier to press the handprint first, and then trace around it. If you have dough left over you can roll it out again and do another handprint.

4.  Using a straw, make a hole in the top of the ornament. 

5. Let the ornaments air dry for a day.

If you have time, let the ornaments air dry for a day.  This will cut down on the baking time required and help to prevent puffing. If you do not have time, you can bake right away instead.

Bake at 250 degrees Fahrenheit for 1-2 hours. Once the top of the ornaments look dry and solid, flip over and bake on the other side.

NOTE: It’s important that you check that your oven temperature is set to Fahrenheit. One of the most common reasons the ornaments burn and puff up is that the oven temperature is Celsius. If you have a Celsius setting then you’ll want to use the lowest oven temperature, closer to 120 degrees Celsius.

If your ornaments are still doughy, put them back in for another hour. It will depend on your thickness how long you need to bake for. The thinner ornaments will take less time but thicker may take more. If it’s taking too long in the oven, let them finish drying by air drying them for a few more days. Make sure to flip them over so the bottoms also get exposed to air.  

6. Once your ornaments are fully dry you can paint them.

Paint the handprint and leave the remaining ornament plain. Or you can paint the whole ornament white and then paint the center handprint once the base coat has dried.

If you want to add glitter into the handprint, decorate the whole ornament with paint first, then fill the handprint with glue. Shake glitter onto the glue.

After the paint has dried, make sure to seal with with either mod podge or a clear glaze spray. Seal the ornaments after you paint them and the paint has fully dried.

7. Tie ribbon or twine through the hole for hanging on the Christmas tree. 

Why Is My Salt Dough Puffing Up?

The number one reason salt dough is puffing is due to the oven temperature. If the temperature is too high the salt dough will puff up. It is better to let your ornaments air dry for a day and then bake them. This will prevent the puffing. If you need to bake right away, bake at the lowest temperature (200-250 degrees Fahrenheit).

Note: Make sure to check your oven temperature is Fahrenheit and not Celsius.

You also want to make sure you are using regular, all purpose flour and not self-rising flour.

How Do I Seal Salt Dough Ornaments?

Once you are done, don’t forget to seal with either mod podge or a clear glaze spray. We like this spray for a durable finish. Adults should do the spraying and always follow directions of the product chosen.

Sealing the final ornaments will help stop them from cracking in a few years and prevent moisture from getting in.

What Kind of Paint Should I Use?

I like to use non-toxic acrylic paint for salt dough ornaments. The color will go on much thicker and more vibrant than kids paint. We like this brand of acrylic paint.

How to Decorate Salt Dough Handprints

You can use a heart for the shape around the handprints or you can use a circle.

For this one, we used a large heart cookie cutter as the handprints were small (baby handprints): 

If you have larger handprints, you can trace around a heart print-out or use a knife (adults only) to draw a heart shape around the handprint.

We painted this one with acrylic red paint but you could choose green or even silver or gold. Then you can leave the handprint portion of the salt dough ornament either natural or use glue and add glitter to it like we did.

How Many Ornaments Does this Make?

Depending on the handprint size and thickness of the salt dough – you can get approximately 8 handprints. If you’re using the dough to make small cookie cutter ornaments you’ll get approximately 15.

If you’re hoping to make this for a classroom or with a larger group of kids, I would recommend bringing an extra batch just in case. The quantity can vary depending on size of cookie cutters, handprints and thickness of the dough. I like to roll out the dough and continue to knead together the scraps to use as much as I can.

Tips for Making Perfect Salt Dough

  • Knead well to make the dough smooth – I like to knead at least 10 minutes.
  • Let the ornaments air dry for a day first, if possible. This cuts back on the oven baking time and helps to prevent puffing.
  • Don’t forget to flip the ornaments when baking or air drying so that the bottoms will be exposed to air.
  • Seal with our recommended sealers mentioned above so that the ornaments will last for many years.
  • Store the ornaments in a cool, dry place and keep away from moisture. Sealing the ornaments also prevents moisture from getting in.

Salt Dough Handprint & Ornament Recipe

Prep Time15 mins

Active Time2 hrs

  • ▢ 4 cups all purpose flour
  • ▢ 1 cup salt
  • ▢ 1.5 cups warm water
  • ▢ Clear Glaze Finish or Mod Podge

  • Combine all of your ingredients and knead for 10 minutes. If your dough is too dry add a little bit more water in and continue to knead.

  • Roll out the dough to a thickness that you'd like your salt dough ornament to be. We like between 1/4 to 1/2 inch thickness.

  • Using a large cookie cutter, cut out different shapes for your salt dough ornaments. If making handprints, place the handprints first and then trace around them.

  • Have your child place their hand into the salt dough ornament. If the dough is too hard to get an imprint it may be too dry. Continue to knead until smooth. You can also add in a little bit more water.

  • Using a straw, make a hole in the top for where you want to hang your salt dough ornament.

  • If possible, let the ornaments air dry for a day.

  • Preheat your oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake for 1-2 hours. If your ornaments are still doughy, put back in for another hour. (It will depend on your thickness how long you need to bake for. The thinner ornaments will take less time but thicker may take more).

  • If you encounter too much puffing, roll out thinner ornaments and this will help reduce the puffing. If the ornament is still a bit doughy, bake for longer or let sit out a few days to harden before decorating.  The thickness of the dough will determine how long you have to bake them for. We prefer to bake them at 250 degrees Fahreneheit for longer and let them air dry for a few days to prevent puffing.

  • Once cool, you can decorate by painting with non-toxic acrylic paint.

  • Spray with a clear glaze finish or finish with mod podge. Do this before adding the glitter.

  • To make the hand glittery, fill the handprint with glue then sprinkle glitter on top of the glue, shake off the excess and let it dry.

Kids will love helping to make this salt dough recipe. They will also have fun decorating the salt dough ornaments by painting them.

Finally, just a friendly reminder to keep these out of reach of pets (they can be toxic to dogs due to the salt content).

More Salt Dough Ornament Ideas

See over 25+ of the best Salt Dough Ornaments here for more great ideas!

These salt dough ornaments are also fun to make – and you can make these for any season or holiday too!

HANDPRINT SALT DOUGH CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS | INSTRUCTIONS | DIY

There is no need to buy an expensive set of handprint ornaments from the store. Make your own adorable souvenirs from scratch using this traditional salt dough recipe.

Expenses

$

Skill level
Start to finish

Day

Tools
  • knife or cookie cutter
  • The main kitchen utensils

show all

materials
  • 1 cup flour
  • 3/4 cup salt
  • 1/2 cup of water (double the amount for two handles)
  • Permanent marker
  • dash gloss
  • acrylic paint
  • transparent polyurethane

Show all

How is it? Here's more:

CraftsBy: Jess Abbott

Intro

A lasting impression

They grow so fast. Make unforgettable memories by capturing your little one's handprint. Display it all year round or use it as a Christmas decoration like us.

Step 1

Gather Your Materials

Step 2



Mix Dry Ingredients

In a large bowl, combine flour and salt.



Step 3

Add water

Slowly add water while stirring.

Step 4



Knead

Knead the dough with your hands until the salt dough is firm, smooth and ball-shaped.

Step 5

Cut out shape

On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough smoothly and evenly. You want the dough to be at least 1/4 thick. Use a knife or cookie cutter to cut the dough into the desired shape. Make sure your figure is bigger than your child's hand.

STEP 6

Imprint

Use a spatula to carefully move the pan onto the non-stick cookie sheet. Place the child's hand so that the print is nice and evenly pressed.

Step 7.

Poke Holes

If you plan to hang a handprint, use a straw or pencil to make a hole(s) on the top. Bake at 200 degrees for two hours or air dry for at least two to three days.

Step 8

Paints and Glitter

You can stop there, but if you want to give your handprints a snow print, you will need some white glitter, acrylic paint and polyurethane spray. Color the handprint white and then sprinkle glitter on top. Let it dry completely.

Step 9

Seal it

When the handprint is dry, apply polyurethane to set the gloss.

Step 10.

Label it

Use permanent marker to write your child's name, age or year.

Step 11

Add Ribbon

Cut a piece of ribbon to make a hanging loop, thread it through the holes at the top and tie both ends in a knot.

Step 12

Leftover Doughboys

If you have extra salt dough, have the kids make snowmen.

Next

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Recipe for the perfect cast | Entertainment

Those little arms and legs are growing so fast! One way to keep the memory of those times when the baby was very tiny is to make casts of his hand and foot.

A commemorative imprint can be made at any age: be it a baby or a schoolboy. The child will grow up, and the decor with casts of small arms and legs will remain for life.

The process of creating and decorating a mold can seem complicated, but we'll show you how to make the perfect 3D print.

How to choose materials?

We advise you to purchase a complete set with everything you need, rather than buying individual materials yourself. A set for making impressions will not only save you from having to find out what and how much you need, but will also save you money. What's more, the kits come with detailed instructions, calculated down to seconds and milliliters, to help you accurately make the perfect impression the first time.

The PupsVil Impression Kit (article: 53905676) has everything you need and more. We made sure that you don't even have to look for tools for making a print: the set includes a brush, sandpaper, glue, and even a measuring container for water. To decorate the cast, it is also enough to get by with this set: inside you will find a frame made of wood, 3 sheets of velvet in different shades and 6 colors of acrylic paint. From 3 sachets of impression mass and 3 sachets of plaster, you can make several casts at once.

How do I start making an impression?

Treat this activity like art for the whole family! Start by preparing a good mood, lure the child and relatives, and only after that get all the materials.

Divide the creation of the impression into two stages: on one day, make the base, and on the other, decorate the finished print and create decor. It’s not worth rushing to do everything in one day: the materials need to be given enough time (and better with a margin) to dry, and it’s more interesting to decorate casts with a fresh head and not tired hands. Both steps are definitely creative, but the first day will require more technical work and follow the instructions.

Prepare the area where you will make the impressions. The gypsum mixture can spill, and the dust from the gypsum will fly in all directions - be prepared for unpleasant incidents. Make casts away from products and branded interior items.

Important nuances

You will find detailed instructions in your kit for creating casts, so we will not paint the whole process and immediately move on to important details.

  • The imprint must be at least 5 mm deep, otherwise the impression will be too thin and easily broken.