Cheap and easy salt dough Christmas decorations are fun to make with kids
Salt dough Christmas decorations are really easy and cheap to make and will keep the children occupied for ages. A personalised Christmas tree is so much more special then going into a store and just buying decorations. These home-made decorations also look great strung together and hung across a window or mantlepiece. They will also keep for years so you can add to them every year. Try making the letters of everyones name to hang on a garland or the tree.
Ingredients
- 1 cup plain flour (not self-raising as this will make the ornaments bubble)
- 1 cup salt
- 1 cup water
- Mix all together until you have a pliable dough. If it’s too sticky add a little more flour, too dry add some more water.
- Knead until the dough is smooth.
- Roll out to about 5mm (¼”) thickness.
- Cut out the shapes with cookie cutters; if you don’t have children helping you can be more creative and make your own templates then cut them out with a small sharp knife.
- Make a hole in the top of the decoration with a straw or a cocktail stick.
- Place them on a baking tray covered in non-stick parchment and either dry them in the oven at a really low temperature, 250F, 120C, Gas 1 or leave them in a warm room to air dry for a few days. Turn them over half way through the drying process.
Once dry paint them with either acrylic or cheap poster paint.
Cover with a non-toxic varnish; they’ll need about 4 coats to make sure that they last. Ensure you coat every little bit of the surface otherwise the moisture will get in and the decorations won’t last. You can sprinkle on some glitter before the varnish dries for a bit of sparkle.
If you want to bling-up your decorations use PVA glue, which dries transparent, to stick on beads, glass gems or buttons.
Store in an airtight container with some rice, which will absorb any moisture.
