Salt Dough Ornaments: A Cozy Afternoon Craft

Some afternoons just call for getting our hands a little messy. Salt dough is our go-to: it’s three things you already have, it keeps little hands busy for a good while, and you end up with keepsakes you’ll actually want to hang onto.

What you’ll need

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup salt
• About 1 cup warm water (add slowly)
• Optional: a straw (for the hole), cookie cutters, paint

How we make them

1. Stir the flour and salt together, then add the water a little at a time until it comes together into a smooth, not-sticky dough.
2. Roll it out about a quarter-inch thick and let the kids press in cookie cutters. Poke a hole near the top with a straw if you want to hang them.
3. Bake low and slow — around 200°F for 2 to 3 hours — until firm and dry. (You can air-dry over a couple of days instead, if you’re not in a hurry.)
4. Once cool, paint, decorate, and thread some twine or ribbon through the hole.

A few things we’ve learned

• Thinner pieces dry faster and crack less.
• A little handprint in the dough is the one you’ll treasure in ten years. Do one.
• Sealing them with a coat of clear mod podge helps them last.

It’s humble, it’s a little messy, and it always turns into the kind of afternoon we remember. That’s the whole point.