Salt Dough {Halloween Ornaments}

I've wanted to make salt dough for a reeeeally long time now. I'm so, so pleased with the way these turned out. I am a sucker with sentimental crafts for the holidays, especially now that I feel like time is flying and Jonah's getting so big. I plan to do these for each and every holiday and just cherish his little two-year old chubby hand print.

So, yesterday afternoon I whipped up a batch of salt dough. It's easy peasy.
Here's the recipe:

SALT DOUGH-
1 c salt
2 c flour
1 c water

* This recipe made 6 large (5" diameter) ornaments.

Mix all ingredients together and add tablespoons of flour until the dough isn't sticky. Then, roll it out on a floured surface. I pulled up a chair and floured Jonah's hands and feet. He LOVED getting involved in this craft. Standing on the table and stomping on my dough. Yes, it was messy. Yes, we had flour everywhere. Everywhere!! But seriously. Could I replace these cute ornaments? Nope.

So, my method was to press his hand or foot into the dough, THEN cut my shape. It worked better that way for us. Pre-heat your oven to 325 degrees and bake for about an hour (until the dough is hard/firm and starting to turn brown).

I free-handed the cut shapes. I am a fan of imperfect. I knew I wanted a pumpkin and candy corn, then I just winged it. The tombstone was a candy corn mistake (true story). And, a hand upside down makes for the perfect spider.

Right before I baked the ornaments I took a straw and poked out a hole for ribbon. Once painted/dry I tied on a cute Halloween ribbon! My favorite part of these are Jonahs hand and foot prints. I pushed down really hard into the dough so they would leave an impression....and I'll always have the size of his little hands.