<a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/photo-5.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-828" alt="marbled salt dough" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/photo-5.jpg" width="500" height="387" /></a>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.two-daloo.com/valentine-marbled-salt-dough/">Marbled salt dough </a>by Twodaloo popped up in my Facebook feed the other day.  Since my neighbor was kind enough to clear my driveway for me, I found myself free of obligations during O's nap time. (One thing I have learned is to prep all of the projects we do while she is sleeping.  She just doesn't have the patience to wait until the craft has been set up and all of the tools have been gathered.)  This dough came together very easily.  She suggests powdered tempera paint to color the dough, but I didn't have any.  I chose to use Wilton's food coloring gels, and it worked just fine.  It may be a little bit messier during the mixing stages, but it wasn't really an issue.  O was really proud of herself for using the "fatula".</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/salt-dough.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-829" alt="valentine salt dough" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/salt-dough.jpg" width="500" height="374" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Once we cut them out, we dried them on parchment.  The drying process takes a day or two.  I'd suggest flipping them at some point so that the bottoms dry as well.  The immediately lose some of their vibrancy, but they were still super cute.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/cloud-dough-023.jpg"><img alt="salt dough 023" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/cloud-dough-023.jpg" width="500" height="331" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">We strung up the dried hearts on the mantel for decoration, and now we are all set for Valentine's Day.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/cloud-dough-019.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-830" alt="salt dough 019" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/cloud-dough-019.jpg" width="331" height="500" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Even the cat got in on the fun.  How could he possibly resist those strings?</p>