These DIY ornaments also double as thoughtful homemade gifts: Grandparents, aunts and uncles, or other family members will cherish this sentimental gift idea.
How to Make a Handprint Christmas Ornament
Supplies Needed
2 cups flour1 cup salt1 cup warm waterFood coloringRolling pinPencil or strawRibbonScissors
Step-by-Step Directions
Use these simple how-to instructions to make your own handprint or footprint ornaments. You should be able to mix the dough and create a set of ornaments in under 30 minutes, but you’ll need to allow three hours of baking time.
Step 1: Make Salt Dough
Make the salt dough for your ornaments by combining flour, salt, and water. Knead the dough until smooth—it should have a play-dough-like consistency. Divide the dough evenly into two separate balls and add a few drops of food coloring ($7, Target) to each dough ball and knead to swirl the color into the dough. Place the dough on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper ($7, Walmart) and roll the dough into a tube. Twist two doughs rolls together to combine the colors and create a marbled effect, then wrap the twist around itself to create a ball. Use a rolling pin to roll the dough out to ¼-inch thickness.
Step 2: Create Print and Bake
Press a hand (or a foot!) into the flattened dough to create the imprint. You may need to press down on the top of the child’s hand to make sure you get a good imprint. To cut a perfect circle around the handprint, look for a bowl that’s bigger than the handprint and then turn it upside down over the print. Press the bowl into the dough to create a perfectly round ornament, then remove the bowl and pull away excess dough. Poke a hole where the ornament will hang using a pencil or plastic straw. Bake the ornament at 250°F for 90 minutes; flip, then bake another 90 minutes.
Step 3: Finish and Hang Your Handprint Ornament
After baking, allow the handprint ornament to cool completely. You can decorate your salt dough ornament with crafting glue, glitter, and other embellishments, then string a ribbon through the hole and hang on your Christmas tree. Continue crafting with the kids by making one of our favorite easy homemade Christmas ornaments.
