SALT DOUGH HANDPRINT CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT
I made these ornaments with my boys when they were babies to give as A babies first Christmas gift to grandparents, aunts and uncles and to have a special handmade ornament for our own Christmas tree.
There's something special about opening up our box of decorations and finding these tiny handprints as a reminder of just how little the boys once were.
Easily make your own salt dough handprint ornament with your children to give as a gift or to keep as a keepsake ornament for your own tree using supplies you already have around the house.
If your looking for a free handmade gift to make with your children, salt dough ornaments are a great option.
And if you're children's hands are getting a bit big for ornaments, then check out our handmade christmas card ideas here. It's all part of our 12 days of Christmas Family Fun!
Happy crafting!
SALT DOUGH HANDPRINTS AT HOME
Making your own salt dough handprints at home is as easy as mixing together three pantry staples you most likely have on hand as well as basic craft supplies.
For this fun craft idea you’ll need the following materials.
Acrylic Paint, I used white and blue
Flour
Salt
Chopstick
SALT DOUGH HANDPRINT RECIPE
2 Cups of All Purpose Flour
1 Cup of Salt
1 Cup of warm water.
In a large bowl mix the water and salt until dissolved. gradually add flour to form a soft dough. Roll out dough, cut, and form dough.
Bake at 250 F until dry, 1-2 hours depending on thickness.
Salt dough can be made up to a week ahead of time and stored in a air tight container.
Salt dough also doesn't have to be baked, simply set them out in a warm dry place for 3-7 days.
HOW TO MAKE A SALT DOUGH HANDPRINT ORNAMENT
Start by making the salt dough recipe above and rolling it out on parchment paper.
Roll out the dough until 1 -1.5 inches thick. With the help of another adult, press the childs hand into the dough until a print is made. If the dough is not playable enough you may need to add more water and try again.
Don’t forget to make sure to press the palm and each finger into the dough!
Cut a circle around the handprint, or cut out the print itself. I just a large mason jar lid as a cookie cutter to cut out the handprint. Once you've cut out the handprint, poke a hole where you'd like to tie the ribbon.
Consider how the hand will hang and make adjustments.
Once you've poked the hole and are happy with the handprint, place on a parchment lined cookie sheet and bake at 250 for 1-2 hours until dry.
Once ornaments are dry and cool it is time to start painting.
Choose two contrasting colours for the hand and the ornament. I went with the standard blue for a boy and a white handprint.
Use a small paint brush and apply 2-3 coats until you are happy with the look.
Make sure to paint the back as it will dangle on the tree and show.
Once paint is dry use a marker, I used a festive silver gel pen, to label the hand print if you'd like with either baby's first Christmas, the child's name or a holiday message. Whatever you want! This is your ornament.
Using Glitter Glue on top also makes for a more festive design.
Mod Podge Glaze for SALT DOUGH ORNAMENT
It's time to apply a clear coat of varnish or mod podge. Painting a coat of glossy Mod Podge over the entire ornament will seal and protect it along with giving it a nice shiny finish. Allow to dry.
If salt dough is left untreated it will absorb moisture and eventually go moldy! Eww…
It's best to use mode dodge instead of PVA. PVA is water based and may not store as well as dough treated with mod podge.
Cut a piece of fabric ribbon and tie and string for the tree. Add a smaller piece as a bow around the base to cover the majority of the hole.
THAT'S IT! YOUR VERY OWN KEEPSAKE ORNAMENT
Just a few things to remember before sharing your beautiful salt dough handprint art. Remember to keep it out of reach from children and animals as the gaze and paint is toxic.
Children and dogs may think this is just another one of those festive holiday cookies you’ve been baking!
Salt Dough Handprint Recipe
Equipment
- Cookie Cutters
- Rolling Pin
- Mixing Bowl
- Measuring Cups
Materials
- 2 Cups All Purpose Flour
- 1 Cup Salt
- 1/2 Cup Water
Instructions
- In a large bowl mix the water and salt until dissolved.
- gradually add flour to form a soft dough.
- Roll out dough cut and form into shapes
- Bake at 250 F until dry, 1-2 hours depending on thickness.
- Allow to fully cool then paint and decorate with acrylic or kids tempura paint.
Notes
PIN FOR LATER
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