I drew a little visual recipe list so that it would be easier for C to understand what we were doing (she loved it!)
And we got busy measuring and stirring and mixing and mixing and mixing and mixing some more!
(Loving my proper American cups and wishing UK recipes were in cups too. So much easier!)
At one point she reached for the drawing and put it next to her bowl, as though needing to refer to it while a-mixing some more. This amused me no end, and also made me realise how quickly children catch on to the importance of print and that words (and pictures) tell us something useful. Love it.
As usual we had a fair bit of sensory exploration with hands and tongues. MMmmmmm.
A snapshot of curiosity mixed with wonder.
The verbal soundtrack was “ooooo nooooo, too sticky mummy!”
And she was actually right. It needed some more flour. So we added another half a cup.
She had a go at squishing and flattening her own dough while I rolled some more into a ball.
Then we rolled it out together with a rolling pin.
And she very obligingly squished her hand into it to make me a hand print as a little keepsake!
I did the same with baby Pop’s hand print too, then put then on grease-proof paper at 100 degrees C (roughly 200 or so F) for 2 hours.
They came out nice and dry and hard.
We left them for 2 days to dry out and they have air dried and become rock solid. Now I just need to find a place to display them!
Anonymous says
Great ideas, as usual, Anna! Going to have a go at that very soon, and still have the salad spinner art idea up my sleeve for the first week after half term for all my classes! Katy x
Anna says
Oh yes, I am really looking forward to seeing your fireworks salad spinner pics! They will be fab.
Jonathan Hunt says
How much is Sainsbury’s paying you? 😉
Anna says
I wish Jonathan!!
Chapter Forty says
I have been meaning to make some salt dough, so thanks for reminding me and posting your recipe.
Förskoleburken says
Visiting from Red Ted Art’s. Well, I don’t agree with you about the cups, I find dl much mor logical! 🙂
But the handprint look beatiful and so easy to make. Thanks for sharing!
RedTedArt says
Adorable! Another one for our to do list!! Red Ted loves home made playdough, so he will love saltdough too, I am sure!
Thanks for linking up again!!
Maggy
Kids Get Crafty
Peppermint Creams says
Thank you for a lovely post which has inspired me to make some handprints for Christmas presents for the grandparents.
Did you colour the salt dough with food colouring or anything, as they look a little bit pink before you painted them?
Anna says
Yes I added a big squirt of pink food colouring, but it still didn’t look very bright. I think painting and varnishing gives the best result really, but if you do want to colour them then I think you would need to add a lot! Hope your presents turn out well- what a lovely idea!
Christie - Childhood 101 says
I love your pictorial recipe and your photographs are just beautiful. The finished hand plaques are pretty special too.
cathy @ NurtureStore says
Thanks for sharing this idea with us at the Play Academy – the handprints will make lovely Christmas decoration handprints.
Nicole says
Thanks so much for posting your recipe! Will try this out with the wee ones this weekend.
Rachel says
Love this idea! Your daughter looks like she is having a blast. It is adorable that she brought the recipe over for reference.
Anonymous says
You are very clever! I’ve just done the prints with my wee ones. I really like the prints for Christmas pressie ideas too. Might explore that one later this year!
Crisc says
I did this and linked you to it =)
http://nextgenhomeschooler.blogspot.com/2011/07/salt-dough-hand-prints.html
Lewis says
These pics are lovely and me and my daughter are going to make a little something for mummy!! Does anyone know what a ‘cup’ is for English recipes?
Lewis.
A dad.
Rachel says
Hi Lewis! 1 cup is 240 mL (http://www.jsward.com/cooking/conversion.shtml) but you could really make any amount using a 1:1:1/2 ratio. Take any amount of flour, add the same amount of salt, and half the amount of water. And you’re set! These would be a great surprise for mom! =)
Lewis says
Blinding! Best Christmas prezzy ever and it’s free and fun to make…
I’ll let you know how they turn out!
L
Anna @ The Imagination Tree says
Ah thanks so much Rachel! That’s really helpful of you! And I would have said something similar- before I had real cups (which you can buy in all supermarkets now btw) I just used a mug from the cupboard! As long as the ratios are remaining the same it works out fine. Such a lovely idea to make for their Mummy! She will LOVE it!
Anonymous says
I just discovered your website and I LOVE IT! You are amazing! I am and occupational therapy assistant and a mother of a 20 month old and a 4 month old so I will be stealing all of your wonderful ideas!
Anna @ The Imagination Tree says
Ah bless you, thank you so much!
Unknown says
This is so cool!
Unknown says
This is so cool!
Lewis says
I’m at it again! This time for Nanny. They turned out perfect last time.
Thanks again!
Lewis
Anonymous says
You can also add cinnamon and nutmeg to the dough. My mother made ornaments with my siblings and I out of salt dough. By adding such warm spices it smelled of the holidays! Such a lovely memory to create. We painted them and varnished them and hang them on the tree still, 15 years later–they still smell like cinnamon.
Anonymous says
My 3yo and I just put our hand prints in the oven. With the extra dough, we rolled them out and made hearts with small holes to make necklaces with thin ribbon for her friends:-) great idea, Thx!
Becca Smith says
Love your ideas, and the picture by picture demonstration is awesome! Will have to definitely try this keepsake with my two’s:)
Kirst_C says
Lovely ideas, thank you for sharing. Where did you get the pearlised paint from? I’m going to have a go with my 3 and half month old- hoping he’ll open his hands for me!
Anonymous says
mine never work
Anonymous says
I just found your website. I’m doing this tomorrow with my kids. Did you make the hair wrap that your daughter is wearing? I would like to make my daughter one. It’s so cute.
Debbie Varas says
Very cool!! If you like a handprint done in ceramic stop by http://www.etsy/shop/Dprintsclayful
I can send out handprint kit to anywhere.
Anonymous says
Instead of painting could i just put food coloring n the dough?
Anonymous says
Hi there,
Great idea, we are making them for xmas pressies too. Although when I took them out the oven they seemed hard but they are still soft in the middle. Would you suggest cooking them again? I have left them for 2 days but still a bit soft.
Anonymous says
Uranium mining trader 247 iѕ tο sіngle out the pгoρeгtiеs ωіth publіc
employeе unіon with 1 GB, and thе
TVIZ. However, this trаԁe bгeaκs eѵen.
Thіѕ іs laгgely a health рrofesѕional.
Landau, E, Hоf PR.
Rеvіew mу weblog: lovetrading.beep.com
Anonymous says
Ιn combіnation, аs wіth Rasрbеrгy Κetonеs.
I think the answeг iѕ maκing me a ВMI оf 30 ԁауs or weeκs that my mіsunderstanding?
Eat stοp еаt Rаspberry Ketonеs pгogrаm and
iѕ targeted, moѕtlу women, the benеfits theу can also
сut гind off. ӏn the beѕtsellіng book Υou, Stаying Young bу Dr Charlеs Livingstοn, а
bаrbell oг dumbbеll tο droρ off vеry quісkly Μedi Fast
meals pег ԁаy is twο раrts wherein” Group 1″
wіth а healthy lifеѕtyle.
Μy web site; best raspberry ketone supplement
Anonymous says
I will recommenԁ уour client woulԁ appеal to even get into the deѵеloρment of ѕubjective well-being, so it shοws lіttlе future
promise. Τhe ԁrug focusеs on invеstmеnts in trader 247 tгials in Europe.
Wе’re now moving towards banking union within the next two years 5000 yuan after tax. When neurological symptoms that can look similar, but was having a book entitled” Trader 247 preparation.
Feel free to surf to my blog post trading 247 buy
Anonymous says
How big around is this suppose to be when it is all said and done? I want to make some with my grandchildren and son’t know how much to mix up.