Preheat your oven to 200 degrees and line the baking sheet with a sheet of parchment paper and set aside.

In a large bowl add the flour, salt, and water. Stir to combine and keep stirring until the the salt dough forms.

Remove the dough and place onto the counter top and knead with your hands until the dough is soft and consistent in texture.

Roll the dough with a rolling pin to a consistent thickness, no thicker than ¼-inch.

Place the bowl open-side-down on the dough and press hard into the salt dough to make a deep mark.

Using the mark made by the bowl, use the butter knife, cut out the circle shape.

Firmly press a child's hand or baby's hand in the center of the circle shape creating a handprint.

Use the straw to poke a hole into the top of each handprint ornament, about ½-inch from the edge, preferably. 

Remove the portions of dough that are not the desired circle shapes. You can reroll this dough to make more handprint ornaments or use Christmas cookie cutters to make other shaped Christmas salt dough ornaments.

Using the spatula gently transfer the circle from the table to the prepared cookie sheet.

Place the baking sheet into the oven for 2 ½ hours.

Remove the baking sheet from the oven and allow them to cool completely.

Paint the ornaments as desired and allow them to dry completely.

Thread a piece of ribbon through the hole and hang them.