Make Clay DIY Ornaments - Fun at-home activities for Kids.

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Make Clay DIY Ornaments

Make colorful clay ornaments using air-dry or oven-bake clay with adult help, shape with cutters, add textures, paint and hang with ribbon.

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Table of contents

Step-by-step guide to make clay DIY ornaments

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How to make Ornaments out of Clay | Christmas Art Project for Kids

What you need

Air-dry or oven-bake clay, rolling pin or small bottle, cookie cutters or small cutters, textured objects like leaves buttons or bottle caps, toothpick or skewer, paint or acrylic paint, paintbrushes, ribbon or twine, wax paper or parchment paper, paper plate or palette, adult supervision required

Step 1

Lay wax paper or parchment on your table to keep the surface clean.

Step 2

Choose which clay to use and tell an adult if you picked oven-bake clay.

Step 3

Break off a small piece of clay and knead it with your hands until it feels soft and smooth.

Step 4

Flatten the clay with your rolling pin to about a quarter-inch thick.

Step 5

Press a cookie cutter into the flattened clay to cut out a fun shape and lift the extra clay away.

Step 6

Press textured objects like a leaf or button onto the shape to make a pattern.

Step 7

Poke a hole near the top of the shape with a toothpick so you can hang it later.

Step 8

Smooth the edges and any fingerprints gently with your finger.

Step 9

Have an adult follow the clay package directions to either bake the pieces in the oven or let them air-dry on the wax paper until hard.

Step 10

Wait until the ornaments are completely cool and hard before touching them again.

Step 11

Paint your ornaments with bright colors using a paintbrush and let the paint dry fully.

Step 12

Thread ribbon or twine through the hole and tie a knot to make a hanger.

Step 13

Share a photo of your finished clay ornaments on DIY.org.

Final steps

You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!

Complete & Share

Help!?

What can we use if we don't have oven-bake clay, a rolling pin, or cookie cutters?

Use air-dry clay and follow its drying step instead of baking, roll the clay flat with a clean glass bottle or sturdy water bottle in place of a rolling pin, and press bottle caps or carefully cut cardboard shapes instead of cookie cutters.

What should we do if the ornament cracks, sticks to the wax paper, or the hole closes up?

To prevent cracking, roll the clay to about a quarter-inch as the instructions say and knead until smooth, dust the wax paper lightly with cornstarch or flour to stop sticking, and re-poke the hole near the top with the toothpick right before baking or while still slightly damp so it stays open.

How can I adapt this project for different ages?

For preschoolers have an adult lay out the wax paper, pre-roll the clay, press the cookie cutters and make the toothpick hole while they press textures, and for older kids let them roll to a quarter-inch, create detailed textures with small tools, paint detailed designs, and thread their own ribbon hangers.

How can we personalize or upgrade the finished ornaments?

Before baking or air-drying, press initials or dates into the shape, then after the paint dries add glitter or metallic paint and a clear varnish for shine, and finish by threading beads onto the ribbon or twine before tying the hanger.

Watch videos on how to make clay DIY ornaments

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DIY Clay Ornaments with Cookie Cutters | Easy Charms & Decorations

4 Videos

Facts about clay modeling for kids

🎨 Air-dry clay hardens by losing water to the air — no oven required!

🔥 Polymer clay is a plastic-based modeling material that cures and firms up when baked in a home oven.

🍪 Salt-dough ornaments are made from flour, water, and salt — fun to make but not something to eat!

🌿 Everyday items like leaves, buttons, cookie cutters, or forks make great texture tools for clay.

🎄 Tuck a loop of ribbon or a small eye pin into the top before it dries so your ornaments are ready to hang.

How do I make clay DIY ornaments with my child?

Start by conditioning air‑dry or oven‑bake clay until soft. Roll to about 1/4-inch thickness on a nonstick mat, then press cookie cutters to shape ornaments. Use stamps, forks, or toothpicks to add texture and a straw to make a hanging hole. For oven clay, an adult bakes per package directions; for air‑dry clay, let pieces cure fully. Sand rough edges, paint with non‑toxic acrylics, seal if desired, and tie ribbon through the hole.

What materials do I need to make colorful clay ornaments?

You’ll need air‑dry or oven‑bake clay, a rolling pin, cookie cutters, a nonstick mat or parchment, a straw or skewer for holes, texture tools (stamps, forks, toothpicks), acrylic paints and brushes, fine sandpaper, clear non‑toxic sealer, ribbon or twine, and paper towels or aprons. For oven baking, include oven mitts and an adult to handle baking. Optional extras: glitter, mica powder, or beads for decoration.

What ages are clay ornament crafts suitable for?

This craft suits different ages depending on supervision. With close adult help, toddlers aged 3–4 can press shapes and paint simple pieces. Children 5–8 can roll, cut, texture, and paint with guidance. Ages 9+ can handle finer details, sanding, and independent baking steps (adult handles the oven). Avoid letting children under 3 use small pieces due to choking hazards and always supervise any use of an oven or sharp tools.

What safety tips and fun variations can we try for clay ornaments?

Safety: choose non‑toxic clay and paints, supervise oven use, keep tiny decorations away from young kids, and work in a ventilated area. Variations: make seasonal themes (snowflakes, leaves), press real leaves or lace for unique textures, mix colors or mica powder, add metallic paint accents, embed small beads before drying, or create family fingerprint ornaments. Seal finished pieces to protect paint and make them last as keepsakes or gifts.

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