Use air-dry clay, some holiday message type rubber stamps, metallic paints, and craft wire to make these super-easy and fast ornaments. Other ideas? Make a gift tag by tying a ribbon to one end instead of wire and writing the recipient's name on the back, or make a garland by gluing several onto a holiday ribbon to hang over the fireplace.
Finished sizes: 2 1/4" x 3 1/4" Ornaments
Skill: 1 Time: 1 Cost: 1
You will need:
• Air-dry clay*
• Metallic paints*: True Gold (550), Citrine (542), Metallic Russet (566), Crimson (544), Pearlescent Emerald (572)
• Assorted holiday message rubber stamps, approximately 2" long or larger, with message of choice
• Craft wire: gold & green or color of choice
• Acrylic roller
• Clay blade
• 1/2" flat craft brush
Cornstarch, plastic placemat, ruler, toothpick, wire cutter
*The following products were used for this project: Creative Paperclay Co. Delight clay • Jacquard Lumiere paints.
Note: For product information, see end of article.
• Protect work surface with plastic placemat.
• See photo for design and placement.
STEP 1: Preparation. Roll out a 1/8" thick square of clay. To keep rubber stamp from sticking, use craft brush to lightly dust surface of stamp with cornstarch. Press rubber stamp into clay and carefully remove. Use brush to remove any remaining cornstarch from clay surface.
STEP 2: Cut out. Use slicer blade to cut a rectangle around impression, leaving about a 1/2" border. For irregular edges, use fingers to pinch off tiny amounts of clay from around border. Use toothpick to make two small holes at top corners of rectangle. Set aside to dry, preferably overnight.
STEP 3: Paint ornaments. Paint front and back of Deck the Halls ornament with True Gold. Paint letters and leaves Pearlescent Emerald and paint berries Crimson. To soften look, gently rub using finger while still wet. Let dry.
Paint front and back of Joy ornament with True Gold. Let dry. Fill in J and Y with Citrine and paint poinsettia Crimson. Use finger to soften edges in same way.
Paint front of NOEL ornament with Metallic Russet, and back and edges using True Gold. When dry, dry brush gold over front surface.
STEP 4: Finish. To make hanger, cut 6" length of craft wire and thread through holes at top corners. Use brush handle to gently curl and spiral wire as you like. Repeat for remaining ornaments.
Sources:
Creative Paperclay Co.
(800) 899-5952
paperclay.com
Jacquard Products
(800) 442-0455
jacquardproducts.com