Salt Dough Handprint Keepsake

Three ingredients, one small hand, and a keepsake you will still have in twenty years.

Ages 2–6Prep 15 min · Activity 25 minLow messIndoorCraftsEasy

By WonderCraft Kids Editorial Team, Editorial team · Updated 28 July 2026

This is a craft for you as much as for them. Salt dough costs almost nothing, holds a handprint perfectly, and bakes into something solid enough to hang on a tree year after year.

What you need

1 cup plain flour
1/2 cup salt
1/2 cup water
A rolling pin
A straw for the hanging hole
Paint, ribbon and varnish or PVA

Step by step

1
Mix flour and salt, add water gradually, knead until smooth and firm.
2
Roll to about 1 cm thick — thinner cracks, thicker will not dry.
3
Press one hand in firmly and lift straight up without wiggling.
4
Trim round the print and punch a hole with the straw.
5
Bake at 100°C / 200°F for three hours, turning once, until rock hard.
6
Cool, paint, add the date, then seal with varnish and thread the ribbon.

What kids learn

Sequencing

Mix, roll, press, bake and paint gives children a chance to follow a project across several clear stages.

Body awareness

Seeing their own hand at actual size, and comparing it next year, makes growth concrete.

Hand strength

Kneading stiff dough gives children an opportunity to use controlled pressure with both hands.

Make it easier

Make the dough yourself and let them press, paint and choose the ribbon.

Make it more challenging

Make a family set in one session and arrange them by size, or press in leaves and shells alongside.

Safety and supervision

Salt dough is genuinely dangerous to eat in quantity and is toxic to dogs. Keep it away from both.
Adults handle the oven; low and slow is essential or it puffs and cracks.
Let it cool fully before painting — hot dough burns.

Adult supervision is required for every activity on this site. Read our full child safety guidelines.

Pin this activity

A 2:3 vertical graphic, sized 1000×1500 for Pinterest. Save it for later or share it with another parent.

wondercraftkids.com

🖐