How to Make Homemade Clay Christmas Ornaments

Have any hobbyists on your gift list? How about a personalized ornament tailored especially for the fisherman, golfer, artist, photographer or athlete. Whatever the hobby, you can make a dough ornament to suit that particular interest. These ornaments are easy to make from common kitchen supplies and will last for years and years.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Flour
• Food Coloring
• Ribbons
• Cookie sheets
• Salt
• Hobby Paints
• Cookie Cutters
• Hobby Paintbrushes
• Glitter
• White Glues
• Mixing bowls

Make Flour-based Dough

1. Mix 4 c. flour, 1 c. salt, some food coloring and enough water to moisten.

2. Mix the ingredients, adding water until you have the desired consistency. The clay should be stiff but still hold together when rolled into a ball.

3. Store in refrigerator to avoid spoiling. This clay dries hard and can be painted or decorated with markers or pens.

Or, Make Salt Dough

4. Mix 2 c. flour with 1 c. salt and 3/4 c. water in a deep bowl.

5. Knead it until it's doughy.

6. Add food coloring or glitter.

7. Add more water if the dough is too crumbly. If it's too sticky, add a little more flour.

8. Make several batches in different colors.

9. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for about a week.

Make Your Ornaments

10. Form shapes by hand or with cookie cutters. Some suggestions are fish, golf clubs, spools of thread, basketballs, soccer balls, a watering can, a camera or a horseshoe.

11. Place a loop of wire into the still-soft dough to act as a hanger. You will thread ribbon through this loop when the ornament is complete.

12. Dry the objects in the oven at 200 degrees F for about 10 minutes. They can then be painted.

13. Use watercolor, felt-tipped pens or poster paint to decorate your ornaments. Glitter, bits of ribbon or other decorative pieces can be added with a touch of white glue.

Resources

• Letter From Santa Claus
• Christmas Recipes

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on 5/23/2009 A mini-clay (real pottery clay) extruder to make hair, belts, and other various decorations for outfits, eyes, and such. The clay/pottery extruder is called Klay mini extruder and you can find them at any pottery/clay supply store (online or brick/mortar) or check Ebay. They are relatively cheap.You might need to soften your homemade dough w/extra water to make it more pliable so it will pull through the extruder but it will work. My daughter uses a mini Klay Extruder to work on her hand-built pottery, esp when I'm working on the pottery wheel throwing or trimming my work. FYI: If you know someone with a kiln, you can actually use Polymer clay or regular potter's clay to make your ornaments then fire them to a bisque fire, glaze (dunk or paint w/brushes for color) and fire in a glaze fire next. Viola, now you have true ornaments that can be held onto for as long as someone takes exce...

on 12/8/2008 Make a hole in your ornament with the end of a straw before baking. You can use it for hanging the ornament.

on 12/8/2008 Press the dough through a garlic press to make strands, which can be used as hair, a beard, etc. Or use a child's play dough press to create shapes for ornaments.