Remember those clay ornaments that you made every year in school? Remember how fun they were to make and how wonderfully rustic they made your Christmas tree look? You can make those very same clay ornaments at home and add some homemade rustic style to your tree this year. I’ve found 13 of the most adorable and easy clay ornaments that you can make completely from scratch. These are great projects for the kids and will add rustic charm to your holiday decorating.
Making Christmas decorations is one of my favorite things to do. Seriously, I start early in the fall and make décor all season long. There is just something so special about making your own ornaments and they give your tree such a beautiful look. If you want that look too, you just have to choose one…or all…of these homemade clay ornaments and get to making. Some of these are done with salt dough clay that you make yourself and others use clay that you can buy at any craft store. All of them fill your tree with rustic charm, much like these 25 farmhouse inspired Christmas decorations.
From owls and diamonds to the most adorable stars and even a few scented hearts, these ornaments are perfect for decorating your tree, whatever style you like. Whether you prefer the farmhouse look or you want something more contemporary like geometric clay ornaments, you’ll find a clay ornament DIY that you are sure to adore. And, be sure that you take a look at this festive wreath that you can make with Christmas ornaments. It’s the perfect way to recycle those old ornaments and make room for your new clay ones.
1. Air Dry Clay Ornaments
You can find air dry clay in most craft stores or online. Once you have a package…or three…use that clay to create these gorgeous DIY Christmas ornaments. You can use cookie cutters to cut them into shapes or mold them by hand if you prefer. Embellish them by stamping with any number of things from leaves to names and then use a ribbon to hang them when they’re dry.
Tutorial: homemade-gifts-made-easy
2. DIY Clay Christmas Owls
These little owls are so adorable and really easy to make. You don’t even need a special cutter for them. You just fold the clay over and mold them into place and then create the features with a pen lid and a toothpick. Once they’re dry, you can paint them any number of colors to make them more festive and tie a string on for hanging.
Tutorial: pagingfunmums
3. Diamond Terra Cotta Clay Ornaments
Terra cotta polymer clay is used to make these gorgeous diamond shapes that you cut out with cookie cutters. Well, you cut out squares and then mold the diamonds into shape. These are great 3 dimensional ornaments and they’re super easy to make. You can paint them any number of different colors when they’re dry to make your tree more colorful. I love terra cotta crafts and this is one of my favorites.
Tutorial: makeandtell
4. Homemade Clay Glitter Christmas Ornaments
Take those ordinary salt dough clay ornaments and make them extra special with some glitter. After you’ve made your clay, just roll it out and use a cookie cutter to cut into the shape that you want. Then you can paint and add glitter to the ornaments with a bit of glue and glitter shakers. These are very easy to make and they don’t take long to dry.
Tutorial: yourdiyfamily
5. DIY Clay Star Christmas Ornaments
Little stars are a great idea for your Christmas tree and you can make loads of them with this DIY clay star ornament project. You will need clay, and you can make your own or buy white clay from your favorite craft store. Then use a star shaped cookie cutter to make your shape and poke in a hole for the ribbon to hang. Do these in different sizes and even paint some of them to make your tree really colorful.
Tutorial: homeyohmy
6. Clay Essential Oil Ornaments
Not only can you make your own Christmas tree ornaments, you can also make them scented with your favorite holiday essential oils. I love this idea for decorating the tree and making the entire house smell like Christmas. Just choose your favorite essential oil and then use terra cotta polymer clay to create your ornaments. They have a well for holding essential oils and once the ornaments are dry, you just fill up the well and hang.
Tutorial: youngliving
7. Geometric Shaped Christmas Ornaments
These DIY ornaments have a great geometric shape that gives your tree more of a contemporary look. You need sculpting clay for this one, as well as some twine, paint and other tools. You just mold the clay into the geometric shape and then paint it when it dries. It’s pretty easy and really gives your Christmas tree a unique look, particularly when you do several of them.
Tutorial: myanythingandeverything
8. DIY Intricately Painted Ornaments
You don’t have to use clay ornaments in their natural color. You can add any number of colors and designs once those ornaments have tried. I love this painted ornament idea that is so detailed and gorgeous. This one may take a bit more time but it’s definitely worth it in the end. This is a great project for older children who may want to show off their artistic abilities.
Tutorial: fellowfellow
9. DIY Handprint Keepsake Ornaments
I love these little handprint ornaments. You could do one of these each year for your little ones and mark their growth on your Christmas tree. You just roll out the clay and press their little hands into it. Then add glue and glitter to the outside and a ribbon for hanging. You could even emboss them with your child’s name and the year with a craft knife or a sharpie marker.
Tutorial: cbc
10. DIY Marbled Clay Ornaments
These little clay ornaments look like real marble and they are super easy to make. You cut out your ornament shapes from colored clay using cookie cutters after you have created the marbled look. To get the marbled look, just mix two colors of clay together, like red and white, and then knead until you have the look that you want. Then, just roll out and cut with your cookie cutters.
Tutorial: minted
11. Rustic Handmade Clay Ornaments
These clay ornaments are decorated by pressing lace into the clay and they have a beautiful rustic look. You just roll out your homemade or store bought clay and then use a lace doily or something similar to press onto the clay to give it design. Then use stamps to add any images or words that you want and once they have dried, you have a gorgeous collection of DIY rustic Christmas decorations.
Tutorial: artfulparent
12. Scented Clay Heart Christmas Ornaments
These little hearts are also great for your rustic Christmas tree and they are scented with the essential oil of your choice. I love the distressed look on these, which you get by using sandpaper on them after they are painted. Once they are dry and ready to hang, just brush them with essential oil and they will have your tree smelling and looking wonderful
Tutorial: bydreamsfactory
13. Homemade Thumbprint Christmas Ornaments
Here’s a throwback to old school. These clay thumbprint ornaments remind me of the homemade ornaments my kids used to bring home from school. They are so easy to make, too. You just roll out your clay and then
press your thumb into it to make a groove. Then decorate the groove to look like a reindeer. They’re so simply and yet so adorable and this is a great Christmas craft to share with your little ones.
Tutorial: mamainthenow
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