Salt Dough: What They Don’t Tell You

After seeing multiple mamas on the social internets posting pictures of their salt dough ornaments I had to try it. Free ornaments that look cute and a craft for the toddler to boot, sign me up! I googled the ingredients and were surprised there were only three. Below is the recipe we used. I let Mia pour the ingredients in a big bowl. She quickly learned we were NOT making chocolate chip cookies…ick! I wish I took a picture of her licking the salt laden spoon. I warned you!

{reality and pinterest. photos via youtube and pinterest)

Here are some points I learned….

Be warned if you have hangnails. Who knew this little craft could cause such pain. After I kneaded the dough for 5 minutes, I felt stinging at my fingertips. I had some tiny hangnails that hurt once the salt hit my cuticles. And yes I am in need of a manicure.

They need to bake for two hours. Mia clearly wanted to go outside for a walk and didn’t understand we needed to wait until these things finished “cooking.”

The dough is sticky. I had to douse it in flour for it to be even workable.

The dough will crack once baked if it’s too dry. See above statement. I used too much flour.

Use a round cookie cutter. I free handed the circle shape before Mia pressed her hand into the dough. Not the best idea.

Use a chopstick to form the hole if you don’t have straws lying around. Of course I have chopsticks, but not straws. Sushi lover here!

Invest in glitter glue. Just do it. I found mine at Walgreens on sale.

And finally,

This is not the time to be OCD perfect. Have fun with your little one and enjoy the time together. Grandma and Grandpa will love them and you will enjoy the memento years to come.

{insert salt dough ornaments above}

Our recipe (makes 3 ornaments)

Preheat oven at 200 degrees

1/2 cup salt

1/2 cup warm water

1 cup flour

Mix all three ingredients together and knead for 5-7 minutes then roll out and use cookie cutters to create ornaments. Bake for two hours until hard. Then decorate! The glitter glue was so easy. I couldn’t imagine using the loose glitter with a toddler. I assume it would be in every nook and cranny of my kitchen.

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