If you love penguin crafts as much as we do you might want to take a look at our other penguin craft ideas. Using just a potato print you can make the most adorable penguin art. We also have a salt dough penguin footprint and penguin fingerprint ornament that you might like to take a look at.
If you are looking for penguin activities for preschoolers and toddlers to go along with this penguin craft take a look at our penguin ice play (which is even suitable for babies!) and our penguin oobleck.
Kids of all ages will love this easy penguin snack for kids. They would be so fun to make to eat whilst creating your penguin craft.
The penguin salt dough ornament we are sharing today was made by Oliver at 6 months old, well the handprint was! Baby handprint ornaments like this make adorable keepsakes. Over the years we have made lots of salt dough handprint ornaments, my favourite has to be our santa handprint ornament, but do take a look at all our keepsake crafts.
See all our salt dough ornaments
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See our recommended salt dough supplies
Before you can start making your penguin craft you will need to mix up a batch of salt dough. Making salt dough is so easy! Simply mix 2 cups of plain flour (all purpose flour) and 1 cup of salt together in a large bowl and then add 1 cup of water. Mix the ingredients together and knead the mixture into a dough.
Check out our easy salt dough recipe for tips, tricks and different ways to dry and varnish salt dough.
This bit can take a bit of patience, especially if you are making a salt dough handprint with a baby or toddler. However, the great thing about salt dough is that if your first handprint doesnt work out you can simply roll the salt dough back into a ball and try again!
To make a salt dough handprint you need to roll your salt dough into a ball and then press it down so it is between 1cm and 2 cm thick. You are now ready to press your child's hand into the salt dough. You need to press their hand into the salt dough firmly making sure each finger has been pressed down.
If you are going to turn your salt dough handprint into an ornament you will need to make a small hole near the top of your handprint. I have found that pressing a straw into the dough is the best way to make a hole.
If you are doing this handprint craft with a baby or younger toddler I would recommend sitting them in a highchair and distracting them whilst you gently place their hand in the salt dough. Giving them a bit of salt dough to play with in the other hand may be enough to distract them. (This worked with Oliver, he just didnt want me to take his hand back out of the salt dough!)
Your salt dough penguin craft is now complete! You could make this salt dough handprint ornament to hang on the Christmas tree or you could make this penguin craft as part of a winter craft project.
Whatever your reason for making this adorable penguin craft we hope you enjoy making it and then treasuring this beautiful keepsake craft forever! Salt dough handprint ornaments really are the best!
The penguin salt dough ornament we are sharing today was made by Oliver at 6 months old, well the handprint was! Baby handprint ornaments like this make adorable keepsakes. Over the years we have made lots of salt dough handprint ornaments, my favourite has to be our santa handprint ornament, but do take a look at all our keepsake crafts.
See all our salt dough ornaments
Whilst this salt dough handprint is the perfect craft for babies, it also makes a good winter craft for toddlers and preschoolers, older preschoolers could even add the details of the penguins onto their handprints themselves. Scroll down below to see how to make your own salt dough handprint penguin.
Penguin Craft - Salt Dough Handprint Ornament
Salt Dough Penguin Craft Supplies
I've supplied links to Amazon for easy purchasing! Just click the links below to be taken to the product pages. As an Amazon Associate if you use the links I will earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting our work.
- 2 cups of plain flour (all purpose flour)
- 1 cup of salt
- 1 cup of water (you may need less)
- Acrylic paint
- Sharpie markers
- Spray sealer
- Ribbon
Follow our video instructions
STEP 1: Make salt dough
Before you can start making your penguin craft you will need to mix up a batch of salt dough. Making salt dough is so easy! Simply mix 2 cups of plain flour (all purpose flour) and 1 cup of salt together in a large bowl and then add 1 cup of water. Mix the ingredients together and knead the mixture into a dough.
Check out our easy salt dough recipe for tips, tricks and different ways to dry and varnish salt dough.
STEP 2: Make a salt dough handprint
This bit can take a bit of patience, especially if you are making a salt dough handprint with a baby or toddler. However, the great thing about salt dough is that if your first handprint doesnt work out you can simply roll the salt dough back into a ball and try again!
To make a salt dough handprint you need to roll your salt dough into a ball and then press it down so it is between 1cm and 2 cm thick. You are now ready to press your child's hand into the salt dough. You need to press their hand into the salt dough firmly making sure each finger has been pressed down.
If you are going to turn your salt dough handprint into an ornament you will need to make a small hole near the top of your handprint. I have found that pressing a straw into the dough is the best way to make a hole.
If you are doing this handprint craft with a baby or younger toddler I would recommend sitting them in a highchair and distracting them whilst you gently place their hand in the salt dough. Giving them a bit of salt dough to play with in the other hand may be enough to distract them. (This worked with Oliver, he just didnt want me to take his hand back out of the salt dough!)
STEP 3: Bake salt dough
Next you need to dry out the salt dough. I have found that the best way to do this is by placing it in the oven at a really low temperature for a few hours, but you can also put salt dough in the microwave for a few seconds to dry it out if you are in a hurry or leave it in a warm room to air dry if you are in no rush or you are making a lot of salt dough crafts.
See our full salt dough recipe for more tips on how to dry out salt dough
STEP 4: Paint penguins on salt dough handprint
Once the salt dough handprint has dried out it is time to paint it. The best paints to use on salt dough are acrylic paints. I like to squirt a small amount of each colour I am using out onto a paper plate.
Start by painting the handprint white and then paint the rest of the salt dough light blue. Once the paint has dried add a few ripples in the water using a darker blue paint. You have now created your iceberg in the ocean.
The next thing needed is the penguins! Use a thin black marker to draw a penguin shape on each finger. Don't forget to add the flippers! Then give each penguin two eyes and use an orange marker to add a beak.
Complete the painting of your penguin craft by using a really pail blue paint to add some highlights on the iceberg and in the ocean. Add falling snow in the sky by making dots of paint using the end of a paintbrush. Leave your salt dough penguin craft to dry.
STEP 5: Add ribbon to penguin salt dough ornament
If you want to be able to hang your salt dough handprint ornament you will need to thread some ribbon through the hole. We opted for a pale blue ribbon.
Your salt dough penguin craft is now complete! You could make this salt dough handprint ornament to hang on the Christmas tree or you could make this penguin craft as part of a winter craft project.
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