DIY Salt Dough Easter Crafts

It's a rainy Easter Weekend; many stores are closed and perhaps your kids are going a bit stir-crazy, or on a major chocolate high. Want a quick and easy DIY craft that kids of all ages will enjoy?

It's none other than Salt Dough. Salt Dough recipes have been around forever, and there are many different versions. Mine has 3 ingredients: salt, flour and water. Pretty simple.

In a large mixing bowl, add 2 cups of all-purpose flour and 1 cup of ordinary table salt. Then add 1 cup of water. Mix until it forms a dough. This, in itself, is an activity and much cleaner than slime. I gave each daughter a plastic placemat and they were happy kneading and shaping for a while. Be careful not to allow dough to dry; if you want to make the dough in advance, store it in an airtight container.

Shape your dough into different shapes. We made crosses for Easter, and with cookie cutters, we also made some flowers and even some little people. If you'd like to make an ornament, use a straw to poke a hole while the dough is still soft.

On a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, bake at 300 degrees until dry and hard. You may need to flip them halfway through. Depending on the size of your ornaments and shapes, it may take a while to bake. Allow them to dry and cool completely in the oven.

Once dry, paint your creations using acrylic paint (dollar store is fine). You can add a varnish on top if you like. Affix a 3M strip or picture hook if you plan on hanging the design, or add a ribbon for ornaments.

 Use this salt dough recipe for any seasonal craft!