How to Make Salt Dough Valentines

Valentine's day has gotten so commercial that it seems you cannot walk into a store after Christmas without seeing cards, candies and stuffed animals jumping out at you. Most everyone loves to receive something that is not only from the heart, but also made by your hands! These are great for kids to make for family and friends.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 2 cups flour
• 1 cup salt
• 1 cup hot water
• heart shaped cookie cutters
• cookie sheet
• rolling pin
• acrylic or water based paints
• glitter, beads, or any other embellishments you have on hand
• straw to make hole to hang
• ribbon or string to hang the ornament
• mod podge for preservation

1. Mix salt and flour. Add in half the water, then gradually add the remaining water. Knead until the dough is smooth, this can take up to 10 minutes. For flat dough ornaments roll out the dough on floured wax or parchment paper.

2. Use any Valentine cookie cutters you may have, such as a heart or lips. Cut the shapes out and place on a floured cookie sheet.

3. Place the cookie sheet in a pre-heated oven at 200 degrees for 1 1/2 hours, or until dry. You may need to flip the cutout several times depending on the thickness of the cutouts.

4. Let cool completely before painting and decorating with embellishments. After paint and glue dries, add Mod Podge to preserve the Valentines. Also string a festive colored ribbon through the hole for the heart to hang up with.

Tips & Warnings

• These make great teacher gifts.
• Make homemade play dough and cut out with same shapes to give to classmates!
• Make these ornaments for other holidays, just change the cookie cutters.
• This dough dries out fast and ornaments may start to crack.
• Flour your hands, cookie cutters or other utensils you may use.
• If too dry add a little water
• THESE ARE NOT FOR CONSUMPTION!

Resources

• Salt dough Christmas ornaments
• More Valentine Salt dough ideas
• Homemade play dough

[parollins]

on 3/2/2009 These are a really neat idea. It makes me wish I still had my daughter at home. We would have loved this idea when she was little. I may do it anyway..lol

[betterbody]

on 2/28/2009 Very cute.

[supercuteali]

on 2/17/2009 ~Very good article! 5 Stars!

[cheapcindy]

on 2/12/2009 I used to make salt dough crafts and lost the recipe, so thanks! 5*

[healthymomof5]

on 2/12/2009 This is such a good idea! I was going to give plain valentines for a party coming up but now this sounds even better!5*