Hello, Okanagan families! Let's craft some magic with this easy and enjoyable Easter craft that is fun for all ages: Making salt dough Easter egg ornaments for your very own Easter tree!
The best part is you likely already have these ingredients in your kitchen (flour, salt, water) and other than that all you need is a few branches — a great excuse to get outside with the family to create your very own Easter tree!
What You'll Need:
- Flour
- Salt
- Water
- Paint (acrylic or watercolour!)
- Ribbon, twine or yarn
- Optional: Clear coat sealer
- Easter egg cookie cutter (or any Easter-themed shapes you fancy) OR you can cut out the shape with a knife
Step 1: Creating the Salt Dough
Let's kick things off by mixing up our salt dough:
- Grab a big mixing bowl and combine 2 cups of flour with 1 cup of salt.
- Slowly add in 1/2 cup of water while stirring. Keep adding water until the dough forms a nice ball. You might not need all the water, so just go with the flow!
- Roll out your dough until it's about 1/4 inch thick (we recommend using parchment paper on top and bottom while rolling it out)
- Now, use your Easter egg cookie cutter (or butter knife will do the trick to free style your egg shapes if you don't have a cookie cutter) to create adorable egg shapes. And don't forget to poke a small hole at the top of each egg for hanging later on! Tip: a straw is perfect for this!
- If you have extra dough, roll it back up and make more ornaments. Waste not, want not!
Step 2: Let's Bake 'Em Up!
- Preheat your oven to 250°F (about 120°C).
- Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper.
- Carefully place your egg-shaped dough pieces onto the baking sheet.
- Pop them in the oven and let them bake for around 2 hours. Keep an eye on them after the first hour to ensure they don't overcook.
Step 3: Time to Decorate!
Once your dough ornaments are nice and cool, it's time to get artsy:
- Break out your acrylic paint and let your imagination soar as you decorate your ornaments with vibrant colors and designs.
- Want to keep your creations looking pristine? Consider applying a clear coat sealer to protect the paint. Mod Podge or clear spray paint will do the trick!
- No acrylic paint on hand? No problemo! Get creative with paint pens, markers, or even watercolors. The sky's the limit!
Step 4: Let's Deck Out Our Easter Tree!
Now that your ornaments are all dolled up, it's time to hang them on your Easter tree:
- Head outside and gather some branches to create your Easter tree. Stick them in a flower pot filled with soil or sand to keep them steady. Or simply placing them in a vase looks great too! A fun option is to paint your branches white (or your colour of choice) if you are still feeling crafty by this point!
- Loop a piece of ribbon or twine through the hole at the top of each ornament and hang them proudly on your tree.
And there you have it—your very own Salt Dough Easter Egg Ornaments and Easter tree, ready to spread some festive cheer in your home! We hope you and your little and/or big ones have a blast making these festive decorations together!
Happy Easter Crafting!
photo credit: austhorpephotography