This kid’s craft project shows you how to make a Christmas tree ornament using your child’s hand and salt dough. These ornaments last a lifetime and are perfect for keeping as a Christmas keepsake. These kids activity is so easy and the kids can paint their own Santa or you can do it for them.
Making Christmas crafts with the kids is a time-honored tradition that is sure to bring a smile to everyone’s face. It’s an opportunity to spend time with family and create something special that will become a treasured keepsake. This year, why not make something unique and memorable by creating a Handprint Christmas Ornament Keepsake out of salt dough.
To make the salt dough, you’ll need a few simple ingredients – flour, salt, and water. Simply combine the flour and salt in a bowl and gradually add the water until the dough forms a soft ball. Once the dough is ready, knead it a few times to make it pliable and then roll it out with a rolling pin. You can use cookie cutters or use an inverted cup or bowl to create shapes.
Once you have created the shapes, it’s time to get the kids involved. Ask each of them to press their hands into the dough to make an impression. This will be a lasting memory of how small their hands were at that moment in time. Carefully lift out the handprints and place them on a baking sheet.
Bake the handprints in a preheated oven at 250 degrees Fahrenheit for about an hour. Once they are done baking, carefully remove them and let them cool completely. Once the handprints are cool, you can add string or ribbon to the top of each one and hang it on the Christmas tree.
Creating these Handprint Christmas Ornament Keepsakes is a great way to make memories with your family and also to create a unique decoration that will be cherished for many years to come.
What you need
3 1/2 cups of flour
1 cup of salt
1 1/4- 1 1/2 cups of water
Baking dough or salt dough is such a versatile dough that your imagination only limits you.
Start by mixing the dough.
Add a little water at a time to the dry mix until it is moist but does not stick to your fingers.
Knead the dough until it makes a soft smooth ball.
Place your child’s hand into the dough until you get a nice design. Use a pencil to make a hole at the top. When you are happy with it place it on baking paper ready for the oven.
To cook, bake in a preheated oven at 300’F until the dough is brown or sounds hollow when tapped with a spoon.
For painting, you will need red, white, green, and glitter acrylic paints. To help preserve this item seal it with a varnish or sealer.
Finish it off with a ribbon at the top.
Looking for more salt dough projects? check these salt dough crafts out on our sister site Craftbits.com
If you are looking for an airdrying clay as an alternative I highly recommend Das Airdrying white clay
