Easy Salt Dough Recipe for Kids (Crafts & Ornaments)
This easy salt dough recipe is all you need to entertain your kids on a rainy day! Plus, it’s eco-friendly!
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Looking for an easy salt dough recipe to kickstart your salt dough crafts journey?
Look no further! Whether you’re a seasoned crafter or trying salt dough creations for the first time, this step-by-step recipe is the perfect way to dive in. With just a few basic ingredients and a little bit of creativity, you’ll be on your way to making beautiful salt dough handprints, ornaments, and more!
The best eco-friendly alternative to play dough.
Salt dough is made from simple and inexpensive materials found in your cupboard. It is plastic-free and eco-friendly, making it the perfect activity, especially on rainy days when you need to provide some fast entertainment.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the best way to make salt dough and some fun projects to try.
Best Salt Dough Recipe: A Fun, Rainy Day Activity to Do with Your Kids
How to Make Salt Dough (3 Ingredients)
Makes: 1 ballPrep time: 20-25 minutes Cook time: 2-3 hours
The ingredients for the salt dough are simple and easy to find:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour/ plain flour
- 1/2 cup of salt
- 1/2 cup of water (warm)
- One large bowl
Making the Salt Dough
1. Preheat the oven to its lowest setting, I heat mine to around 100 degrees (fan)
2. Mix the dry ingredients (salt and flour) in a bowl until blended
3. Gradually add the warm water, stirring until a smooth dough forms. If the dough is too sticky, add a little more flour. If it’s too dry, add a touch more water
(Warm water is optimal as it will help to dissolve the salt faster than cold water)
4. Once you have a smooth dough, roll it out on a floured work surface to your desired thickness. Knead the dough for about 10 minutes until it is smooth and pliable
5. Leave the dough underneath a damp tea towel or cloth for around 15 minutes
Your salt dough will now be ready, you can start making all kinds of creations!
6. Dig out some old cookie cutters or play dough utensils you already have lying around to help with the shaping of the dough. You could find a rolling pin from the kitchen drawer and use a chopstick to make the hole for hanging.
Although, this is not a necessity as all you need is your hands!
If you don’t have any of these to hand these are some utensils I would recommend:
7. Carefully transfer the shapes to a baking tray lined with a sheet of parchment paper. If you plan to make ornaments, don’t forget to make a small hole at the top of each shape for hanging
8. Bake the salt dough creations in your preheated oven for 2-3 hours, or until completely dry. Once dry, let the creations cool before painting with acrylic paints or decorating as desired
9. Once the salt dough is cooled you can bring out the paints! I use these child-friendly paints as they work well and they’re washable too! For added protection and shine, spray with a sealer or apply a layer of craft varnish. String a ribbon through the hole in the ornament and hang it on your Christmas tree or give it as a heartfelt gift to loved ones!
Salt Dough Craft Ideas
There are so many different ways to enjoy this classic salt dough recipe. I have put together a few ideas below for you to try:
DIY Salt Dough Ornaments
Roll out the dough to a thickness of about 1/4 inch, then use some cookie cutter shapes or a knife to cut out the salt dough shapes. Use a chopstick or a paper straw to make a hole for hanging. Bake the ornaments until they are hard and dry. Once they are cool, you can paint and decorate them as desired.
Salt dough Christmas ornaments are a great example and could be used for Christmas tree decorations. You could also try salt dough Valentine crafts or hanging salt dough Easter ornaments.
Salt Dough Sculptures
If your kids are feeling extra creative, encourage them to make salt dough sculptures and create a keepsake ornament! They can shape the dough into animals, people, or anything else they can imagine.
Once the sculpture is complete, bake it until it is hard and dry. Then, they can paint and decorate it however they like. Let that creativity shine!
Salt dough handprint ornaments
Salt dough can also be used to make handprints or footprints. Roll out the dough to a thickness of about 1/2 inch, then press your child’s hand or foot firmly into the dough. Use a straw to make a hole for hanging.
Bake the imprint until it is hard and dry. Once it is cool, you can paint it however you like. One idea is to paint the hand or foot and write a little note at the top.
My personal favourite is ‘This is the hand I loved to hold when you were (x) years/weeks old’.
Jewellery & Gifts
Salt dough can also be used to make unique and colourful jewellery. Roll out the dough to a thin, even layer, then use cookie cutters or a knife to cut out shapes. Use a needle or paper straw to make a hole for threading a necklace or earring hook. Bake until they are hard and dry. Once they are cool, you can paint and decorate them with wooden beads or ribbon.
I think any of the ideas above could be turned into gifts but If you’re feeling extra arty you could sculpt a vase or bowl out of the salt dough and gift it to someone you love. They could then keep hair bobbles, jewellery or loose change in one place.
Salt Dough Dinosaur Fossils
This is the one I would say my kids love the most, it is also super easy to do with this easy salt dough recipe. All you need are some small dinosaur figures or dinosaur skeletons. Most kids will have some of these lying around the house but if not try and find some secondhand before you buy them new unless they are toys your children will play with a lot. If not you can donate them to younger children when you have finished with them.
Tip- Use wheat flour to get a more natural look for the fossils.
Roll the salt dough between your hands to form a pebbled shape, then squash the salt dough a little flatter. Push the dinosaur into the dough and then remove it. You will find an imprint of the dinosaur that can then be painted when hard and dry.
Top Tips
- For vibrant colours, use non-toxic acrylic paint or food colouring to decorate your salt dough creations.
- Store any leftover dough in an airtight container to keep it fresh for future projects.
- Get creative with different shapes and designs to make your salt dough crafts truly unique!
- This recipe is a great way to develop fine motor skills in little kids and older kids alike, making it a fun and educational activity for all ages.
- If you’re feeling adventurous, try adding cornstarch or self-raising flour for a different texture or experiment with different shapes and sizes of cookie cutters.
With just three simple ingredients and some creativity, you and your kids can have a great time making salt dough projects together.
So why not give it a try?
Easy Salt Dough Recipe: A Fun, Rainy Day Activity to Do with Your Kids
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