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It’s amazing how many people think some crafts are only for certain times of the year. Take salt dough crafts, for instance. Many people think you can only make them during Christmas. Using this salt dough recipe, you can make a variety of crafts for any time of the year.

There are a number of crafters who use salt dough to create wonderful Christmas ornaments which are three-dimensional and normally painted. You may have seen angels, candy canes, or snowmen and not realized what they were made of.

Salt dough is an easy craft medium to work with. The recipe is:

• 1 cup of fine salt
• 2 cups of flour
• 3/4 to 1 cup of lukewarm water (more or less water may be needed depending upon the humidity)

Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl and mix thoroughly. Add the water, a little at a time, and stir until a large ball has formed. Take the ball out of the bowl and knead it on a lightly floured surface. Continue to knead the mixture until you’re satisfied with the texture.

If the dough is too tacky, add more flour/salt in the same proportions. Dry dough may require a little more water. For a more ‘rustic’ feel to the dough, use a coarse salt. This recipe will create white dough which will keep for several days in a tightly closed plastic bag. Color the dough by adding instant coffee, cocoa, or curry powder. Adding a drop of vanilla extract will produce a wonderful smell as well as act as a mold inhibitor.

Use cookie cutters, pizza cutters, rolling pins, or garlic presses to create the different elements of your ornaments. You can also make freehand designs by making the dough into ropes which can shaped into wreaths or braids. Roll the dough into balls of various sizes to create little animals, people, or abstract designs. The only limit you have is your artistic ability and your imagination.

Make a bouquet of flowers for Mom on Mother’s day out of salt dough. How about a miniature golf club and balls for the golf enthusiast in the family? You can even use salt dough to create wonderful, artsy jewelry if you want to. Be sure to place a hair pin or ornament hanger on any ornaments you intend to be displayed. If you’re making jewelry, poke a hole in the ornament before you bake it so you can put a piece of ribbon through it.

After you’ve modeled the dough into the shape you want it, place each item on a lined baking sheet and bake it at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 1/2 hour. Allow to dry for two days on a baking rack. Alternatively, place them on a microwave safe plate and microwave them in one to two minute increments on high or until they look dry.

When your creations are completely cooled and dry, you can paint them to add more color or leave them as they are. To protect them, you may want to paint a layer of nail polish or shellac. This will help keep the colors vibrant as well as give them a little more stability.

Look around at the decorations you see for the different holidays and then give this salt dough recipe a try. Make decorations, jewelry or gifts using this dough, and you may never buy another present again.