Salt Dough Valentine Picture Frames

We used our salt dough recipe to make these picture frames. We patted the dough flat, cut out a heart shape with a cookie cutter, and then cut four straight sides around the heart. We also poked a hole in the square before microwaving. After the dough cooled, the girls painted the frames red.
I glued a picture of each of them behind their heart frame and strung a piece of raffia through the hole.

For younger kids: Let them play with the dough for a while, and then help them roll it flat. Show them how to push the cookie cutter into the dough. An adult can cut the square shape. Pick the child up and teach them to punch the numbers on the microwave and press "Start." Have them help you apply washable paint to the frame after it has cooled.

For older kids: Give them several choices of cookie cutter shapes. Have them use a drinking glass or other round object to press a circle around the negative space left by the cookie cutter. Give them tools to make different textures in the frame, such as a pen cap or a straw. Allow them to use different colors to paint the cooled frame.

For boys: Use a circle cookie cutter instead of a heart. Use a leather cord instead of raffia.