Looking for a special way to capture those tiny toes this holiday season? This Christmas tree footprint ornament is not only adorable, but also a great keepsake you’ll treasure for years to come.
With a simple salt dough base and a bit of paint, I turned my little one’s footprint into a festive Christmas tree complete with presents. It’s a fun, easy craft that makes a perfect gift or memory for your own tree! If you love salt dough, try out this Christmas Tree Fingerprint Ornament, as well!
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In a hurry? Skip to the quick instructions!
Supplies needed
- 1 cup flour
- 1/2 cup salt
- 1/2 cup warm water
- Rolling pin
- Acrylic Paints
- Paint brushes
- Fine tip sharpie
- Modge Podge for Sealing
Important Safety Note
Raw flour is not safe to consume, as it may contain harmful bacteria. Be sure to wash your hands and your child’s hands thoroughly after handling the dough. This is especially important if little ones are helping with this craft!
How to make salt dough ornaments
Step 1: Mix Your Dough
- Pour the warm water into a bowl.
- Add the salt and stir until the salt dissolves completely.
- Gradually mix in the flour until a dough forms. Knead the dough until smooth.
Step 2: Roll and press your print
- Roll out the dough to about 1/4 inch thick.
- Press your child’s foot into the dough. The cut around the foot shape.
Step 3: Add Details
- Don’t forget to poke a small hole at the top of each ornament for hanging. A straw works great for this! Or the end of a thin pain brush (that is what I used)
Step 4: Bake the Ornaments
- Preheat your oven to 200°F (90°C).
- Place the ornaments on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake for 2-3 hours or until the ornaments are completely dry and hard.
Step 5: Decorate and Seal
- Once cooled, decorate your ornaments! Use paint for colorful designs, or use stamps with your fingers to fill in the lights.
- I used a thin permanent marker to put my son’s name and year on the back. You could do the year on the front as well.
- Seal the ornaments with Mod Podge to protect them and give them a nice matte finish or shine.
These ornaments are so cute and easy to make, and I’ve heard of them lasting over 30 years when they are sealed properly!
Here are the colors I used (plus white). I added a little white to the green for the base and to make the pink and red a little lighter for the presents. I added a tiny bit of black to the green to make the accents to the actual tree.
I hope you give these a try! I’m not super artistic, but these actually came out so cute!
Salt Dough Ornaments Quick Instructions
Ingredients:
- 1 cup flour
- 1/2 cup salt
- 1/2 cup warm water
Instructions:
- Dissolve the salt in warm water.
- Gradually mix in the flour and knead until smooth.
- Roll out to 1/4 inch thick and press your child’s foot into the dough.
- Cut around the foot shape and poke a hole at the top for hanging.
- Bake at 200°F (90°C) for 2-3 hours, or until dry.
- Decorate with paint and seal with Mod Podge.
Happy Decorating!
