Salt Dough Fall Ornaments

Most everyone is familiar with salt dough.  It's amazing!  There is not much you can't do with salt dough.  I decided to make a few Fall leaves and acorn's to hang on my front porch this Fall season.  I ended up making more than I few.

Salt Dough Acorns before baking!

It's really simple to make salt dough, just don't eat it!!  It's horrible.  You can pretty much make anything your imagination comes up with.  Have fun.  Don't stress over it.  Make it a family affair.

Salt Dough Pumpkins

Pumpkin Patch and Acorn after baking, painting, and two coats of varnish.

 

Salt Dough Recipe

2 cups of all purpose flour
1 cup of table salt
3/4 cup warm water
Large bowl


Measure out and combine flour and salt.  Add in the water and mix until a soft dough forms.  If it is too sticky, add more flour, if too dry, add more water a few drops at a time.  Turn dough out onto a very lightly floured surface and kneed for a few minutes.  Be sure to not over kneed the dough as this will make it crack when drying.
Roll dough out with a rolling pin and using cookie cutters, cut out shapes.

Heat oven to 180 degrees.  Place shapes on a cookie sheet and place sheet in oven.  Let the dough bake for 2-4 hours.  If the dough is soft to touch, let them bake longer.  Once they are baked and are hard to the touch, place on a wire rake to cool.  Let them cool at least 4 hours, or over night is best.
Paint as desired.  Once dry, using a clear, oil based varnish, apply one or two coats, allowing to dry completely between coats. 

I am now in the process of making a mini grave yard out of salt dough.  Making memories with the family.  Can't get much better than that!!