Text and images by Amy Christie for Design Mom.
Easter is very early this year (three weeks from yesterday!). With the excessively deep snow covering the ground where I live, it doesn’t seem possible. But I am looking forward to it just the same. I’m ready for the bright colors, the pastels, anything with spring green. Since nature isn’t really bringing it yet, I am helping it along with the bright tones of these salt dough ornaments.
Salt dough lends itself to all sorts of shape making. Once baked to thoroughly dry, the dough is hard and can last for years. The dough is also paintable which makes it all the more fun.
Since I was little, we have had an Easter ‘tree’ of sorts – a branch in which to hang egg, bunny and colorful bits from. Part of this batch will hang on our tree but I hope to hang some outside. You see, if a spray paint or clear spray paint sealer is used, these ornaments can hung outside and inside alike.
I think seeing bright bits of color amidst the snow piles would be lovely, don’t you? Let’s get started.
Supplies:
- batch (or two) of salt dough
- rolling pin
- ruler, to measure dough thickness
- shape cutter
- spatula
- straw, for making holes
- parchment-paper covered baking sheets
- spray or acrylic paint
- paint pen, optional
- clear sealer, optional
- twine, ribbon
Mix up your favorite salt dough recipe. For this project, I used the following recipe:
1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
1/2 cup water
Stir together all three ingredients until a dough forms. Kneading the dough a couple times can help make it smoother.
Roll it out (I rolled mine to 1/4 inch thick) and cut out desired shapes.
Place the cut-outs on the parchment-covered baking sheets. Remember to make a hole so you can hang the ornaments — a straw works perfectly!
Bake at 250F for 2 hours.
Once the shapes are adequately baked, dried and then adequately cooled, it’s painting time. I like using spray paint because it’s faster and easier but acrylics work just as well.
Allow the paint to thoroughly dry. Use paint pens to add polka dots or lines of decorations to the eggs. Optional: To further protect the color and design, add a clear coat sealer.
Loop twine or ribbon through the holes and hang.
It’s feeling more spring like already!
P.S. — We love making things! Find more of our tutorials here.
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These are really cute. I remember making little branch trees like this as a kid. We’d cut out paper hearts and write our wishes for spring on them. Maybe it’s a tradition I need to carry on with my little girl too!
I like the wishes for spring! I have a few of my own. :)
We’ve always had Easter trees, too, but I never thought of salt dough eggs. Great idea! Maybe this will get us feeling more spring-ish–we’re covered in snow, too. :)
These are so adorable! I pinned this and then came to your site to see how you painted your perfect polka dots and stripes. I love the idea of using paint pens! We’re going to make these today.
I hope you had fun making them!
What a fun (and easy!) craft for the kiddos! We usually have about 15-20 children at our home on Easter and we’re always looking for fun new crafts to keep everyone busy in the afternoon. I think we’ll have to try this one this year. We shared this as a pin as well. Thanks for sharing!
I love these! Can’t wait to make some with my son. Thanks!
I too remember your “Easter tree”. Your Mom was so great about decorating for the seasons, and for the children. I am thinking about making these for some spring color, and grandchildren fun. Thanks Amy!
It would be fun to do some all together!
Thanks for sharing! Just made these with my girls and I can’t wait to get our tree up :)
I was wondering if anyone has done these with the kids coloring the eggs with markers? Are the eggs too breakable for young kids to decorate with markers?
Markers are perfect Amanda! As young ones, we colored our fair share with markers too. :)
My grandaughters and I are making these this afternoon to decorate next weekend!!! Love the idea. Thanks for pinning it!!!
Thanks for such a cute idea! My grandmother always had an Easter tree, and now I know just how to pass the tradition along to my son! Will be making these today!
just made these, my daughter is having a party tomorrow and thought this would be cute for the little girls to decorate. unfortunately after following the directions as written, the eggs bubbled up and turned brown while baking. i am still trying to spray paint them but they sure didn’t turn out like the ones in the pin :/
Somehow I missed this cute post a few weeks ago! Thanks for the cute reminder of this fun craft–haven’t done it since Brownies in the 80s!
thanks for the tutorial.
Im making a greatgrandkids tree. one egg for each child with name and picture on it, then hang on branch for display in frontroom.
Would these be okay to use as decorations outside?
Most definitely Lyn! Especially if you use spray paint!