salt dough ornaments

Now that winter is officially here, going outside is fun (for Ellia) but also a process. It takes at least 20 minutes to get outside ready. First there is actually getting dressed, then we have snow pants, gloves, boots, jacket, scarf and hat. It's a fine art, really. Sometimes we go outside and Ellia decides she was actually joking and didn't really want to be outside in the cold (don't blame her) and sometimes we are out there for an hour or more. Girlfriend knows what she wants. 

We have been doing a lot of little crafts and activities to keep us busy during the day, which keep me sane too, since it's no surprise I love crafts. Today we made some salt dough ornaments. They require only 3 incredients and turned out super cute! I think I will make some more, very fun and Ellia loves rolling out the dough, cutting out the shapes and of course, painting. 

Salt Dough

2 cups all purpose flour- plus more for dusting
1/2 cup salt
3/4 – 1 cup water
 

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees and line a few baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In an electric mixer combine flour and salt and mix well.
3. With the mixer on low speed add in the water slowly until dough comes together in a ball.
4. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 10 minutes to firm up.
5. On a very well floured board, a piece of parchment paper or a slipmat, roll dough out to 1/4″ thick. Cut out ornament shapes using various cookie cutters.
6. Transfer ornaments to prepared cookie sheets and poke a small hole in each, I used a toothpick, or you could use a straw. Make hole large enough for an ornament hook or ribbon.
7. Bake for 30 minutes. They should harden but not brown.

We are going to give some as gifts since they are so cute and I might make some for tags for presents too!

xox nat