This craft combines two of my kids' favorite things: baking and art, and makes a fun holiday craft for children.

Materials:

• 4 c. all-purpose flour
• 1 c. salt
• 1 ½ to 2 c. water
• food coloring (optional)
• glitter (optional)
• mixer (optional)

• heart-shaped cookie cutter
• baking sheet
• embellishments (sequins, googly eyes, etc.)
• paint (optional)
• sealer such as Modge Podge (optional)

Instructions

1. Combine salt dough ingredients. Mix flour, salt, and water. Start with one cup of water and add more as needed. Add colors and fun with food coloring or glitter. If you add food coloring, be prepared to use a lot; I used almost half a bottle of red and we ended up with pale pink dough when it dried. You can also paint your hearts after they dry for a more vibrant color.



2. Mix the dough and knead for about eight minutes, until all the ingredients are combined and the dough is smooth.
3. Roll out the dough. Make sure not to roll it too thin. My daughter’s hearts ended up breaking when they were dry because the clay was not thick enough. Such a bummer!



4. Cut out shapes. Use heart cookie cutters or any other shape of your choice. Then use a straw or the eraser end of a pencil to make a hole at the top for the necklace string. Make sure that your hole are not too close to the edge of the heart or it will break.
5. Decorate your hearts. My kids wanted to use sequins and googly eyes available at craft stores. Make sure that whatever you add is pressed firmly down in the dough. Anything that is not held tight will loosen and fall out as the clay dries.



6. Bake or air-dry the dough. If you choose not to add embellishments, you can bake your hearts in the oven on a baking sheet at 200 degrees to dry them a little quicker. But if you add anything special like googly eyes, you don’t want to bake them because they might melt! So be prepared to wait a couple of days for them to dry completely.
7. Seal the hearts. You can use Modge Podge as a sealer to make them stronger.



8. String yarn through the holes to make necklaces! Your child will be excited to wear their work of art.

Don’t forget to try this craft again at Christmas season, to make easy and fun ornaments.