Say “bonjour” to the cutest ornament you’ll ever make — a polymer clay macaron! These charming faux treats are so fun and foolproof, kids and adults will want to make one in every colour!
Whether you hang your clay macaron ornament on the tree, or tie it to gifts for a Parisian touch, these DIY Christmas ornaments are sure to impress. So let’s craft some holiday macarons that look good enough to eat (but please, don’t)!
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How to Make a Clay Macaron Ornament
Materials:
- Pastel polymer clay (one colour, plus cream)
- Metal eye pins (1 inch)
- Jump rings
- Metallic baker’s twine
Equipment:
- Thin tape (3/8 inch wide; or large cookie cutter, etc)
- Clay roller (or rolling pin)
- Round cookie cutter (1-1/2 inch)
Watch the step-by-step video tutorial:
Instructions:
Step 1: Find what you need
- Gather your supplies and materials.
Step 2: Cut out the cookie half
- Condition a 2 ounce package of light pink clay, working it with your hands until it’s soft and malleable.Split the clay into 2 equal pieces.
- Roll 1 of the pieces into a smooth, even ball.
- Place an item that’s about 3/8 inch thick (we used a roll of tape) around the ball of clay. This will ensure the clay rolls out to an even thickness.Then roll the clay with a clay roller or rolling pin.
- Place a piece of plastic wrap on top of the clay.
- Push a round cookie cutter into – but not all the way through – the covered clay.
- Keeping the cutter in place, lift the edge of the plastic wrap in towards the center. Use your fingers to rip the excess clay away from the outside of the cutter.
Step 3: Add texture to the cookie
- Use a toothbrush to add a light texture to the lower sides of the macaron. This helps create the “foot” of the cookie.
- Create more texture in the same area by poking the end of a toothpick in lightly and repeatedly.
Step 4: Make another cookie half
- Repeat steps 2 and 3 with the other ball of light pink clay, creating the second half of the cookie.
Step 5: Make the cream filling
- Condition a smaller ball of cream coloured clay (about 3/4 inch in diameter).
- Flatten the ball with your hand until it’s just over 1/8 inch thick.Compare the size to the cookie pieces you made and make sure it’s the right size for the macaron.
Step 6: Put the cookie together
- Place the filling on the flat part of a cookie. Press the 2 pieces of clay together so they stick to each other.
- Place the other cookie half on top of the filling. Again, press the clay together so it sticks.Be careful not to press too hard or the cookie might become dented.
Step 7: Add the eye pin
- Use needle nose pliers to bend the bottom of a 1 inch metal eye pin. The bottom 1/4 inch should be at a 90 degree angle.
- Insert the eye pin into the filling of the macaron, starting with the bent part. Push it in firmly but gently.
- Use pliers to continue pushing the eye pin in, until the loop is about 1/4 inch above the clay.
Step 8: Bake the clay macaron and add an ornament hanger
- Place the macaron ornament on a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake according to package instructions.Our clay recommends 275F and 15 minutes per 1/4 inch thickness.
- Optional: Attach a jump ring to the eye pin using pliers.The jump ring allows you to connect a wider string or ribbon to the ornament.
- Cut a 5 inch piece of metallic baker’s twine or ribbon. Thread it through the jump ring and tie the ends together in a knot, creating an ornament hanger.
- Your clay macaron ornament is complete!
- Make them in all their usual colors or add some different ones of your own!
Helpful Tips:
- Wear vinyl or nitrile gloves when working with polymer clay to avoid leaving fingerprints on your macarons. If you don’t have gloves, you can still make these clay macaron ornaments — but they might get a slight texture to them, instead of having a smooth top.
- To prevent squishing the macaron, use needle nose pliers to push the metal eye pin into the clay. This lets you keep a firm and even grip on the pin, allowing it slide in more smoothly.
What does it mean to condition polymer clay?
Conditioning just means working the clay until it’s soft and malleable before using it. The clay should be the same consistency throughout before you start making your macaron ornament.
You can condition polymer clay by hand by twisting it, kneading it, and folding it over on itself. You’ll know when it’s done being conditioned because it will be soft and easy to manipulate.
When using a large amount of clay, it’s easiest to break it into smaller pieces. You can condition these parts separately and then work them back together into a larger ball.
How can I create an even thickness for my macaron clay?
Placing a roll of tape around our ball of polymer clay helped us get an even, level thickness when rolling it out. The roll of tape was 3/8 inches wide, which was the same thickness we wanted 1 cookie half to be.
You can use almost any item(s) to do this, as long as they’re the same thickness as you’d like. Try placing an embroidery hoop around your clay, or set the clay between 2 coasters or 2 hardcover books.
You can also buy rollers with thickness rings, or (if you want to get fancy) use a clay roller machine.
Do I need a round cookie cutter to make my clay macaron ornament?
A small cookie cutter works really well to make perfect clay macarons. But there are plenty of other items that’ll work to make your macaron ornament the right shape and size!
A blunter object will work just as well. In fact, if your item isn’t as sharp as a metal cookie cutter, even better! You want the sides of the clay to be torn, creating that macaron cookie texture.
Try using the rim of a shot glass or the lid of a small jar. You can even make mini macarons using a bottle cap!
These polymer clay macaron ornaments are just the recipe for a little Christmas cheer! String them into a holiday garland, use them as napkin rings, or add them as a playful touch to a wreath. However you choose to use them, these macarons will definitely be a feast for the eyes all season long!
Here’s even more Christmas clay craft ideas:
Our book Low-Mess Crafts for Kids is loaded with 72 fun and simple craft ideas for kids! The projects are fun, easy and most importantly low-mess, so the clean up is simple!
Where to buy:
You can purchase Low-Mess Crafts for Kids from Amazon, or wherever books are sold:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Books-A-Million | Indiebound | Amazon Canada
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