Ornaments Made With Salt Dough (Updated).

One of my fondest memories of Christmas as a child includes making my own decorations.  Making salt dough ornaments has now become an annual tradition for me an my daughter. Now that we've moved into a house with two family rooms we need more decorations but have no budget to splurge on new ornaments or trimmings.  This is a simple recipe for salt dough, it can be used to make any sculpture or ornament that you would like to air dry and save for future use. Regular play dough will dry out too, but it takes quite a bit longer and tends to warp or crack. Salt Dough has a nice sturdy consistency and can be painted or decorated once fully dry. Attach ribbon through the hole and give these ornaments as gift tags, or hang them from your Christmas tree. Either way, you and your children will get wonderful enjoyment from this fun activity.

Salt Dough Recipe For Ornaments:

• 1 1/4 cup salt
• 2 cups flour
• 1 cup warm tap water*
• 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil

Directions:

1. Combine the flour and salt in a large bowl.
2. Mix liquid ingredients into the flour/salt mixture.
3. (Put on your gloves) and knead the dough well until it gets a smooth consistency.  Add a little more flour if the dough is too sticky.  Or likewise, sprinkle more water if it is too stiff.
4. Divide dough into 1/2's or 1/3's, roll out, and cut with cookie cutter shapes. 
5. Store unused dough in an airtight container between use. (It will only last about 3 days this way).
6. Use a straw to poke a hole near the top of your shape before setting it aside to air dry.
7. I usually get about 12 ornaments depending on how big the cookie cutters are.
8. Put salt dough shapes on a parchment lined tray and air dry for 2-4 days. Carefully flip them over every 12-24 hours.
9. Optional- Add 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla or peppermint extract to the dough while kneading.

Tip for handling: Buy disposable food handling gloves from the dollar store ~ I find the salt really hurts my hands if making large quantities.

Basic ingredients for the recipe.  My Dollar Store cookie cutters
were about 2 inches long. You don't want
really small or delicate cutters.  The limbs may break on
your gingerbread people.

I don't own a rolling pin, so dust a wine bottle with
flour and use it instead. Dip your cookie cutters in
flour too.

I only cut 6 ornaments from this batch. Had a little dough leftover
to make the 7th ornament.  I rolled out two "snakes", twisted the
two long pieces into a candy cane shape,
 and pinched the ends together.