Small Title
Los Gatos High School
Leo's Club
Handprint Ornaments
New Museum Los Gatos (NUMU) is an art and history museum with art making studios located in the Los Gatos Civic Center Plaza. We offer hands-on art making workshops and classes for all ages and all skill levels. Enjoy this fun and easy festive craft to make a special print on this holiday season. Use this simple salt dough recipe to make an ornament with your child’s handprint or your animal’s paw print.
Salt Dough Ingredients:
Yields 2-3 dozen
-
4 cups all purpose flour (do not use self-rising flour)
-
1 cup salt
-
1.5 cups warm water
Yields ½ - 1 dozen
-
1 cup flour
-
¼ cup salt
-
⅓ cup warm water
Directions:
-
Combine all ingredients and stir with a wooden spoon until it starts to form a dough.
-
Take dough out of the bowl and knead for at least 10 minutes. (if dry add a splash more water if needed, not too much or it will be too wet).
-
Place dough between two pieces of parchment paper and roll out to about a ¼-½ inch thick.
-
Press hand or paw into the dough.
-
Use holiday themed cookie cutters or a bowl to trace around the handprint and then cut with a knife (parents help). Get creative and make this any shape you like a tree, heart, or star.
TIP: You can also use a mason jar lid for a circle cookie cutter
-
Make small two holes in the top of the ornament. (use a straw, skewer or popsicle stick)
-
Bake at 250 degrees Fahrenheit for 1-2 hours. They should be firm to the touch, it could take up to 3 hours for larger ornaments.
TIP: If you have time, let the ornaments air dry for a day prior to baking this will prevent
puffing.
-
Once your ornaments are fully dry you can paint them. Add glitter by painting first, then fill with glue and sprinkle on the glitter.
TIP: add name and date to front or back of ornament.
-
After the paint has fully dried, seal with either mod podge or clear glaze spray.
-
Select a ribbon and a string through holes for hanging.