{"id":4881,"date":"2022-12-07T17:45:30","date_gmt":"2022-12-07T18:45:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.smartdcamp.com\/?p=4881"},"modified":"2025-04-16T14:38:45","modified_gmt":"2025-04-16T14:38:45","slug":"make-easy-3-ingredient-salt-dough-ornaments-for-the-holidays-sweet-family-tradition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.smartdcamp.com\/index.php\/2022\/12\/07\/make-easy-3-ingredient-salt-dough-ornaments-for-the-holidays-sweet-family-tradition\/","title":{"rendered":"Make Easy 3 Ingredient Salt Dough Ornaments for the Holidays | Sweet Family Tradition"},"content":{"rendered":"

Make salt dough ornaments at home with this easy recipe.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Make this easy Christmas craft with the kids. ❤️<\/strong><\/p>\n

Salt dough ornaments are easy and fun to make and can be given as gifts or hung on your tree. Here’s a salt dough recipe so you can make them at home too!<\/p>\n

\"toddler<\/p>\n

I started making salt dough ornaments with my kiddos when my oldest was just a baby. Above is a photo from 2012 when he was about 2 years old and he’s nearly 12 now. 🥹<\/p>\n

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I started making this salt dough recipe because it’s SO easy and quick to do with any age kiddo. As a mom who seldomly does crafts, I appreciate the minimal ingredients and effort it takes on my end. 😅<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Plus, I love that you can paint them which doubles as another great craft for kids or a frugal holiday party activity and you can even use them as fancy name tags on presents or give them as keepsake gifts – perfect for grandparents.<\/p>\n

\"girl<\/p>\n

Our salt dough ornaments have become a tradition my youngest now remembers and always asks to do every year so I’m always sure to make time for it.<\/p>\n

Plus, I LOVE how frugal salt dough ornaments are to make!<\/em><\/h2>\n

Even though we eat gluten-free, I always make sure to have a bag of the cheapest white flour in the store for this craft and the only other ingredients needed are water and salt! It doesn’t get much simpler than that!<\/p>\n

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Before we get started, here are a few tips I’ve learned over the years that will make your salt dough recipe and ornaments come out perfect!<\/em><\/h2>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Use mini cookie cutters.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Not only do these look the cutest when complete but they also don’t weigh down your tree branches if you’re using them as ornaments. Plus, they’re the easiest for little hands to handle.<\/p>\n

For the past two years, I’ve used the smaller cutters from this gingerbread family<\/a> and tree set<\/a> from Target and I also noticed they now have an assorted mini cutter set<\/a> that would work perfectly too!<\/p>\n

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Avoid ornament puffing. <\/strong><\/h3>\n

This happens when the dough gets too hot. To avoid this you can simply air dry your ornaments overnight instead. Since we make these every single year and my kids like to hang them immediately, I don’t care too much whether they’re perfect or not. Whether you bake them or air dry them is really your preference!<\/p>\n

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Roll the dough just right. <\/strong><\/h3>\n

Aim for about a 1\/4-inch thick when you roll out your dough. Any thicker and they’ll get too heavy for your tree branches and they’ll take longer to dry. Any thinner and they’ll be more prone to breaking.<\/p>\n

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Get creative with decorating your dough before<\/em> they dry.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n

Not only are straws good for making the holes to hang your ornaments, but they double as a way to decorate them too! For the past couple of years I’ve used them to make “buttons” on the gingerbread, “ornaments” on the trees, and different designs on the snowflakes.<\/p>\n

You can also get even more creative with your salt dough ornaments and use the tips of pencils, your little one’s feet and hands to preserve their first Christmas, or go all out with some cookie stamps<\/a>. The options are endless!<\/p>\n

\"plant<\/a><\/p>\n

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Add essential oils to make your salt dough ornaments smell incredible. <\/strong><\/h3>\n

You can add some of your favorite essential oils to your salt dough recipe to make your ornaments smell great! You’ll add a few drops to the dough (which I’ll explain more about in the DIY below). My favorite to use is Plant Therapy’s Organic Peppermint Oil<\/a> but I also think any of their Christmas essential oils<\/a> would be perfect too!<\/p>\n

Regardless if you bake or air dry, this little tip is sure to elevate each one!<\/p>\n

Want to change the color?<\/em> <\/strong>You can also opt for food coloring if you want to make your ornaments different colors!<\/p>\n

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Now…let’s make some salt dough ornaments! 🤩<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/blockquote>\n
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Salt Dough Ornament Recipe<\/h2>\n

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Supplies Needed<\/h4>\n
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