Halloween’s just around the corner, and you want to make some spooky keepsakes to decorate your home or give as gifts. You’ve seen those adorable salt dough ornaments, but you’re not sure how to make them. Don’t worry, this quick guide will show you exactly how to make Halloween salt dough keepsakes that are easy, fun, and super cute!
3 Easy Steps: How to Make Halloween Salt Dough Keepsakes
Halloween is just around the corner, and what better way to celebrate than with some spooky, fun keepsakes? Salt dough ornaments are a classic craft—simple, affordable, and perfect for the whole family to enjoy. Let’s get started!
Before: Gathering Your Supplies
You’ll need just a few basic ingredients to get started with your Halloween salt dough keepsakes. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Flour: The base of our dough! Use all-purpose flour for the best results.
- Salt: Salt adds durability and helps prevent the dough from cracking.
- Water: Used to bring the dough together.
- Optional: Food coloring: Add a touch of spooky color to your creations!
- Cookie cutters: Round out your Halloween fun with spooky shapes! Consider pumpkins, bats, ghosts, and even witches’ hats.
- Wooden skewers: These are helpful for creating holes for hanging your ornaments.
- Acrylic paints: Bring your Halloween characters to life with vibrant colours.
- Paintbrushes: Make sure to have a variety of sizes for detail!
- Clear acrylic sealant: This will protect your ornaments and help them last longer.
After: Making Your Halloween Salt Dough Keepsakes
Now that you have all your supplies, let’s get our spooky hands dirty. Here’s a simple recipe for Halloween salt dough keepsakes:
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Mix the Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine 1 cup of all-purpose flour and 1/2 cup of salt. Gradually stir in 1/2 cup of water until the dough comes together. You can add a few drops of food coloring now if you want to create colorful dough.
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Knead the Dough: Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead for about 5 minutes until it’s smooth and no longer sticky.
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Roll Out the Dough: Divide the dough into portions and roll each portion out to about 1/4 inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut out your desired Halloween shapes.
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Bake the Ornaments: Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C). Place your cut-out shapes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 1-2 hours, or until they are hard and dry.
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Decorate and Seal: Once the ornaments are cool, it’s time to get creative! Use acrylic paint to decorate your Halloween shapes. You can paint them with spooky faces, create patterns, or even add glitter. Once the paint is dry, you can seal your ornaments with clear acrylic sealant to protect them.
Bridge: Tips for Creating Memorable Keepsakes
Making Halloween salt dough keepsakes is all about letting your creativity run wild. Here are some tips to make your creations truly special:
- Use different textures: Try using a rolling pin with different textures to create unique designs in your dough.
- Embellish with other materials: Glue on googly eyes, glitter, yarn, or felt for added dimension and character.
- Add a personal touch: Leave a message or date on your ornament.
- Create a unique theme: Stick to one color palette, a specific character, or even a spooky scene.
After: Enjoy Your Spooky Keepsakes
Halloween salt dough keepsakes are fun to make, and even more fun to display! They make great gifts for friends and family, or you can even keep them for yourself to enjoy. Whether you create a spooky pumpkin, a playful ghost, or a fierce bat, these keepsakes will bring a touch of Halloween magic to your home.
Here are some more ways to use your Halloween salt dough keepsakes:
- Decorate your Christmas tree: Paint your salt dough ornaments with festive colors and hang them on your Christmas tree for a unique Halloween-themed holiday decoration!
- Use as gift tags: Attach a ribbon and write a message on your ornament to create a personalized gift tag.
- Create a Halloween garland: String your ornaments together with ribbon or twine to create a festive Halloween garland.
- Make a Halloween mobile: Hang your ornaments from a hoop or branch to create a spooky Halloween mobile.
- Decorate your windows: Attach your ornaments to your windows with clear glue or tape to create a whimsical Halloween display.
After: Happy Crafting!
Now you know the secrets to making your own Halloween salt dough keepsakes. From simple, spooky shapes to elaborately decorated characters, there’s a world of creativity waiting to be unleashed. Gather your supplies, put on some spooky tunes, and have fun with your family creating these charming keepsakes. Happy crafting!
