Hand Print Santa Ornaments

Another Pinterest inspired project - hand print Santa ornaments! This is the perfect way to preserve my son's little hand print while adding a touch of handmade to the Christmas tree.

I used a standard salt dough recipe for these ornaments:
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup salt
1 1/2 cup warm water (add slowly to get the dough to the right texture)

Then I rolled the dough out with a rolling pin on parchment paper and had my son press his hand firmly into the dough. After we got some clear prints, I used a sharp knife to trace around the edges. You can trim closer if you'd like. Don't forget to use a toothpick or something to make a hole at the top for your ribbon!

I peeled these off the parchment paper carefully and placed them on an ungreased cookie sheet and baked them at 200 degrees for three hours. Just to be safe, I let them air dry for another day.

Once you are ready, paint your Santa any way you'd like. I painted the back side solid white and added my son's name and the year. I also sprinkled the front and back of the ornament with red glitter for a little shimmer. After the paint dries, clear coat each side with spray varnish and let dry. Then tie your ribbon on. These would look sweet on a Christmas tree or to dress up a Christmas package.