Simple Cookie Cutter Salt Dough Ornaments For Kids

Salt dough is the perfect material for working with young children. It is easy to work with and super cheap to make! Below are all our tips for making salt dough ornaments with your kids.

Seriously, there is nothing better than allowing your kids the freedom to create in December. Salt dough is a perfect material for preschoolers and kids to experiment with. They get to be creative, and you get to stay on budget!

What paint is best for salt dough?

You can use acrylic craft paint, washable tempera paint, or watercolor paint on salt dough. Ensure your ornament is completely dry or baked before painting, and do not allow children to add too much water when using paint.

How To Make Salt Dough

Step 1: Mix Dry Ingredients

In a large bowl, mix your salt and flour together.

Step 2: Add Water

Carefully pour in your warm water.

Step 3: Stir and Knead

Step 4: Roll Out Dough

Sandwich your dough between two pieces of parchment paper and roll out evenly.

Step 5: Cut Out Shape

Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes and add a hole for ribbon or twine.

Step 6: Bake

Cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of your ornaments. Salt dough can be baked for 1-3 hours. We baked ours for an hour and a half at 250 degrees F. You want your salt dough to be stiff and dry.

Step 7: Decorate Your Ornaments

Most of these were done using watercolor paint, which is super easy for young kids. However, giving children a small paintbrush limits how much water they can add. You can also see how acrylic craft paint and a permanent marker can be used to add extra details. Have fun and be creative!

Salt Dough Ornament Design Ideas

• You can add extra texture to each cutout or add additional details like the gingerbread man buttons.
• You can leave a simple leaf impression in the salt dough for a more sophisticated look. Painting it a simple color makes it an easy adult Christmas craft idea you can do with your kids.
• Use a handprint as a base for your image. Our favorite is a salt dough snowman family ornament. A child’s fingerprint was used to identify this simple snowman.
• Use stamps to add dates, names or an extra holiday message for cheer.

Clear Coat Ideas

Salt is an excellent preservative for ornaments. However, if you want them to last, adding an extra clear coat will help your project last for years. Here are a few of our favorite ways to add extra shine.

• Sparkle Mod Podge: If brushing this on, you should only use it on top of dried acrylic paint. Watercolor paint could smear.
• Spray Iridescent Mod Podge
• Acrylic Iridescent Gloss Medium

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No matter your family’s style or design, these DIY salt dough ornaments will make you smile every year.