SALT DOUGH ORNAMENT crafts are great for giving your children some hands-on sensory play while also creating nice, handmade keepsakes they can give to special people as gifts.
Plus, adding Essential Oils to this recipe gives it an aromatic flare and is a great way to freshen up the room.
And you don’t have to limit yourselves to holiday-themed ornaments—the sky is the limit when choosing fun shapes to make into ornaments!
DECORATE THE WHOLE YEAR THROUGH ORNAMENT RECIPE
• 4 c. Flour
• 1 c. Salt
• 1 1/2 c. Warm Water
• 15–20 drops Essential Oils
Combine all ingredients in a glass mixing bowl. Once completely combined, roll out dough to 1/4 in. thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes. Remove excess dough around ornament shape. Using a straw or small wooden dowel, make a hole near the top of the ornament to later use for hanging.
To finish the process of making the ornament, you have two options. You can either let them air dry for a few days or you can slowly bake them at 200° F for a few hours until dry. If baking them, you will need to watch for the ornaments to puff up. If puffing occurs, remove from the oven and flatten them slightly with a smooth, heat-resistant object such as the bottom of a cookie sheet. Leave them to cool slightly after flattening and allow to finish drying by sitting out in the open air. Once they are completely dry and hardened, you and your child can decorate them any way you want.
Another great idea is to have your child make a handprint in the dough and cut a shape around it with a non-serrated knife before drying or baking.
To keep your ornaments lasting longer, a sealant can be added after decorations are completed. Mod Podge works great for this and comes in several different types such as matte or gloss.
If your ornaments need an aroma boost after drying, add one to two drops of your chosen Essential Oils to each ornament and allow to absorb.
QUESTION – HOW EXCITED WILL YOUR KIDS BE TO HELP MAKE THEIR OWN ORNAMENTS?
