Tot Spot: My attempt to try something new everyday with my toddler. # 19 - Salt Dough Impressions

Salt Dough Impressions

We were suppose to go to a baseball game today, but some storms came our way so we ended up having to stay home. I decided to try a Salt Dough Recipe and have Hailey paint a "stone" and make her handprints in them.

To start off, I made the salt dough using the recipe below. I started with 1/2 cup flour, but had to add a little more to make it the correct consistency. I formed the dough into a circle stone shape. I made two batched so I could make 2 stones. Look for the recipe I used at the end of this post!

Then I put paint into dixie cups for Hailey. We used yellow, red, and blue. I put the dough on paper plates and gave Hailey a paintbrush and showed her how to dip it into the cups and put it on my dough. She did really well, but liked it much better when I poured some paint onto the pieces and she could spread it around. I learned this after watching her try to put the paint cups on the stone. That is probably because when we paint on paper, I put the paint directly onto the paper rather than using cups. No biggy though, it still made a beautiful work of art!!

Then After Hailey was done painting, we made impressions in each dough stone with her hand. I cleaned her up and popped them in the oven at 200 degrees and set the timer for 3 hours. They are still in the oven now and I am excited to see them finished. I am going to pick up some sealant spray at the craft store tomorrow to help lock in paint!

We used washable paints because I didn't want Hailey stained with acrylic. Maybe if she was a little older I would have used a more permanent paint, but at one and a half, I decided washable was best!

We had a lot of fun making these! I think they are going to make a great Christmas gift (we are going to try salt dough ornaments closer to the holidays)!


Salt Dough Recipe:
1/2 - 3/4 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
1/4 cup water

Mix all ingredients together. Knead until firm and smooth.
You can use cookie cutters or shape in however you want to.
Paint or make impressions.

Let air dry for several days or Bake at 200 degrees for about 3 hours.
Seal with polyurethane spray to keep protected.