Just in time for the holidays, you can make your own ornaments and gift tags using oven bake clay!
Oven bake clay is a quick and easy way to make ornaments in just about any shape you want (just use cookie cutters!) and you can decorate them with paint, paint pens, stamps, or puff paint for a festive holiday activity for all ages.
Is there a clay that’s best to use for clay ornaments?
As long as you are using a clay that eventually hardens, you should be fine. But choosing a firmer oven bake clay over the texture of a soft air dry clay will give you the ability to roll it out smoother and get cleaner edges with your cookie cutter.
Supplies:
-oven bake clay (we love this one!)
–rolling pin
–bakers twine (I love colored bakers twine for this as well!)
–acrylic paint, puff paints, stamps and ink, or paint pens
–cookie cutters
-a straw
–paint brushes
Begin by rolling out your clay into a thin, even sheet (about 5/8″ thick). Using your cookie cutters, cut out shapes in different sizes.
You can do any cookie cutter shape you have in your cupboard!
Next, poke holes in the tops of all your ornaments using a straw.
Love DIY projects that use clay? Check out these posts!
Or check out 20 Clay Craft Projects!
Bake according to the directions on the package. If you are using the original Sculpey oven bake clay, it should be on a glass sheet or dish, baking at 275°F for 15 minutes for every ¼ inch of clay thickness.
After you have baked the clay and let the ornaments cool, design to your heart’s content! Finish the ornaments with bakers twine or other thin ribbon or yarn.
I did mine with paint, stamps, and some glitter puff paint, but you can also use black and white paint and paint pens like our friend Kelli did.
Looking for a cute project with salt dough instead? Try these!
The smaller sized ornaments work great as personalized gift tags on a gift box, and the larger ones are perfect for decorating your Christmas tree!
If you want a handmade clay ornament but don’t have the time to make your own, you can buy one and support small business here instead!
Kelli also sells her art in her Etsy shop, so make sure to take a look at her adorable items and don’t forget that we have a treasure trove of fun holiday DIYs and recipes to gather inspiration from as well.
Have fun making your own creations! xo. Laura
Love homemade ornaments? Check out these posts!
P.S. Check out more holiday and home decor on our wishlist and shopping pages!
MAKE YOUR OWN CLAY ORNAMENTS
Ornaments Made Out Of Oven Bake Clay
Ingredients
- acrylic paint or paint pens, puff paint, or stamps
- bakers twine
- straw
- oven bake clay
Instructions
-
Begin by rolling out your clay into a thin, even sheet (about 5/8″ thick). Using your cookie cutters, cut out shapes in different sizes.
-
Next, poke holes in the tops of all your ornaments using a straw.
-
Bake according to the directions on the package. If you are using the original Sculpey oven bake clay, it should be on a glass sheet or dish, baking at 275°F for 15 minutes for every ¼ inch of clay thickness.
-
After you have baked the clay and let the ornaments cool, design to your heart’s content! Finish the ornaments with bakers twine or other thin ribbon or yarn.
101 Comments
I love these. Especially the colors you decorated with. I painted some wooden ornaments this year and it was really fun. I will give this recipe a try next.
This looks like so much fun! I hope everyone is having a lovely holiday season.
Hi –
I love this idea of the clay ornaments. We are considering doing this as a school fundraiser with our high school art students but we are trying to do it as economically as possible. Approximately, how many of the larger size ornaments were you able to get from a package of clay and how much clay did you start with? Thanks for your help, time and suggestions.
Warmly,
Anne
I made these a couple of days ago, on Christmas Eve, and I loved them…well, most of them. I am not as talented as this person is at drawing on them, but I improved as I went along. Thanks for the great idea!
My mom found this and showed it to me,and i knew i was going to do this for my friends! They absolutely loved it! I did too, they make perfect gift tags and double as a small, cute personalized ornament. PERFECT. 🙂 thanks guys!
Do you think it needs to be 5/8″? When rolling out my clay I find that around 1/4″ looks about right but it sounds so much thinner than what’s called for. Worried they won’t bake nice now. Or look flimsy.
I finished this project last night. I have photos posted on my website. Thanks so much for sharing and the great inspiration.
These are so so amazing girls! love them! super jealous I didn’t come up with them! 🙂
I made these from your directions and they all break super eas 🙁 Any advice ?
I love this idea, they are so cute! Do you decorate the back side as well? I guess it’s up to the artist? Is the backside smooth enough to paint on?
I love these! <3
just made mine!! took them out of the oven and waiting for them to cool before painting. thanks for the great idea c: xo!
These are just enchanting…what beautiful designs and hand lettering. I wonder if I’m steady enough to do that. I had no idea the actual making and baking of the tags was so easy. Thank you very much for the great tutorial!
So cute! I usually make salt dough for the kids to make ornaments with this time of year. One of their favorite holiday activities <3
this is wonderful activity for the whole family and I see it as being transferred to other holidays like Valentine’s day- making valentines and exchanging them. Thank you.
they are just so beautiful, i think they are great.
Zoe
http://gypsiesister.blogspot.co.uk
Best. Idea. Ever!! I’ve been trying to hunt down an idea for Xmas gifts that doesn’t involve crochet or knitting which I can do but is certainly time consuming this time of year with all the other things going on. This is going onto my to do list pre-Xmas, thank you!!
beautiful handwriting. I still have some sculpey clay – I never knew what to do with it. This is a nice idea!
http://thisblogisnotforyou.com/
i always read through your blog and wish i can make all the amazing things that you blog about.. 🙂
These are so beautiful! I love the designs and hand lettering.
I don’t have much experience with clay but these are so cute, that I think I’m going to have to try it out! Thanks for sharing 🙂
www.inspirationlush.com
These are so great! Would be a perfect gift. Pinning for later 🙂
Those look so pretty!
So pretty! I adore the black on white but the options are totally endless!
Wow these look amazing for being so simple! I so wish I could draw as well as you though!
Strive to Thrive,
Nic
www.Thriving-Wives.com
Wow these look amazing for being so simple! I so wish I could draw as well as you though!
Strive to Thrive,
Nic
www.Thriving-Wives.com
Is the clay used the sort of thing that once you use some kitchen-y tools with it they can no longer be used with food? Just a thought since it might deserve a mention in the instructions just to be safe. 🙂
Love this! What an adorable way to make things specific for your family. Might have to try this!
That’s great! 🙂
http://inavintageworld.blogspot.com.es/2012/12/forsta-advent-1er-domingo-de-adviento.html
xo, pili
I absolutely love these!
These ornaments are so lovely! Looks like fun to make them, too.
This is such a great holiday DIY! We’re having a family Christmas party this weekend and we were planning to make ornaments. I’m definitely going to have to make these and bring them to decorate!
so cute!!!
http://wishuponastarblog.wordpress.com/2012/12/02/trend-alert-we-love-parka/
I love the black and white, it’s so simple and pure – exactly how I imagine Christmas should be. Lovely!
xoxo, Femke
By Button
These are adorable!!! I love the handwritten words on them!
I just started a blog hop. Would you add this post to it? Would love for my readers to see it. Thanks!! xoxo, Jordan
http://www.lilywhite-designs.com/2012/12/starting-blog-hop-woo.html
Ugh! These are so BEAUTIFUL! I love the look of the black on the white clay. Definitely going to give this a try, I think. Looks like an amazing weekend or evening project.
I’ve always wanted to do this. These are so elegant looking. Thanks for the tutorial and inspiration.
Beautiful, and it goes with your black and white theme!
whoaaa…. that’s cool
Such a great idea! Can’t wait to give it a go!
http://sydneycorporate.blogspot.com.au/
Such a cute idea!
These will be perfect for my tree! Such a great idea!
how cool, they look amazing, what a great idea !
Thanks for sharing…this will be a perfect little tags for my Christmas presents this year.
Happy Day
great! wish i had more time to make all these pretty things you two suggest !!
www.mamajulesbrussels.blogspot.com
BEAUTIFUL
grace
http://herumbrella.com
Awwww I love these so much!! Beautiful festive DIY 🙂
These are adorable!
Becky xo
http://pixiwishesforeheadkisses.com/
Love these SO much! Very pretty Kelli! I’ll definitely be making some of my own!
http://www.alleycatsandroughdrafts.blogspot.com
My favorite is the antler ornament! Great idea!
Great idea! I love home made ornaments, but I’ve never tried making clay ones. The deer antlers and noel are my two favorites.
M.
love it 🙂
http://lovesimplegreen.blogspot.com/
Such a cute idea! 🙂
http://anfnewsnow.blogspot.com/search/label/An%20ANF%20and%20Hollister%20Girl%20in%20America
These look great! I have a question: Can you use regular Sharpies on the clay instead of a paint pen?
Thanks!
Wow – what an awesome project. You must have a very steady hand to create such intricate designs. Thanks for sharing!
Very cool craft.
This is such a great idea 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
In LOVE. Now to get some clay…
http://catherinedenton.com
great ideas!
https://supermodeltall.blogspot.com
These are adorable! I bought some clay last year with the intent of making ornaments but never got around to it. I’m now re-inspired to give it a try.
Love these so much! Can I get your permission to re-post these on to my blog?? (toothyandtoothless.blogspot.com)
ether way please lmk how we can make our blog better! We (a friend and I)started it after finding your blog (we love it!), so tips etc would be appreciated!!
Thanks!
Rachel
Oh my! These are so cute!! So do-able too! =)
Ergo-Blog
these are adorable! my husband + i add one new ornament to our tree every year that represents something big that happened throughout the year…maybe i should make my own this year.
-ale
these are so pretty! Thanks for the tutorial 🙂
One question, do we need to seal the paint as a final step or is it good just as it is! 🙂
Thanks!
They are so darling!
http://shannonhearts.blogspot.com/
Wow amazing !
New outfit post on my blog, check it out 🙂 http://www.thestilettoholic.com/2012/12/02/autumn-sunlight/
So cute!! I love this idea. Thanks for sharing, Kelli!
These are adorable! Thanks for the idea. 🙂
~ Megan
http://sweetpeapumpkinpeach.blogspot.com/
These are really lovely. I love creating using polymer clay. It must be noted for safety reasons that anything that touches polymer clay can never again be used for food i.e. rolling pin, cookie cutters, knives etc… That’s why I have dedicated pasta machine, knives, and even a toaster oven for polymer clay.
These are beautiful. I really want to try this!
I love this! I am going to try this. I think it is super cute to make your own ornaments and a lot cheaper.
Carlee
http://almostendearing.blogspot.com/
Oh my god, so lovely!
Valentina
http://valentinaduracinsky.blogspot.com/
Elsie (married to a musician!) and Emma, will you check out my music page?
http://www.youtube.com/user/ValentinaDuracinsky
very nice! I love this blog!! XX
So cute!! Love it! xx
www.creativityandchocolate.blogspot.com
This is awesome! I might have to use this for when I make some Christmas ornaments later this week. I can’t wait to try!
http://apinksunset.com
i LOVE these! Im going to make so many! Thanks for sharing!
Omg so a cool and cute idea!
http://anjasfashionblog.blogspot.ch
I love clay ornaments! I make them because you can make them so personalized! Great post!
These are much prettier than the ones I did when I was a kid every year! xo
http://www.jenventure.blogspot.co.uk
So pretty! Never experimented much with clay, but these are gorgeous.
Really cute, and I think even I could do that!
So interesting and great idea. Have a nice day.
http://www.fashiondenis.com/
I absolutely love these!!! What kind of paint brushes are those? …so cool.
Such an amazing idea! Love the way they came out.
awesome idea! i need to do this with my son’s handprint
These ornaments are really pretty! And I looove the rolling pin’s handles!!!
http://higgledypiggledywonderland.wordpress.com
wow, those are adorable! Now if only I was able to draw like that..
Yup, I could spend a sunday afternoon making those. Thanks!
Kim
http://loopsoflavender.blogspot.com/
Oh my word! These are so cute!!
[also, i love your polka-dotted rolling pin ;)]
http://kendra-genevieve-rose.blogspot.com
love these! Will try this!
http://kribamil.blogspot.de/
Love it!
These are beautiful! I love making ornaments out of clay–wish I had the same hand-lettering abilities. 🙂 These look like they were made using the translucent clay (or something other than bright white?)–gives them a different than usual look. Really lovely!
these are beautiful! i especially love the Noel one.
These are gorgeous! I love how simple and beautiful that are.
This ornaments are so cute! What a great idea!
Lovely! 🙂
xo,
Pili.
I have been meaning to make some clay decorations for a while now, I love how she has decorated hers!
So beautiful 🙂
These would also make for perfect Christmas presents!!
So perfect! 🙂
Love her hand lettering, so pretty!
-K
This is soooo cool!