I have fond memories of making salt dough ornaments with my mother this time of year. We would quickly whip up a batch using the best salt dough recipe and then let the creativity flow. My mothers ornaments would never crack or crumble. I don’t know how she did it.
While decorating gifts the other day, I decided I wanted to add a little charm to my gift wrapping this year and make salt dough gift tags.
After many attempts at different recipes I found online, I finally came up with the perfect salt dough recipe!
No cracking, discoloration. Just a smooth white finish.The key is adding a little white paint to the mixture! Now, I won’t take all the credit.Domestically Blissful, an amazingly creative blogger,gave me the idea toadd white paint to make the ornaments come out white. While our recipes vary, we both have had success with our finished products.
What You'll Need
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Salt dough is a great medium to work with. It traditionally has been used Christmas ornaments but it can also used it for various “clay” like projects around the home.The best part is… it’s inexpensive to make! Just a few simple household ingredients.
The Process
Warning: Making salt dough is not an exact science! So bear with me, okay?
First,whisk the flour and the salt together until evenly distributed.
Next,mix the water and the white paint togetherthoroughly. I chose to use a Chalk Paint as my paint, vs acrylic. I wanted a non-glossy finish that matches my modern farmhouse style.
Then,slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. Whisk together until a ball starts to form. If the dough seems to be too sticky, add flour until a firm dough forms. If the dough is crumbly or dry, just add a little more water.
Knead the dough for 5-7 minutes, making sure all the ingredients are well worked through.
Fun Fact:Once you’ve made your salt dough, you can refrigerate it for up to 5 days in an airtight container. This allowed me to make tags as I needed!
There you have it, the perfect salt dough recipe!
Making Gift Tags
Now you’ve learned to make the perfect salt dough, let’s talk about making these cute little gift tags.
To roll out, using parchment paper with a little flour on it.This will prevent your dough from sticking and deforming when moving from surface to surface.
Roll out your dough evenly and relatively thin, just as if you were making sugar cookies! Using a scalloped edged cookie cutter, I made these cute circles in various sizes. Perfect for any size gift.
But me being me, I also bought the cutest tag cookie cutter off Amazon.com. I wanted something more unique for my gifts too!
I decided to air dry these tags. They took about 24 hours to dry nice and hard. I did take them off the parchment paper and onto cookie racks so both sides could dry. Most stayed relatively flat. Only a few got a slight curve to them.
Now you can bake them for 2-3 hours at 200 degrees in the oven, but since these tags are so small and thin air drying them totally works.
The Perfect Salt Dough Recipe
Quick and easy recipe to make beautifully white salt dough for ornaments, gift tags, and other crafts.
PREP TIME: 5
TOTAL TIME: 30
Ingredients:
- 1/2 C White Paint
- 1/2 C Water
- 2 C All Purpose Flour
- 1 C Salt
Directions:
- Mix 2 C All Purpose Flour and 1 C Salt and set aside.
- Mix 1/2 C White Acrylic Paint and 1/2 C water in another bowl.
- Next, slowly combine the wet ingredients to the the dry mixture until a dough ball forms. Adjust the ingredients for the best consistency.
- Knead until thoroughly mixed and a workable dough ball is formed.
- Craft away!
**If dough becomes too sticky, add more flour. If the dough becomes dry, add water.
Notes:
Once these were dry, I just simply hand painted them with some old left over black acrylic paint.
I hope you all enjoy this little crafty project and are happily wrapping your presents for your loved ones.
I should probably start!
XOXO,
PIN IT FOR LATER
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HELLO & WELCOME
Thanks for visiting my little piece of the internet!
I’m Maria, a lover of furry things, coffee and anything creative. This blog is where I love to share affordable home decor ideas, great DIYs, yummy recipes, unique crafts and so much more.
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RECENT POSTS
62 thoughts on “The Perfect Salt Dough Recipe”
Michelle
December 15, 2020 at 8:54 pm
I love adding the white paint for bright white dough! I am trying this tonight!!!
Reply
Maria
January 22, 2021 at 9:34 pm
Michelle,
I’m so glad you loved this post. It makes for the best BRIGHT white dough. Hope you enjoyed your project and thanks for reading along!
XO,
Maria
Reply
Emma
December 13, 2020 at 4:05 am
Hello Maria,
You seem like a wonderful, patient woman. Thank you for the great recipe, and for all of the answered questions.
Have a lovely holiday season.
Sincerely,
EmmaReply
Maria
January 22, 2021 at 9:35 pm
Emma,
Thank you dear for such sweet words. I hope you had a lovely holidays as well. Sending lots of love.
Maria
Reply
Bailey
April 17, 2020 at 5:05 pm
Hey Maria!
I just found your awesome post! After doing extensive research and feeling defeated price-wise, I’ve decided to hand make tile for a backsplash in my RV kitchen. If I seal them all and put them on my wall, do you think they would hold up well? My main concern is being wipe-able as it’s behind the stovetop, and Durability to resist cracking when driving. Would love to know your thoughts!
Thanks!
Bailey
Reply
Maria
April 17, 2020 at 9:24 pm
Bailey,
Oh, I LOVE that you’re willing to tackle this as a DIY. As far as I know, you could seal them, but they wouldn’t be as durable as a fired glaze on a porcelain tile. Now, that doesn’t mean you can’t do this! I would look into sealing them with something that wouldn’t yellow with time. Maybe a polyurethane? I think the likelihood they would crack during your travels may depend more on the way you adhere them to the wall. Some substrate that would absorb the shock of the road. However, that would be out of my knowledge range.
Thank you for reading and if you conquer this, you MUST share! I would love to see it come to life. Good luck lovely.
XOXO,
Maria
Reply
Colleen
April 10, 2020 at 1:27 am
Hi, I’m wondering if this recipe is prone to cracking whether air dried or oven dried?
Thanks 🙂Reply
Maria
April 10, 2020 at 1:51 am
Colleen,
I have done both air dried and oven dried without any cracking. Make sure you mind your thickness, and make sure to rotate your project to allow even drying!
Hope you enjoy and thank you so much for reading!
Cheers,
Maria
Reply
Lulu
March 29, 2020 at 2:14 am
Hi, I want to use this to make garden tags. Can I use these outside after I bake and decorate?
Thanks, LuluReply
Maria
March 29, 2020 at 12:52 pm
Lulu,
I would be worried the Salt Dough, if left unsealed, would disintegrate over time in the garden. You can seal it but I highly recommend checking out my post on Rustic Herb Plant Markers. I have had these out in my herb planter for years without any issues! It probable is the cheaper route. I ordered my Sculpey Clay off Amazon.com. They are SO easy to use and really hold up well. No cracking or distortion over 2+ years of being outside!
Hope I answered your question. Thank you so much for reading along dear!
XOXO,
Maria
Reply
Angela
December 20, 2019 at 12:04 pm
Just found your blog; so fun! For the sat, what kind do you use? Can I use course sea salt or does it have to be fine?
Reply
Maria
December 20, 2019 at 5:33 pm
Angela,
Thank you so much for your kind word! I’m so glad you found me. 🙂
I would recommend using fine salt over course if you have it onhand. I would worry about it affecting the texture, but then again I haven’t tried it.
Happy crafting. XOXO,
Maria
Reply
ProsYiaYia
January 28, 2020 at 5:05 pm
I prefer coarse for ugly sweater cookie ornaments. Gives a textured look.
Reply
Maria
February 5, 2020 at 1:59 pm
What a GREAT idea! I haven’t even thought of that. Thank you for sharing and reading along.
Cheers,
Maria
Reply
Abby
December 16, 2019 at 1:16 am
Hi! I was wondering how much water I would need if I chose not to add the paint?
Reply
Maria
December 18, 2019 at 12:53 am
Abby,
Great question. I would measure out the paint and just subtract that from the amount of water required. Or as my grandmother would say…. guesstimate! If it’s too wet just add more dry ingredients.
Hope that helps!
Cheers,
Maria
Reply
Emily
April 7, 2020 at 6:49 pm
Thank you for asking this! I was wondering the same thing. I’m using my kitchen aid stand mixer and I’m afraid to add paint because I’m afraid it’s going to mess up my mixer…
But I want the dough white!! I don’t want to paint later because I don’t want brush marks.. torn!!
Reply
Emily
April 7, 2020 at 7:02 pm
I caved and added paint. It did NOT mess up my mixer but I don’t think it made it white enough but it’s possible I didn’t use enough.
Reply
Maria
April 7, 2020 at 8:08 pm
Oh no! Do over…. add more! 😀 If at first you don’t succeed… try, try again….
Reply
Maria
April 7, 2020 at 8:07 pm
Emily,
I think if you use water based non-toxic paint (chalk paint or acrylic paint) you’ll be OK to use in mixer. But honestly, kneading it by hand was pretty easy too. Nothing like a little forearm workout in the mix! 😀
Thanks for reading and your kind words.
XOXO,
Maria
Nicole Junkin
December 14, 2019 at 2:04 am
Where did you get the fancy shape cookie cutters?
Reply
Monica
December 9, 2019 at 10:20 pm
These came out pretty, but I sure wish I hadn’t had my 4 year old help. The paint in the dough got everywhere. 🙁 I now have a sweater and a rug that need scrubbing and I’m not sure if it will come out. Definitely will stick with regular salt dough for her and this one only for when I want to make things that she can paint or put glitter on later.
Reply
Maria
December 18, 2019 at 12:56 am
Monica,
OH NO! Crafting casualty. I’m so sorry! Well, I’m so glad you shared your experience though. Enjoy your memories with the little one.
XOXO,
Maria
Reply
Kayla
December 7, 2019 at 6:52 pm
Hi Maria, I’m excited to try these! Just how long does it take for them to air dry? TIA (:
Reply
Maria
December 18, 2019 at 12:57 am
Kayla,
Thanks for the questions. That depends on the thickness of your dough. I would leave them for 24 hours just to be sure. The get pretty hard and lighter in feel.
Hope that helps!
Maria
Reply
Hannah
December 3, 2019 at 6:23 pm
By adding the acrylic paint to the mixture, is it still safe to use my kitchen utensils and bowls with it since paint is non edible? Thanks
Reply
Maria
December 18, 2019 at 12:59 am
Hannah,
Great question. I would most likely avoid using any electric mixer. However, I used my bowls and mixing spoons. Just make sure they go through a sanitize setting in your dishwasher.
Cheers,
Maria
Reply
Gwen
November 25, 2019 at 2:02 pm
My goodness! You have answered every question that I had. Thank you for responding and being thorough to all. I will make a batch this season. Blessings!
Reply
Maria
November 27, 2019 at 7:19 pm
Gwen,
Thank you for such a positive comment! I’m so glad you found this post to be so useful. Enjoy your crafty project and I hope it exceeds your expectations. Have a fabulous holidays dear and thanks for visiting my little blog!
XOXO,
Maria
Reply
Glena G Reeves
November 20, 2019 at 6:38 pm
How many ornaments are made from the recipe?
Reply
Maria
November 21, 2019 at 5:15 pm
Glena,
That’s a great question. It all depends on the size of ornament you are making I presume. I managed to get a few dozen out of my batch but mine were about palm size or smaller.
I hope that helps some.
Cheers,
Maria
Reply
Maria
November 15, 2019 at 2:56 am
Sandi,
That’s a great question actually, one I do not know the answer to. I fear the oil would compromise the ability for the dough to dry and harden. I would recommend using them like my air fresheners and if you want them scented, apply the oil to the project once it’s dry. It’s porous and till absorb it. Otherwise, the only way to know truly is to try!
Thanks for the question!
XO,
Maria
Reply
Danika gambles
November 15, 2019 at 10:26 pm
I just tried vanilla extract and they are quite a bit harder to cut out shapes but smell good.
I also used gingerbread man cookie cutter and before drying covered in cinnamon. In the oven using essential oils my guess if they might have even a but more sheen to them!Reply
Maria
November 17, 2019 at 1:55 am
Danika,
Thank you for sharing your experience. I love that you weren’t afraid to try new things. I bet they smell up the house something devine!
Cheers,
Maria
Reply
Colette Singla
November 14, 2019 at 2:44 pm
Hi Maria,
I really like your tags and the idea of using chalk paint. I will try it with my granddaughter. Thank you for sharing your experience.Reply
Maria
November 15, 2019 at 2:57 am
Colette,
Thank you so much for your sweet words. I hope you and your granddaughter have so much fun with your crafting project, and make wonderful memories!
Hugs,
Maria
Reply
Brittney C.
November 29, 2019 at 4:09 pm
If I wanted to make a footprint or handprint, would I need to bake it? If so, for how long and at what temp?
Reply
Maria
November 30, 2019 at 12:27 am
I think you could easily do a footprint or handprint. It can air dry and will maintain the details. Baking will only speed up the drying process if you needed it to.
Hope that helps.
XO,
Maria
Reply
Rachel
November 12, 2019 at 8:59 pm
How would you dry these in the oven?
Reply
Maria
November 13, 2019 at 2:23 am
Rachel,
I’ve dried them in the oven at 250 for a few hours for really thick pieces.
Thanks for reading and I really hope that helps.
Cheers,
Maria
Reply
Marie
November 12, 2019 at 1:58 pm
After making my ornaments i paint them with acrylic paint then when dried I paint over with glittery nail polish. They are so shiny and beautiful. Just an idea.
Reply
Maria
November 13, 2019 at 2:22 am
Marie,
Thank you so much for sharing your creativity! I bet they look beautiful.
Happy crafting!
XOXO,
Maria
Reply
Monica
November 13, 2019 at 10:06 pm
Love this idea! My daughter will be an awesome helper in this simple, yet elegant, idea!
Reply
Maria
November 15, 2019 at 2:58 am
Monica,
Oh, I am so glad you love this recipe! I hope you and your daughter have so much fun being creative and making wonderful memories!
Cheers,
Maria
Reply
Rodney
November 8, 2019 at 3:26 am
Could you color w a marker? Looking for a simple kid project for an open house?
Reply
Maria
November 10, 2019 at 7:40 pm
Rodney,
You can absolutely use marker on these. I would just make sure you spray seal it rather than paint seal it (to prevent running of colors.) The clay is porous so it will absorb marker easily.
Great craft idea for an open house! Good luck!
Cheers,
Maria
Reply
C Porter
November 4, 2019 at 5:42 pm
Does this have to be baked? Or air dried?
Reply
Maria
November 6, 2019 at 2:04 pm
You can do either truthfully. For thicker pieces I’ve used the oven. Most of my tags and ornaments I’ve simply just let air dry!
Hope that helps. Thanks for reading along!
Cheers,
Maria
Reply
Robin B
November 4, 2019 at 3:07 pm
Maybe a dumb question, but do you decorate these before or after they are dried?
Reply
Maria
November 6, 2019 at 2:03 pm
Oh Robin, not a dumb question at all! I let mine dry first then used a little acrylic paint to hand paint them.
Thank you for reading along and commenting!
XOXO,
Maria
Reply
Sandra Anderson
November 4, 2019 at 12:37 am
What kind of paint did you use?
Reply
Maria
November 4, 2019 at 12:54 am
Sandra,
You can use Acrylic or any water based paint. In the demo I used some Annie Sloan Chalk paint because that’s what I had on hand!
Hope that helps.
XOXO,
Maria
Reply
Merri-Sue
October 31, 2019 at 12:05 am
Will these last for years? How many ornaments do you think can be made with this recipe? Our church wants to do a family
Christmas tree with each child birth to 12th grade getting one and using it every year til they graduate. Will they last 18 years +?Reply
Maria
November 4, 2019 at 1:03 am
Merri-Sue,
This is a recipe I’ve used over the years and they are still holding up strong. Now, if you’re concerned about longevity I would spray a coat of Crystal Clear protection coat or paint on a layer of Clear Glaze. This will help protect them from any moisture they might encounter being stored. I can’t say I’ve have tested them for 18+ years… but as far as cheap and cheerful crafts… I would give it a go.
Cheers,
Maria
Reply
Mariah
October 28, 2019 at 7:37 pm
How do i know how much of each ingredient?
Reply
Maria
October 29, 2019 at 11:30 pm
Mariah,
I’m confused. Did the full page not load? The recipe is in the post and also has a print button that leads you to a PDF so you can print it and safe it for your own.
Cheers,
Maria
Reply
Debra
August 4, 2019 at 4:43 pm
Hello Maria,
If I make the salt dough tags in in August will they still be ok for Christmas. If so how should I store the?
Thank you, DebraReply
admin
August 4, 2019 at 8:05 pm
Debra,
I have tags from last year in a plastic bag waiting for this coming season. No storage problems here! I hope that helps. Thanks again for reading along. Happy crafting.
Cheer,
Maria
Reply
Michelle
October 25, 2019 at 12:57 am
Could I add a different color paint for a colored tag? Would that work okay do you think? Or is it better to paint them after they dry completely?
Reply
Maria
October 29, 2019 at 11:29 pm
Michelle,
I haven’t tried another color, but I absolutely think it would work! It’s cheap and cheerful so give it a go! I’d love to hear how it turns out.
Thanks again for reading.
XOXO,
Maria
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