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A fast and straightforward information to creating salt dough! We have made many salt dough crafts through the years… and naturally every a kind of articles tells you make salt dough. However generally that info will get misplaced within the particulars of the salt dough undertaking. So I believed it will be useful to focus on make salt dough once more. Additionally share our favourite salt dough recipe!
As talked about, making salt dough may be very simple. And we’ve our tried and true easy salt dough recipe that we have been utilizing for making salt dough crafts for MANY years! It is even in my very first craft books for teenagers “Pink Ted Artwork, Cute and Straightforward Crafts for Youngsters”! Immediately we’ll talk about my successful ideas for making salt dough, coloring salt dough, and drying out salt dough – for the perfect outcomes!
We wish to make salt dough as a result of additionally it is so environmentally pleasant. All components are pure – flour, salt and water – so this may be composted if you would like! Youngsters may use it as dough if they need.
Salt dough is an excellent sensory craft to do. It’s superbly malleable – so could be molded into something. However can be rolled out and used with cookie cutters. It’s also possible to simply print textures in it. As soon as cured it is extremely sturdy. Salt dough is very fashionable for making handprint decorations or DIY Christmas decorations!
1. Fundamental Salt Dough Recipe
- 2 cups flour (all-purpose flour)
- 1 cup salt (I purchase it in bulk)
- Most 1 cup of water (I like to make use of heat water because the salt will loosen a bit, however chilly is ok too)
You additionally want:
- a bowl to combine
- Meals coloring (optionally available)
- A tray to dry
Now the cup dimension would not matter! You need to use a small cup if you’re making a small batch! Or a “boil” measuring cup should you’re making loads of salt dough. For small tasks, I actually make a small batch utilizing the smallest cup I can discover (in my case, an espresso cup!).
Need to combine it up a bit? You possibly can have enjoyable including issues like cinnamon or lavender to your salt dough components!
2. How do you make salt dough?
Comply with our simple step-by-step directions for making salt dough!
Take your flour and put it in a bowl.
Add the salt and blend.
Add half of the water and blend.
Progressively add the remaining water and maintain mixing till you’ve a easy dough.
If too dry: add extra water.
If too moist: add extra flour.
Make it straight!
3. Find out how to Dry or Bake Your Salt Dough?
We put our salt dough immediately on a baking tray with cookies, however it’s also possible to place it on baking paper first. And even put it on a cookie rack to dry it evenly.. however you would possibly get some stretch traces doing this.
Bake within the oven on low warmth for 2-3 hours – about 100-120C or 200-250F. I like to show my salt dough just a few instances at first to let either side dry properly.
The identical could be achieved on a scorching summer season day exterior (my favourite solution to dry salt dough).
Or you possibly can let it dry by a radiator within the winter months – however this might take just a few days!
When you stay in a moist local weather, the salt dough will take longer to dry and you might wish to use the oven methodology!
DONE. That’s it.
Now on to some fashionable questions.
How lengthy can raw salt dough maintain? How far upfront are you able to make salt dough?
A few days!
As soon as you’ve got made the salt dough, you possibly can simply maintain it for just a few days. I have a tendency to make use of it up inside per week. But it surely used to take longer. The hot button is:
Maintain it in an hermetic container!
When you’re prepared to make use of it, you might must knead it a bit or add somewhat water if any of the salt crystals have separated and traveled to the floor. But it surely needs to be superb to make use of for an excellent week or so.
4. How do you shade salt dough?
So… are you able to shade salt dough earlier than baking?
Sure, you possibly can shade salt dough earlier than baking!! I wish to suppose that we “invented” coloured salt dough… we first made coloured salt dough in 2011 (sure, that is how lengthy I have been writing about salt dough, if not longer!). And I’ve achieved some experiments on how finest to paint salt dough…you CAN use paint…however I discovered a GOOD QUALITY meals coloring is the perfect. In truth, we use Sugarflair meals coloring gels (I feel it is Wilton model within the US). They’re extremely pigmented and never moist in any respect. So excellent for the salt dough, with out making it too moist.
It additionally holds the colour very well and would not get that “dried out look”.
That stated, in case your shade fades on drying, varnishing your salt dough will typically “deliver it again.”
Do you paint salt dough earlier than baking?
No. A minimum of that is my reply. I’ve by no means heard of anybody dyeing their salt dough BEFORE they bake. I am guessing the paint could also be doing one thing “humorous” within the kiln (e.g. cracking) or they’re “too moist” and disturbing the salt dough and bleeding? Nevertheless, I have never tried it. However I am undecided why you’d! However should you experiment…let me know it really works!
5. Find out how to paint salt dough?
I like to make use of acrylics for portray salt dough as they’re vibrant and in addition act as a sealer. However you should utilize any paint. Remember that you do not make the dried salt dough “too moist” when portray, as it might soften once more. And if it isn’t rigorously dried out, it might develop mould (particularly in humid climates).
Poster paints work properly too!
Primarily artisans additionally like so as to add glitter to their salt dough as soon as the air drying is full!
6. How do you end salt dough?
How do you retailer salt dough?
I hope I am not repeating myself anyplace, however I would quite say it “typically” than you neglect or miss it.. one of the best ways to seal salt dough (if you wish to) is to color it with a craft varnish or a sealant. I am fairly positive we have even used clear nail polish sooner or later…however a clay varnish is finest! It may possibly additionally assist to make colours pop!
Alternatively, if you’re portray the whole thing of your decoration or craft from salt dough (i.e. either side), acrylic paint may act as a seal. Many additionally like to make use of a mod podge sealer!
Correctly dried, properly varnished and properly preserved salt dough lasts a very long time!
7. Find out how to retailer salt dough?
As talked about earlier than right here on Pink Ted Artwork.. to correctly retailer your salt dough, the perfect factor you are able to do is wrap the salt dough crafts in tissue paper or newspaper and retailer in a cool, dry place† The most typical method that salt dough ornaments fail to final is that they develop into moldy from being saved incorrectly! It’s also possible to add varnishes as a crowning glory, which may also assist protect your salt dough ornaments. Varnishes are additionally nice for making all the colours actually pop!
I might use any varnish you should utilize for clay tasks. I feel we might have even used nail polish as soon as!
How lengthy can salt dough maintain?
Correctly dried and correctly saved, salt dough will final actually “ceaselessly”…. the 2 commonest causes salt dough doesn’t maintain are:
- the salt dough decoration or salt dough craft breaks (it might develop into brittle)
- the salt dough turns into moist or moist and turns into mouldy
I might keep away from “delicate” salt dough crafts – as they’re extra more likely to break and retailer in a dry place (not a humid shed or basement, for instance).
8. Crafts with salt dough, presents and souvenirs
What can I make from salt dough? What can salt dough be used for?
Want an concept or two for making salt dough? Right here it’s FUN BIT!!! Many individuals solely use salt dough to make salt dough ornaments at Christmas. However in fact salt dough can be utilized for SO MANY crafts, presents and keepsakes. It is best to actually browse my totally different salt dough collections:
Salt dough is SUPER fashionable for keepsakes – making handprints and footprints. For instance, these salt dough coronary heart footprints are simply too candy! There are a lot of handprint ornaments for all events which you can additionally try – have a look right here. Salt dough handprints make fantastic memento Christmas tree decorations.
Are you able to mannequin with salt dough? Are you able to make a bowl out of salt dough? How do you make salt dough meals?
Sure sure and sure! Personally, I would not get into overly detailed salt dough fashions – as a result of salt dough does unfold a bit generally, particularly when baked within the oven, however you possibly can positively have loads of enjoyable with it!
Within the picture gallery above we’ve examples of use salt dough in several methods:
It’s also possible to use salt dough to make bowls, however keep in mind to not make them too skinny because the salt dough can break.
I hope you agree that that is certainly the perfect salt dough recipe… and that this text helped you reply all of your salt dough questions and gave you a number of ideas.
Have enjoyable making salt dough!!!!
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