Salted Dough Christmas Ornaments

I wanted to do something special for this, our first official Christmas. Last year I didn't put up a tree... no presents, nothing festive. I knew I couldn't get away with my "bah hum-bug-ness" this year so I set out to make some fun gifts for the grandparents.

101 Cookie Cutters. At least ONE for every holiday!

That's a LOT of cutters.

I went through and chose the largest cutters. The ones that would fit around her handprint.

I didn't have any bleached flour on hand so I used wheat flour.

I added 8 drops of "neon" purple food coloring and mixed well.

Next, you'll need a child with small hands. I had one handy. I used the pointed end of a chopstick to make the hangar hole.

After baking in the oven for 45 minutes at 350º F.

I took them out, turned them over, and returned them to the oven to sit overnight as it cooled.

Here you can see the edges are not smooth. I took a dremmel tool to them to smooth the edges.

I used watercolors to enhance the hand print and make it pop.

I did both the green and purple ornaments.

Next, I traced around the ornament onto a piece of coordinating felt.

Then, cut it out.

Remember to mark the hole and cut a small circle for the ribbon.

I applied glue to the ornament and the felt. FYI: applying glue to the felt was unnecessary... only apply to the ornament and make sure you get it all the way to the edge.

The finished prints. I could have stopped here, but...

I decided to take polyurethane to make the prints look wet and glossy.

I used silver ribbon. I cut the pieces at 12".

Fold in half...

Poke it through the hole...

Thread through...

and walla!

She had a GREAT time helping.

Recipe for Homemade Salted Dough Ornaments

What you'll need:

• ½ cup salt
• 2 cups flour
• 1 cup water
• 8-10 drops food coloring
• Rolling pin
• Cookie sheet
• Chopstick (or toothpick)
• Cookie cutters; Big enough for your child's handprint
• Paint; I used watercolor paint, but any would work
• ¼" Ribbon 
• Felt in coordinating colors
• Glue

How to make them:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Mix together salt and flour.
3. Add water until dough is formed.
4. Add 8 to 10 drops of food coloring and knead the dough until the mixture is elastic and smooth. If dough is too sticky, sprinkle with flour, continue to do so until stickiness is gone. Do not add too much flour, this will dry out the dough and will cause it to crack before you get a chance to bake it.
5. Roll out the dough a piece of tinfoil that's been dusted with flour to about ¼" thick with a rolling pin that has also been dusted with flour.
6. Press your child's hand (or foot) into the dough.
7. Use a cookie cutter to cut out a fun shape around the hand print.
8. Use a chopstick to make a hole toward the top of the shape. Poke the it through the shape, to make the hole the size you want it.
9. Place all shapes onto the cookie sheet and place into the preheated oven.
10. Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
11. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely. (I turned mine over because the underside was still a bit pliable and returned them to the oven as it cooled.)
12. Use a watercolor or paint "wash" to make the hand print pop. Allow to dry completely.
13. OPTIONAL: Use a polyurethane paint to make the print look glossy.

Children's Museum of Phoenix

Our new favorite place to hang out and expend energy is at the Children's Museum.

You are decidedly cute upon entering. You see that huge "tree" made of wood and metal, and you go running to it, climb up the stairs and go directly down the opposite stairs. It's like you're quickly saying hi and then you move on.

Today we met Aunt Netty for lunch at First Watch. You weren't having anything to do with sitting still, eating, or being quiet. You were (almost) entertained by stacking the coffee creamers and the jelly, but it was too good to be true.

I was happy when you ate a few bites of watermelon. I really like it when you eat...

After lunch we walked Aunty Net back to her office and then you and I went back to the museum, where you, once again, said your climbing greeting to the tree.

We spent some time running through the hanging noodles where I chase you saying, "Raar, rar, I'm going to get you!", and you squeal with delight and run away.

The hanging noodle "forest"

I love spending time with you, my lil' Diva. Good night.