Every year I like to create a special craft with my kids and my students at school. I like for them to create simple projects with construction paper and paint, but I also love for them to make something that will last for years. These Christmas Clay Ornaments use polymer clay and adorable images to create a lasting, and memorable addition to any Christmas tree.
Last year for this holiday craft my students each created a DIY Easy Clay Vase Craft. It is amazing what small steps you can take to help young children be successful when creating something that seems complicated.
Polymer clay is easy to work with and when baked, it creates a sturdy ornament. This clay is also a unique material for children to work with. It is different from other materials, such as playdough, and these step by step instructions make it easy for even preschool aged children to make something beautiful.
For more clay projects that have been have successful and engaging, check out Clay Art using nature and more projects using polymer clay: Easy Clay Animals.
Christmas Clay Ornaments – Material List
This project doesn’t use a lot of materials, but good quality polymer clay is needed. For this project you will need:
- Polymer Clay (White + Assortment of Colors)
- Printable Images (Free – Download at the bottom of this page)
- Cookie Cutter
- Parchment Paper
- A Straw
- String/Ribbon
- Paper
The cookie cutter you use can be any size. The size of the cutter will be the size of your ornament. I used one with bumpy edges to make the ornaments more fancy, but you can use any cookie cutter that you have.
I suggest, if young children are creating the ornament, use a large cookie cutter. This gives them more surface area to create their image and add details.
The printable images are used to help make the ornament easier for children to create. Older children could create without the image or circle cut out; however, these images help guide younger children.
Creating Your Ornament
It is best to give kids the opportunity to work/play with the polymer clay before creating this Christmas ornament. Check out an activity I did before this ornament with a Clay Art Project for Kids where children create their name.
Practice is a great idea, however, you can just start with this project.
Start by tracing the outside of the cookie cutter onto a piece of paper. Children will use this circle as a template to create their circle/ornament background.
Prepare one ball of clay for each child. I rolled a ball slightly bigger than a golf ball for each ornament. Set a piece of parchment paper over the circle image so the circle is visible and children then flatted the ball of white clay to fill the circle on their page. The circle template ensures that the clay is flattened enough to properly cut it with the cookie cutter.
Once the circle is full of clay, use the cookie cutter to create a perfect circle. Keep the sheet of parchment on the back of the clay so that it can be easily baked later.
The background for the ornament is now ready. I used white so that the image kids will place on the circle will stand out, however, you can use any color.
Christmas Clay Ornament – Holiday Image
Once your white circular background is created, the next step is to create the image. There is an assortment of pictures to choose from. Have each child pick a picture they want to create.
Place a piece of parchment paper on top of the image. The parchment helps prevent the clay from sticking to the page. Children will be able to see the image through the parchment to then begin creating their Christmas picture.
There are a few ways that children can choose to create their ornaments using the images. They can fill the background in first; however, this will then block the details in the image, as seen in the gingerbread ornament above.
This is a great way to create the ornament, but it requires children to then remove the picture page after creating the background and then adding the details on top of the bottom layer.
The other option, is to do each section one step at a time with no solid background. This way children can follow the lines and create their ornament.
Holiday Craft
Once the picture is complete on the parchment paper, remove the image and set it on the white circle background. Once on the background, press down slightly to make sure the picture is stuck to the background. Polymer clay works well to stay together and stuck.
Once your image is on the clay, you can add details around it on the white circle, or leave it with just the picture. Next, use a straw to poke a hole in the top of the circle to create the ornament.
Once your Christmas clay ornament is done, an adult will bake the ornaments in the oven using the directions on your polymer clay.
Once cool, insert a ribbon or string through the hole in your ornament and it is ready for your Christmas tree!
The possibilities are endless for this Christmas craft. The polymer clay is easy to work with and creates a sturdy piece of art. Make sure to add each child’s name and the year to the back of the clay circle to remember each year it is hung on the tree.
Christmas Clay Ornament Images
Free Printables
Join Play Learn Inspire and download free images for children to use to create their Christmas clay ornament. Use the images to get kids started and help create something beautiful.
Subscribe through Grow and download the resource right away. Click the grey lock box below and subscribe to this site. Subscribing this way will also unlock all of the other free resources on this site. Join today.
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