The links in this post may be affiliate links. That means that if you click them and make a purchase, this site makes a commission. It will have no impact on the price you pay or the experience of your purchase.
Making no-bake salt dough ornaments is one of my favorite activities to do during the holiday season. They are easy to make and you can involve the whole family in this craft project. The best part is, you don’t need an oven or any baking skills to create these easy DIY Christmas decorations.
These ornaments are very budget-friendly. This recipe uses simple ingredients that are typically available in a kitchen pantry: including flour, salt, and water.
These Christmas ornaments can be shaped into holiday-themed designs like Christmas trees, snowflakes, reindeer or into basic shapes.
No-bake salt dough ornaments are an easy way to create homemade decorations and keepsakes without using an oven. This air dry craft idea is easy to make and involves just three simple ingredients: flour, salt, and water.
And they can make great DIY gifts for family and friends! You can also personalize them with colors and designs that match the holiday.
This was my second time making this salt dough recipe at home. I originally made a set four years ago with my kids, and the ornaments are still a part of our family!
For this Christmas craft you will need all-purpose flour, salt, warm water, and a little oil. I also recommend using tools like a mixing bowl, rolling pin, cookie cutters, baking sheet, a straw, parchment paper, and suede lace or string. Use stamps, markers, or acrylic paint for decorating the ornaments.
Without using an oven the drying process will take 3-4 days depending on humidity. Plan to flip ornaments every 24 hours until completely dried.
Get the full recipe with step by step directions here!
No baked salt dough is easy to make because it is air dry clay - no baking needed but of course it will take longer time to dry the dough. You'll depend on the sun and hot weather. Hair dryer may helps but be careful with the wind pressure that may ruin your model.
After cooling out the salt dough creations are ready for painting. If you don't have an oven (like in a nursery), you can also just wait until the salt dough dries out over time. This salt dough recipe works for no bake as well. It will take a couple of days until it's dry enough to apply paint on the crafts.
Now the dough needs to be dried. The quickest way to do this is in a microwave - roughly three minutes. Find a flat plate to place the decorations on. Try to choose shapes that are roughly the same thickness as they will cook in the same time.
How do I preserve and store these Salt Dough Ornaments? In order to keep your ornaments and use them for several years, it is best to seal them. Painting them with acrylic paint, if you choose to, will begin the process. But a coat of Mod Podge or Acrylic sealer that is applied like a spray paint will be needed.
If you take good care of them and store them properly they can last a very long time! I recently saw a post from someone saying that they had some in good shape that were 35 years old. How do you know when salt dough is done? It will be hard to the touch but still light in color on the top.
For cutout ornaments using cookie cutters, lightly flour your counter and the top of the dough to keep it from sticking, and roll out the dough to about 1/4 inch thick. Cut as many ornaments as you can, and place the cut ornaments on a baking sheet lined with a silpat baking mat.
Try to get the dough to an even thickness before baking so the ornaments bake evenly. Bake for the time indicated and then longer if your ornaments still feel soft. They should be firm to the touch without much give but do not need to be rock hard.
Make sure your oven is set to 150°f. This is SUPER IMPORTANT. I have seen others use hotter temperatures but I haven't been able to do so without getting puffiness. So, plain all-purpose flour, 150ºf oven and 1/4 inch thickness = no puffy ornaments.
Salt dough ornaments should also be stored properly in a dry and well-ventilated area. They could become moldy if left in contact with moisture for a long time, for example, if hung on a cold, damp wall.
The salt dough browns slightly when baked, while the air dry clay stays a bright pure white, and I think the clay also holds the shape of the cookie cutter much sharper and more defined without any shrinkage. But what I love most about this project is how simple and how affordable it is to make.
Why are my salt dough ornaments cracking? If your ornaments crack during or after baking, try adding a bit more water to the dough next time or cooking at a slightly lower temperature for a longer period of time.
These ornaments are a bit stiffer and drier than my Chocolate Salt Dough ornaments, which are meant to be rolled and cut like sugar cookies. This salt dough does use as much water so that it is easily pressed into the mold and pops right out with hardly any effort.
This ensures that the tin gets proper heat and is cooked evenly. In case you do not have a metal stand at home, you can use either salt or sand to stabilize the cake tin in the cooker. Pour 2-3 cups of salt or sand in the cooker and lightly tap to level it.
Salt dough is susceptible to moisture, meaning it will pull any moisture from the surrounding air. This causes your projects to turn soggy or even crumble.
Place the salt dough on a baking tray lined with greaseproof paper and the firmly push down the hand, foot, key etc. to leave an imprint. Bake the salt dough in a preheat oven at 150°c / Gas Mark 2 for approximately 3 hours or until they are completely dry.
Introduction: My name is Geoffrey Lueilwitz, I am a zealous, encouraging, sparkling, enchanting, graceful, faithful, nice person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
