Have you ever wondered how to make polymer clay Christmas ornaments?
I started wondering the same thing and so the experiment began.
Along with the background story and tutorial below there are also links below to products I recommend from companies I have a referral relationship with. I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.
The Story Behind The Ornament
I decided to play with polymer clay to see if there was a way to make a polymer clay Christmas ornament for my tree.
I had the post all planned out – and was going to offer step-by-step instructions to teach you how to make a beautiful floral design Christmas ornament.
Then it happened.
The translucent clay was so hard that it refused to cooperate.
Design Saving Attempt
I used liquid clay to try to soften it.
I ground it up and soaked it in hot water.
I squished it together until my hands ached – but still it was not going to behave the way it needed to.
So – I went on to Plan B – after all, it is a well-known fact that I usually have a Plan A, a Plan B and a Plan C – you know, just in case.
Final Attempt
Plan B was to free hand the design.
I wasn’t sure what I was going to come up with, but in the end it looks sort of like an odd globe.
There are shades of blue and shades of white – all combined in swirling patterns.
Maybe instead of a globe, I could refer to it as an undiscovered planet ornament.
Hmmm – what do you think?
By now, I’m sure you’re wondering where this post might be going – and just how I managed to make the ornaments.
So, here is how I did it – and hopefully these directions will be clear enough that you can try to make some too.
PrintPolymer Clay Christmas Ornaments
Ingredients
- 1 Blue Pearl Oven-Bake Clay
- 1 White Oven-Bake Clay
- 1 White Translucent Oven-Bake Clay
- 1 Blue Translucent Oven-Bake Clay
- 4 clear Christmas ornaments (with the metal top removed)
Instructions
- Set the clay conditioning machine to the number 2.
- Squish up one bar (remember there are 4 bars in each packet) of the blue pearl clay and run it through the clay conditioning machine.
- Set the conditioned clay aside on a non-stick surface.
- Run one bar of the white translucent clay through the clay conditioning machine.
- Lay the white translucent clay on top of the blue pearl clay, then run them through the clay conditioning machine together.
- Once they come out of the machine, roll the combined clays into a jelly roll.
- Slice both ends off to make sure they are flush, then set the jelly roll aside.
- Repeat steps 2 through 5 until you have a total of 6 jelly rolls.
- Here are the color combinations I used:
Jelly Roll 2 – white clay and translucent white clay
Jelly Roll 3 – blue pearl, white clay and the white translucent clay – be sure to put the blue clay in the center
Jelly Roll 4 – blue translucent clay and white translucent clay
Jelly Roll 5 – blue pearl clay and white clay
Jelly Roll 6 – I combined all the scraps of clay together to make this last jelly roll. - Once you have all six jelly rolls done, squish them together making sure to use the white jelly roll for the center.
- Press the combined jelly rolls against the non-stick mat, slolwy forcing the large round mass of clay jelly rolls into a square shape. Press one side against the mat, making sure to press the ends into a square shape too.
- Once you have a square of clay, cut the square into four equal pieces.
- Then re-cut each square into four more pieces.
- Run each piece through the clay conditioning machine to flatten them, then lay them onto a glass Christmas ornament making sure to press the clay against the side of the glass.
- Continue adding clay until the entire ornament is covered making sure to press the new clay into the old clay so the seams are invisiable.
- Line a disposable foil pan with aluminium foil
- Once you are finished covering the ornaments with clay, put them in the disposable foil pan.
- Put a foil tent over the top of the pan and bake the ornaments according to the manufacturer instructions on the oven-bake clay that you chose.
- When they are finished baking, leave them set in the pan until they cool, then remove them and hang them on your tree.
Notes
Note: A clay cutting knife and a clay conditioning machine is needed for this project.
I highly recommend the following articles:
- Polymer Clay Christmas Glass Butterfly Ornaments
- DIY Feather Christmas Tree
- Artificial Christmas Tree Health Concerns
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