Salt dough sculpture is an enjoyable and easy-to-do craft for kids of all ages.

I began sculpturing dough when I was but a wee one some 40 plus years ago. In fact, a former neighbor still has Christmas ornaments I made for her when I was a child. I taught my children to sculpt with dough, and they would bring their adult friends home for salt dough craft time. I also sold salt dough when my sister and I had our arts and crafts business.

When I was a classroom teacher, my students enjoyed learning the craft and often came up with creative ideas.

My favorite time of the year for this craft is during the fall when the holidays approaches. The recipe is quite simple:

• 1 cup of flour
• 1/2 cup of salt
• Start with 1/2 cup of water and then add water until the mixture becomes the consistency of play dough

1. Mix flour and salt together in a large bowl. (Make sure you keep a few cups of the flour and salt mixture in case the dough gets sticky.)
   
2. If you want to mix paint into your dough, mix the paint into the water first and then add the flour and salt mixture.
3. Mix all of the ingredients together.
4. Knead the dough until it is smooth. The mixture should be pliable but not sticky. If it is sticky, add more of the flour and salt mixture.
5. Then roll the dough out and use cookie cutters or sculpt the dough into different shapes.

You create a standing figurine by placing dough around a cardboard cone. Form a head by wrapping dough around a ball of tin foil.

Most importantly, have fun with all of the different items you can make.

I will continue to post new ideas in my Salt Dough Sculpture Portfolio.