Decorative Packaging

Salt Dough Ornaments
This salt dough recipe makes ornaments that look like baked cookies before
they are painted.
If you prefer to keep the “baked cookie” look, coat the ornaments with a
clear thin shellac or clear nail polish instead of painting them.

Materials
4 cups flour
1 cup salt
1-1/2 cups water
Cookie cutters
I prefer cookie cutters that impress a design into the dough as opposed to
cookie cutters that simply cut out a shape, but use whatever kind of cutter
you want to!
Acrylic or enamel craft paint (optional)
Clear protective coating (thin shellac or clear nail polish)
Narrow ribbon or 3″ pre-tied elastic bows  ( for hanging the ornament)

Instructions
Combine the flour and salt.
Add the water gradually until the mixture has a consistency like putty.
Knead the dough for about five minutes. Be sure the ingredients are
thoroughly blended.
Roll the dough on a floured surface, to 1/4-inch thickness.
Cut with cookie cutters. (Dip cutters in flour before cutting to prevent
them sticking in the dough.)
Skewer a hole at the top of each ornament (for the ribbon to go through later to hang the ornament). A round coffee stir makes a nice size hole. Or you can embed the ends of a heavy staple in the top center edge forming a loop.
Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet for about 1/2 hour at 325 degrees (until
light brown). (Or instead of baking, you can let the ornaments air dry on a
cooling rack for 48 hours.)
After the ornaments have dried, use an emery board, fine sand paper, or a
small file to smooth any rough edges.
Paint the ornaments with acrylic or enamel paints. Paint the edges and backs too. This gives them a more finished look. You also may want to sign and
date the ornaments on the back. When the paint is dry, coat the ornaments with a clear protective coating. When dry, thread the ribbon through the hole and leave at least a 2 inch loop then tie a small bow.  Or insert the end of the pre-tied elastic bow through the front of the ornament and pull through leaving the bow on the ornament and the plain end to hang on the tree.  Have fun!

for more pictures of these dough ornaments see link below

http://www.how-to-arts-and-crafts.com/dough-ornaments.html

http://www.how-to-arts-and-crafts.com/plaster-christmas-ornaments.html