DIY Salt Dough Chicken Print Ornament

DIY salt dough chicken print ornaments are a fun and easy craft to make any time of year using common supplies that are usually found around the house already! This makes a beautiful and personalized homemade gift to share with family and friends.

Materials you will need:

• Mixing bowl
• Mixing spoon
• Baking pan
• Parchment paper (for rolling out dough)
• Drinking Straw (used for cutting holes for string)
• String or twine
• Rolling pin
• Cookie cutter (I used a mason jar lid, which made a really good size)
• 1 Cup of flour
• 1/4 Table salt
• 1/3 Cup of water

Mixing Tip - If the dough comes out a bit sticky after following the measurements above - add a little more flour and salt to get the consistency that is not sticky and is easy to roll out.

Directions for making your Salt Dough Chicken Print Ornaments

1. Preheat the oven to 200 F. Place the rack in the middle of the oven for even baking.
2. Mix the flour and salt gently in the mixing bowl and then pour the water in (slowly, trust me!)

3. After the dough gets to where it's moist, but not sticky - knead it by hand for a bit and form it into a ball.

4. Place the ball on the parchment paper and roll it out until it is "1/4-inch" thick. You may want to make it a bit thicker so the chicken foot imprint does not go through the dough piece.

5. Cut the dough into circles using the jar lid. Whatever dough is leftover, roll it into a ball again, roll it out, and cut it out to make additional ornaments.

6. Now that the circles are made, use the straw (I used metal straw for ease) to poke holes in the top of the circle, where the string will go later.

7. Separate the dough circles and select a volunteer chicken. You will want to clean her feet and trim nails if needed. (I mean what girl doesn't like getting pampered with a mini pedicure!) I made several ornaments using a bantam bird, a standard breed, and a duckling. The size of the foot will dictate the size of your circle. I utilized a second set of hands when it was time for the impression. I placed one circle of dough on the parchment paper and with the assistance of my helper, we pressed the bird's foot into the dough using gentle pressure.

8. After the imprinting was done, move the dough circles back to the baking pan and place them in the oven for an hour. Bake in 30-minute intervals for a total of 1-hour baking time. Since baking time will vary depending on thickness and oven variances, you'll essentially bake them until they are dry and a bit firm to the touch.

9. When baking is complete, remove it from the oven and let them cool.

10. At this point you can decorate your salt dough chicken ornament with craft paint or glitter, add a holiday message or name with markers, or add a clear craft sealant if desired. Let your creativity blossom! The final step is to add string, twine, or ribbon of your choice through the hole for hanging on the tree or even use as a one-of-a-kind gift tag!