I know that salt dough decorations and salt dough recipes were “all the rage” this winter. Lots of people had ago at making salt dough Christmas tree decorations – which is understandable, as they are salt dough is so easy to make and great fun for both adults and kids. We made salt dough stars and trees for our Christmas tree and also took the opportunity to make some hearts – they look great both for Christmas, AND for Valentine’s.
These wonderfully simple salt dough heats (and other variations on salt dough) feature in our Christmas Ornament Book. Each craft is shared on one page – making the perfect worksheet print outs. Lovely to have them all in one place too!
Only $7.99
Get yours today and keep it forever!
Easy Salt Dough Recipe:
- 2 cups of flour
- 1 cup of salt
- UP TO 1 cup of water (less is better!)
- Acrylic Paints for painting
- Cookie cutters
Easy Salt Dough Hearts:
1) Mix your ingredients. Be sure to add the water gradually. I often only use 1/2 – 3/4 of a cup of water. You do not want your dough to be sticky.
2) Roll out to about 5mm.
3) Use cookie cutters to cut your shapes. Use a skewer or chopstick to make holes for hanging.
4) Bake in the oven at 100C for 3-4 hours. Do turn your salt dough items 2-3 times AND re-insert you skewer to make sure that the holes do not bake shut.
5) Once fully dry and cooled paint – I like to let my saltdough out to dry another 2-3 days “just in case”.
6) The kids painted one side and I did the other for them.
They looked great on our Christmas tree, but also will look nice as little Valentine’s decorations. We may give one or two to the children’s friends!
Do take a peak at our other Salt Dough Recipe ideas – including making beads and making coloured saltdough! (and check out these Valentines Cookies and these Valentines Cookie Pops, yummy)
laura@howtocookgoodfood says
January 11, 2013 at 11:05 amI love this idea and will be using it more than once. They look brilliant!
Red Ted Art says
January 11, 2013 at 5:33 pmFabulous, so pleased you like them!
PragmaticMom says
January 13, 2013 at 3:49 pmThey came out beautifully! Will you use them for Valentine’s gifts
Red Ted Art says
January 13, 2013 at 4:22 pmYes, am pretty certain Red Ted teacher will get one!
Kathy says
January 13, 2013 at 10:57 pmI’ve been totally obsessed with salt dough for almost 20 years! These are awesome!!! 🙂
Trisha @ Inspiration Laboratories says
January 19, 2013 at 3:40 amWe love salt dough ornaments, too! I love how bright red the hearts are. Thanks for sharing at the Sunday Showcase. 🙂
Pinkoddy says
January 23, 2013 at 7:11 amThey are a good idea. Is that plain flour?
Red Ted Art says
January 23, 2013 at 7:42 amYes, plain flour!
Traycmo says
February 7, 2013 at 5:50 pmI would like to have my students make a 3-D map using salt dough. Is this recipe good for wrapping and working on over several days?
Red Ted Art says
February 7, 2013 at 5:55 pmYes, I have kept it in the fridge before. You may have to re-knead it, if salt crystals form!
Kerri says
February 11, 2013 at 4:34 amThis is a great idea! I’m in the process of making a round up list on Valentine’s activities. Including a link to this. 🙂
Red Ted Art says
February 11, 2013 at 9:16 amAwe thanks! Much appreciated!
Katie T says
February 13, 2013 at 11:28 pmWhat temp do you bake them at in Farenheight? Thank you for posting!
Red Ted Art says
February 14, 2013 at 2:52 pmBetween 120F and 200F. Prob would opt for 150F.
phyllis says
February 2, 2014 at 12:50 amMy oven starts at 200 so I don’t have choice.
Red Ted Art says
February 2, 2014 at 11:40 amI wouldn’t use the oven then and let it air dry.
Liz berry says
November 4, 2013 at 12:56 pmDefinitely going to try these for my toddler art club!!!! thanks for the inspiration.
nancy says
November 4, 2013 at 12:56 pmWouldn’t they dry on their own if you just leave them outside for a few days? I am looking for a no bake recipe. Thanks.
Red Ted Art says
November 4, 2013 at 4:17 pmYes, they should dry naturally too, it just takes a lot longer – prob 1-2 weeks depending on how warm the room is. Remember to keep turning them to allow to dry on both sides!
Carolyn V. Johns says
November 30, 2013 at 4:10 pmI made salt dough ornaments 20 yrs ago for craft fairs. Discovered that by letting them sit out on trays (was making lots) before putting in oven allowed them to dry on the surface, leaving them white, and then baking trays of them overnight for about 6-7 hours…they came out like porcelain (kinda)… You could also add food coloring to the water to get colored dough….have fun….cj
Pinkoddy says
January 26, 2014 at 5:32 pmHonestly I can’t believe I’ve never made salt dough – it’s just we don’t have salt in the house and I never remember to buy any. They do look really good though.
Red Ted Art says
January 26, 2014 at 7:42 pmI buy it “bulk” especially!!
Emmys Mummy says
January 27, 2014 at 7:30 pmThose are lovely.
I tend to cheat and add the paint before cooking them
domestic goddesque says
January 29, 2014 at 8:44 amthanks for linking up to the #getyourcrafton challenge 🙂
Kelly says
February 5, 2014 at 2:27 pmHow large of a batch does this recipe make?! And my oven starts at 200…do you think they would be ok in that setting if watched carefully?!
Red Ted Art says
February 5, 2014 at 6:00 pmIs that F or C? My low heat is Celsius.. so you need to convert it. If your oven really is that hot, I would let them air dry over the course of a week or so. I have no idea how many it makes, so sorry. We kind of just wing it… but probably 20-30?
reshma ajit says
February 6, 2014 at 1:07 pmLovely I really love ur creativity
1 question. Do these get moulds or turn to dust after a particular period of time?
Red Ted Art says
February 6, 2014 at 1:47 pmMine have kept well. I have heard that SOME people have had theirs turn mouldy. I suspect that they didn’t dry it fully or didn’t store it in a dry place.
reshma ajit says
February 8, 2014 at 3:31 amThanks a lot will surely try this.:-)