Every Christmas season, our home fills with the warmth of several traditions. A few of our favorites include trying our hand at a fun Christmas craft and filling our tree with ornaments marking important milestones, which we are doing this year by making salt dough ornaments. This simple Christmas craft —just four cups of all-purpose flour, one cup of table salt, and one and a half cups of warm water—has the makings of the foundation for a cherished holiday activity that’s as much about family as it is about crafting.
This year, our three-year-old daughter eagerly joined the process, her tiny hands pressing into the dough with the excitement of making a mess and memories in the process. With our family’s second little one on the way in 2025, I can already imagine doing this Christmas craft again in future years as we watch our kids grow.
Salt dough ornaments are perfect for little hands (or paws, for the fur babies in your life) because the process is simple and forgiving—mix, knead, shape, bake and decorate. Add a touch of paint or glitter and suddenly, you’ve created a keepsake to don your tree for years.
Our Christmas tree ornaments are as much time capsules as decorations for our family. Each year, as we unpack our collection, we reflect on the milestones they represent—a tiny handprint, a pet’s name or a year marked by special memories. The beauty of this tradition lies in its ability to preserve moments, celebrating the ordinary and the extraordinary with each passing year.
Salt dough ornaments also make wonderful gifts, perfect for grandparents or friends who will treasure the thoughtfulness behind a handmade keepsake. Whether you’re new to the craft or it’s a tradition you’ve enjoyed for years, this activity brings families together in creativity, laughter and the joy of making memories.
As you decorate your tree this year, consider adding a few homemade ornaments to the mix. They’ll remind you not just of the holiday season but also of the love and time spent with those who make the season truly special.
Homemade Salt Dough Ornaments
Materials
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup table salt
- 1 1/2 cups warm water
- cookie cutters
- Paint, glitter, etc for decoration
- Modge Podge
Instructions
Dough mix
- Whisk together dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add the water slowly while stirring continuously. Finish mixing with your hands.
- Knead the dough until soft, roughly 5 to 10 minutes.
Ornament assembly
- Preheat oven to 300°F.
- Cut the dough in half and place between two sheets of parchment paper. Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough until roughly 1/8" thick.
- Remove the top piece of parchment paper and use cookie cutters and other tools to cut out shapes. Remove excess dough and transfer the parchment paper with the cutout shapes onto a baking sheet.
- Poke a hole at the top of the ornament and bake for one hour until hard.
Decorate!
- Allow the ornaments to cool on the counter.
- Once cooled, decorate using various materials such as acrylic paint or glitter.
- Once dried, apply a layer of modge podge or polyurethane to preserve your ornaments for years to come.
- Thread ribbon or wire to through the hole and hang!