Salt Dough Christmas Ornaments

(Courtesy of The Chew)

Ingredients:
1/2 c. water
1/2 c. salt
1 c. all-purpose flour
Food coloring (optional)
Cookie cutters
Ribbon
Bamboo skewer/ straw
Polyurethane gloss varnish
Rolling pin

Directions:
Place salt, water and flour into a mixer and blend together until a sticky dough forms.  If you want to experiment with color, you can add food coloring to the water.  Make sure all the flour is incorporated.  Take the dough out, and knead for 7-10 minutes on a well-floured surface.  Once it feels smooth and elastic you are ready to start making ornaments.  The recipe can easily be doubled, but be sure to keep any dough you are not using in plastic wrap and work quickly- salty dough does not like to sit.

Roll out to 1/4 inch thick and use your favorite cookie cutters to make a variety of shapes.  Once the ornaments are formed, poke them with a bamboo skewer or straw to make holes to hang them from.  Place in the oven at 200 degrees for 4-6 hours.  Once they are hardened, take them out and let them cool completely.

You can decorate them with paints or markers however you would like.  If you want the ornaments to last for years, coat them with 3-4 very thin coats of polyurethane gloss varnish, making sure to cover all surfaces.  Add glitter after you varnish them if you would like.  Store in a cool, dry place.