Salt Dough Art Project

For anyone who ever went to camp or took an art class, you are probably familiar with salt dough. The safe for kids, non toxic, cheap and easy to make clay that, though technically edible, still didn't taste as good as Play-Doh. 
Anywho... Salt dough is a great medium for making all kinds of fun projects. It is lightweight, and once dry, can be saved for years to come. After spending an undisclosed amount of time on Pinterest the other day, and seeing endless salt dough crafts, I decided to whip some up and see what I could make. 
Here is the recipe:
1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
1/2 cup warm water
That's it. Easy peasy. 
Then, you just knead it together until it is well blended (I recommend a floured surface for working with it.) and is a workable consistency. Then get creative. 
You can roll it out and use cookie cutters to make shapes, or just mold it with your hands. You can also use stamps or various objects from around your house to create patterns in the dough.  The possibilities are truly endless. This is also a great kids project. A little messy, but loads of fun. Remember: If you are making something you're going to hang (ornaments, etc.) be sure to make the hole before baking. It is MUCH easier. 
Once you are finished making your shapes/creations, you can set them aside to dry. This can take up to several days. Or you can bake them at a low temp (around 200 degrees) until dry. This can take anywhere from 45 minutes to several hours, depending on the thickness of the projects. I baked mine for about an hour, then set near a window to dry the rest of the way. (They were dry the following afternoon.) 
Once they are dry, you can choose to paint and decorate them, or leave them just as they are. I used craft paint, but any kind of paint will do. I also sprayed mine with a clear coat to finish them off, but again, this is completely up to you. The clear coat will help protect them from dust, skin oils and more, so if it is something you plan on displaying, you should really consider it. Also, it adds a shiny finish, which gives your project a beautiful look. 
All in all, I think this was a fun and successful venture. I plan to make lots more goodies in the future. Happy Crafting! 

My completed first project. I still haven't decided exactly what I want to do with these cuties yet, but I am leaning towards magnets. :)