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Salt Dough Handprint Ornaments – How to Make This Adorable Keepsake

Salt Dough Handprint Ornaments – How to Make This Adorable Keepsake

Salt Dough Handprint Ornaments – How to Make This Adorable Keepsake

salt dough ornaments how to make and decorate kid tradition holiday christmas handprint

Salt dough handprint ornaments are such great keepsakes! Keep on reading to find out how to make the dough and find ideas on how to decorate! 

A Classic Keepsake – Salt Dough Handprint Ornaments! 

Salt Dough Ornaments are a classic holiday craft! Not only are they fun to create, but the kids will love being able to decorate them and paint them after they’re dry. Our salt dough recipe is simple to make and will result in such a great homemade gift or item to decorate the tree at home.

Whether you create these DIY ornaments with handprints or not, the key is to give the kids a ton of creative freedom to have a blast! 

All activities should be supervised by an adult. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links.

Skills:
Ages: 
Prep Time:

Watch How to Make Salt Dough Handprint Ornaments 

In this video you’ll see how quick and easy it is to make salt dough handprint ornaments! This video is a tutorial to demonstrate the process, but be sure to get the kids involved from start to finish. They can help make the dough, roll it out, and decorate! 

Plus, with the extra dough not used for the handprint, have the kiddos make additional ornaments using cookie cutters!

Watch How to Make Salt Dough Handprint Ornaments 

In this video you’ll see how quick and easy it is to make salt dough handprint ornaments! This video is a tutorial to demonstrate the process, but be sure to get the kids involved from start to finish. They can help make the dough, roll it out, and decorate! 

Plus, with the extra dough not used for the handprint, have the kiddos make additional ornaments using cookie cutters!

salt dough ornaments how to make and decorate kid tradition holiday christmas

Tips for Making Salt Dough Ornaments

How do you prevent ornaments from puffing up? To prevent your ornament from puffing up, be sure to select a plain flour since the self-rising kind may cause your ornaments to get puffy when baked. Also, make sure you bake the dough at a low temperature. While we bake at 200F, all ovens can vary so if your ornaments puff up, bring the temperature down and bake for longer until dry.

What is the best paint to use? Acrylic paint! It is vibrant and long lasting!

How do you seal the ornaments? With a decoupage like Mod Podge. This will give the ornaments a great finish and preserve them too!

Caution for pet owners. Salt dough is toxic to pets, so be sure to keep them out of reach!

 

 

Materials

 

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl.

Step 2

On wax paper, roll the dough out until it is about 1/8 inch thick. If it is too thick, you may end up with air bubbles. 

Step 3

Design your ornament using cookie cutters or cutting out the shape of a handprint. Have fun with it!

Step 4

Bake at 200F for about 1 hour, flip, and back for an additional hour until the dough starts to look golden.

Step 5

Once cool, use acrylic paint to decorate.

Step 6

When dry, cover with a layer of mod podge. Hang up on the Christmas tree and enjoy for years to come!

Step 1

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl.

Step 2

On wax paper, roll the dough out until it is about 1/8 inch thick. If it is too thick, you may end up with air bubbles. 

Step 3

Design your ornament using cookie cutters or cutting out the shape of a handprint. Have fun with it!

Step 4

Bake at 200F for about 1 hour, flip, and back for an additional hour until the dough starts to look golden.

Step 5

Once cool, use acrylic paint to decorate.

Step 6

When dry, cover with a layer of mod podge. Hang up on the Christmas tree and enjoy for years to come!

More Holiday Themed Activities!  

This Christmas Activity booklet includes 18 playful learning activities to promote early childhood skills including, alphabet recognition, color recognition, scissor skills, early math, writing, and so much more!

It is a fun bundle to have during the holiday break to keep the kiddos busy, learning, and having fun!

For more printable resources be sure to check out our full collection of worksheets! 

fall sensory bin taste safe toddler baby foam
fall sensory bin taste safe toddler baby foam

More Holiday Themed Activities!  

This Christmas Activity booklet includes 18 playful learning activities to promote early childhood skills including, alphabet recognition, color recognition, scissor skills, early math, writing, and so much more!

It is a fun bundle to have during the holiday break to keep the kiddos busy, learning, and having fun!

For more printable resources be sure to check out our full collection of worksheets! 

More Holiday Crafts to Explore 

Here are more fun ways to do festive crafting during the holiday season!

sensory bin build you own bin michaels

Paper Mache Ornament Kit

This ornament kit includes 3 paper mache ornament balls, and a bunch of craft supplies to decorate with!

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sensory bin marine creatures

Spinning Ornament Decorator

A creative way to decorate ornaments! Place the plain ornaments in the tree spinner, and decorate using markers!

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christmas ornament crafting kits

Bead Elf Ornaments

Create your own bead elves with this fun kit that includes wooden beads in 5 shapes, paper hat cutouts, and 8 pipe cleaners.

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christmas crafting kits

Gingerbread House

This large scale gingerbread house is all about coloring and decorating. Great for pretend play when personalized!

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What’s Next?

Christmas Cutting Activity – Free Printable Trim Santa’s Beard

Christmas Cutting Activity – Free Printable Trim Santa’s Beard

Christmas Cutting Activity – Free Printable Trim Santa’s Beard

christmas cutting activity trim santa's beard scissor skills free printable worksheet

This Christmas Cutting activity is such a fun way to strengthen scissor skills! Keep on reading to get the free printable worksheet to trim Santa’s beard!  

Scissor Skills with a Holiday Twist!

One of the best ways for kids to strengthen fine motor skills is through cutting activities! It takes time to build up the muscles in the hands and fingers, but activities like this make it fun!

This Christmas cutting activity is a super fun way to practice these skills during the holiday time! Kids will enjoy giving Santa’s beard a cut and a trim.

We made things extra easy for grown ups with a free printable worksheet. There are 4 different Santa’s each with different patterns on his beard to explore with varying levels of difficulty!

 

Skills:
Ages: 
Prep Time:

This Christmas Cutting Activity in Action!

This activity can be set up in no time! Since it is a free printable, all you have to do is grab the free printable from the link below, print it, and then either cut out the Santas yourself, or have your kiddos do it themselves!

Then, kids can have fun using scissors along the patterns to cut Santa’s beard and give it a trim if they would like too!

All activities should be supervised by an adult. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links.

This Christmas Cutting Activity in Action!

This activity can be set up in no time! Since it is a free printable, all you have to do is grab the free printable from the link below, print it, and then either cut out the Santas yourself, or have your kiddos do it themselves!

Then, kids can have fun using scissors along the patterns to cut Santa’s beard and give it a trim if they would like too!

All activities should be supervised by an adult. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links.

scissor skills cut santa's beard printable activity worksheet holiday

Get the FREE Printable Christmas Cutting Activity Here!

We understand that grown ups are busy which is why we often make free printable activities! For this Christmas, cutting activity, we’ve got you covered with this FREE printable!

We have lots of Holiday themed printables available. Be sure to check out our Christmas Bundle, Hanukkah Bundle, and Kwanzaa Bundle too! Each of these are filled with activities that will be sure to keep your kiddos busy before and during the holiday break!

And for even more printable activities, visit our Printable Shop. It is filled with easy to set-up activities that help strengthen early childhood education skills!

The Importance of Scissor Skills

Cutting with scissors is one of those practical life skills that will be useful for the rest of your kiddo’s life!

It also happens to be a wonderful tool for strengthening fine motor skills! Opening and closing a scissor will increase the muscle strengthen in kid’s hands and fingers.

This printable has a number of different patterns with varying degrees of difficulty. Each are great for supporting hand-eye coordination.

Overtime, as kid’s hands get stronger, their movements and accuracy will be more precise.

christmas cutting activity trim santa's beard scissor skills free printable worksheet
christmas cutting activity trim santa's beard scissor skills free printable worksheet

The Importance of Scissor Skills

Cutting with scissors is one of those practical life skills that will be useful for the rest of your kiddo’s life!

It also happens to be a wonderful tool for strengthening fine motor skills! Opening and closing a scissor will increase the muscle strengthen in kid’s hands and fingers.

This printable has a number of different patterns with varying degrees of difficulty. Each are great for supporting hand-eye coordination.

Overtime, as kid’s hands get stronger, their movements and accuracy will be more precise.

Store-Bought Scissor Skills Activities

Here are my top picks for scissor skill products you can buy!

Scissor Skills Workbook

This set includes 3 workbooks all about scissor skills. Each book includes a pair of scissors!

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Apple Picking Game

This unique game includes magnetic apples that can be picked from the tree using a scooper scissor!

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Travel-Size Cutting Book

This small book is packed with scissor skills activities for children as young as 2 years old!

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Decorative Scissors

This fun set of scissors comes with 6 designs of patterns for decorating paper crafts!

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How To Make DIY Snow For Sensory Play

How To Make DIY Snow For Sensory Play

How to Make DIY Snow For Sensory Play

Here you will find 4 easy recipes for DIY snow for sensory play. Keep reading and learn how to make powder-like or moldable snow for your kids. Plus, more information about this affordable, store bought option!

During the wintertime, one of the most fun themes for sensory play is Christmas and the Arctic! Snow-dusted evergreen trees, Santa, and pickup trucks are all fun themes for kids.

There are so many benefits to sensory play, and this fake snow is the perfect way for your kiddo to enjoy it. 

Keep reading and discover how easy it is to make your very own fake snow out of products you have at home.

All activities should be supervised by an adult. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links.

Skills:
Ages: 
Prep Time:

DIY Snow for Sensory and Imaginative Play

In this video you’ll see how kids can enjoy the sensory experience of snow. Whether you are lucky to have the real stuff outside, or decide to make one of our fake snow recipes, being able to touch, mold, and sift snow is such a fun sensory experience!

Additionally, if you can add some figurines and cars, you can create a small world set up that sparks imaginative play! Below I have some recommendations for sensory bin fillers like this!

DIY Snow for Sensory and Imaginative Play

In this video you’ll see how kids can enjoy the sensory experience of snow. Whether you are lucky to have the real stuff outside, or decide to make one of our fake snow recipes, being able to touch, mold, and sift snow is such a fun sensory experience!

Additionally, if you can add some figurines and cars, you can create a small world set up that sparks imaginative play! Below I have some recommendations for sensory bin fillers like this!

Watch the Video to See How to Make Fake Snow!

In this video you’ll see how easy it is to make DIY snow for sensory play. There are 4 different recipes, but all of them use supplies from around your house. 

This how-to video shows you how easy it is to make moldable fake snow out of shaving cream and baking soda! There are recipes for moldable snow, powdery snow, as well as a great store bought option that is both moldable and powdery!

Whether your child wants snow they can mold into fake snowballs, or a powdery kind they can sift, I have the perfect recipes for you! Read on below for all the options!

DIY Fake Snow Recipes

Moldable Fake Snow Version 1

Moldable Fake Snow Version 2

Powdery Fake Snow Version 1

    Powdery Fake Snow Version 2

    • 1/2 cup Baking Soda
    • Water, adding one tablespoon at a time until it’s a powder-like consistency

    Powdery Fake Snow Version 1

    Powdery Fake Snow Version 2

    • 1/2 cup Baking Soda
    • Water, adding one tablespoon at a time until it’s a powder-like consistency

    A Moldable and Powdery Fake Snow You Can Buy!

    Make things really easy and buy some fake snow! All you need is 2 ounces of water for every scoop. Pictured in this small world tray is a product called Insta-Snow! It can make up to 2 gallons of fake snow. Wow!

    You can make an Arctic small world set up using fake snow, mini pine trees, and Arctic animal figurines. It is a great way to learn geography while sparking imaginative play.

    You can find many great figurines at Safari Ltd. They have small figurine sets that can work with many different small world set ups, from space-themed, to jungle-themed, and even mythical creatures!

    Educational Benefits of Sensory Play With Fake Snow

    There is so much educational value in sensory play. Sensory play can engage most if not all of children’s senses at the same time – sight, smell, touch, sound, and even taste.

    All 4 of these recipes for DIY fake snow are safe for your child to explore and play in. I wouldn’t suggest they taste any of them, but all their other senses can be completely engaged. 

    When they activate all their senses at once, it actually creates new pathways within their brain. Yup! Playing in a pile of fake snow can help their brain grow!

    You can even use the fake snow creation as a science experiment! You have to check out how we turned our DIY fake snow into a Fizzy Snowman Experiment!

    Get mixing and create a pile of fun memories for your child – it will help their brain to grow strong and healthy!

    Educational Benefits of Sensory Play With Fake Snow

    There is so much educational value in sensory play. Sensory play can engage most if not all of children’s senses at the same time – sight, smell, touch, sound, and even taste.

    All 4 of these recipes for DIY fake snow are safe for your child to explore and play in. I wouldn’t suggest they taste any of them, but all their other senses can be completely engaged. 

    When they activate all their senses at once, it actually creates new pathways within their brain. Yup! Playing in a pile of fake snow can help their brain grow!

    You can even use the fake snow creation as a science experiment! You have to check out how we turned our DIY fake snow into a Fizzy Snowman Experiment!

    Get mixing and create a pile of fun memories for your child – it will help their brain to grow strong and healthy!

     

    Winter-Themed Sensory Bin Toys 

    Here are my top picks for the best winter toys to enhance your fake snow sensory bin!

    Pine Trees & Snowmen 

    This cute set comes with pine trees, street lamps, little deer, and some snowmen. Items like this allow the sensory experience to transform into imaginative play!

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    Insta-Snow Powder

    If you don’t want to make your own snow, you can buy it! This is a polymer mixture that actually makes 2 gallons of snow. It is both a moldable and powdery consistency!

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    Arctic Habitat Sensory Kit 

    This set of 10 figurines is all about the Arctic! It includes a harp seal, husky, caribou, arctic rabbit, killer wale, walrus, arctic fox, beluga whale, igloo, and polar bear!

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    Snow Plow Toy

    A snow plow is a fun sensory bin addition! My son enjoyed playing with Insta-Snow and road tape while learning about the oh-so important job of clearing roads with snow on them!

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    What’s Next?

    DIY Christmas Tree Decorations – Galaxy Ornaments

    DIY Christmas Tree Decorations – Galaxy Ornaments

    DIY Christmas Tree Decorations – Galaxy Ornaments

    These DIY Christmas tree decorations are out-of-this-world gorgeous! These are homemade ornaments that look just like a galaxy! They are so easy to make, a preschooler can do it!

    A Multi-Sensory Arts & Crafts Project for the Holidays

    Not only is this a beautiful way to make DIY Christmas tree decorations, but the process of creating these galaxy ornaments exposes children to a multi-sensory experience while strengthening fine motor skills! 

    Here you’ll find a how-to video, all the materials used in this project, step-by-step instructions, the educational benefits of this activity, as well as my top picks for store-bought ornament kits!

    Skills:
    Ages: 
    Prep Time:

    Watch the Video to See How to Make These DIY Christmas Tree Decorations

    Here you’ll see just how easy these homemade galaxy ornaments are to make! The materials are budget-friendly, and they make for such a unique addition to the Christmas Tree!

    All activities should be supervised by an adult. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links.

    Watch the Video to See How to Make These DIY Christmas Tree Decorations

    Here you’ll see just how easy these homemade galaxy ornaments are to make! The materials are budget-friendly, and they make for such a unique addition to the Christmas Tree!

    All activities should be supervised by an adult. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links.

    Tips for Making These DIY Christmas Tree Decorations

    How easy was that?! You just saw how quickly and vibrantly these DIY galaxy ornaments were able to be created. You may have noticed that I positioned the plastic ornament on top of a used tape roll. This kept the ball steady while my kids funneled in the paint.

    These plastic ornaments are light weight and plastic which allows for safe handling for little kids! One thing to keep in mind — once these DIY Christmas ornaments are filled with paint and cotton balls, they will be heavy!  Be sure to hot-glue or tape the lid shut to ensure no accidental spilling! Check out all the step-by-step instructions below!

    Materials

    Step-by-Step Instructions 

    Step 1

     Fill 1/3 of the ornament up with tempera paint mixed with water at a 1 to 1 ratio.

    Step 2

    Add stretched out cotton balls until the mixture is absorbed.

    Step 3

    Add glitter (optional).

    Step 4

    Repeat steps 1-3 two more times, each with a different color. We used pink, blue, and purple.

    Step 5

    Finally, use hot glue to secure the top. Note: find a strong branch because this ornament will be heavy!

    Step 1

     Fill 1/3 of the ornament up with tempera paint mixed with water at a 1 to 1 ratio.

    Step 2

    Add stretched out cotton balls until the mixture is absorbed.

    Step 3

    Add glitter (optional).

    Step 4

    Repeat steps 1-3 two more times, each with a different color. We used pink, blue, and purple.

    Step 5

    Finally, use hot glue to secure the top. Note: find a strong branch because this ornament will be heavy!

    Educational Benefits of These DIY Christmas Tree Decorations

    Pouring, filling, mixing, pushing — there are so many life skills being practiced during the creation of these galaxy ornaments!

    As children mix water and paint, and then fill the ornament up, they are strengthening their shoulder muscles and learning capacity and volume.

    Stretching the cotton balls and poking them in with a craft stick is wonderful for fine motor skill strengthening.

    And placing the cotton balls inside the water-paint mixture will be a quick lesson in absorption too!

    This is also a great opportunity to talk about outerspace. The vibrant colors with star-like glitter can be compared to the Milky Way!

    Educational Benefits of These DIY Christmas Tree Decorations

    Pouring, filling, mixing, pushing — there are so many life skills being practiced during the creation of these galaxy ornaments!

    As children mix water and paint, and then fill the ornament up, they are strengthening their shoulder muscles and learning capacity and volume.

    Stretching the cotton balls and poking them in with a craft stick is wonderful for fine motor skill strengthening.

    And placing the cotton balls inside the water-paint mixture will be a quick lesson in absorption too!

    This is also a great opportunity to talk about outerspace. The vibrant colors with star-like glitter can be compared to the Milky Way!

    Store-Bought Christmas Ornament Kits

    Here are my top picks for kits you can buy to make your own ornaments!

    Paper Mache Ornament Kit

    This kit has everything you need to create 4 paper mache ornament balls, including paint, glue, glitter, snowflake sequins and more!

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    Clay Print Ornaments

    This soft moulding clay kit creates beautiful keepsakes of hand prints, foot prints, and even paw prints! This clay dries naturally, no baking necessary!

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    Spin Art Ornaments

    Create colorful keepsakes with this innovative technique! This set comes with the battery-powered spinning decorator, 3 blank ornaments, and 8 non-toxic markers.

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    Paint Your Own Wooden Ornaments Kit

    This beautifully designed kit comes with 5 handmade wooden ornaments with gorgeous details, 8 paint pots, and a paint brush. 

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    What’s Next?

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