Easy DIY Salt Dough Ornaments: Santa Handprint
If you want a simple, meaningful holiday craft to do with kids, these salt dough Santa handprint ornaments are perfect. My daughter made a set with her little boy to celebrate his first Christmas, and they turned out so sweet. These ornaments are a heartfelt keepsake for parents and grandparents and make wonderful homemade gifts.
Materials and simple recipe
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup table salt
1 1/2 cups warm water
Combine the flour, salt, and warm water until you have a smooth dough. On a floured surface, roll the dough to about 1/4 inch thickness. Press a child’s hand gently into the dough to create the handprint, then cut around the print. Use a small tool or a metal straw to punch a hole near the top so you can hang the ornament later.
Bake the ornaments on a low temperature—about 200–250°F (95–120°C)—for 2–4 hours. The exact time depends on the size and thickness; bake until the pieces are completely hard and dry inside with no cool or damp spots.
Once cooled, paint the ornaments with acrylic paint. Allow each layer to dry before adding the next. Use a toothpick for fine details and a fine-tip marker for tiny eyes or accents. When the paint is fully dry, protect the piece with a clear sealer—either a spray sealer or a brush-on sealer like Mod Podge—to help it last for years. Finish by threading baker’s twine or ribbon through the hole for hanging on the tree.
These ornaments are easy to personalize—try different paint colors, add glitter sparingly, or write a name and year on the back. They’re lightweight, sturdy, and store well if packaged gently between layers of tissue paper.
Merry Christmas season! Enjoy making memories with this simple and meaningful craft.
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