How to Make Clay Gingerbread Ornaments
These clay gingerbread ornaments are SO CUTE! Have fun making these faux cookie ornaments and using them to decorate the Christmas tree and other holiday spaces. Using air dry clay and a few simple supplies you can make gingerbread "cookies" that will last for years to come.
Yield: 1 gingerbread ornament
Cost: $1
Materials
- Air dry modeling clay
- Water
- Acrylic paint (gingerbread brown)
- White puffy paint
- Christmas baker's twine
Instructions
Step 1: Find what you need
- Gather your supplies and materials.
Step 2: Cut out the clay "cookies"
- Place a ball of clay on a piece of plastic food wrap. This prevents the clay from sticking to your cutting board.
- Set another piece of cling film on top of the clay.
- Roll out the clay until it's about 1/4 inch thick.
- We find it helps to plan how cookie cutters will fit on the clay, arranging them all before cutting any out.
- Press the cookie cutters down into the clay while the plastic wrap is still on top. This will give your "gingerbread" a slightly rounded edge, like a freshly baked cookie.
- The plastic wrap does prevent the cookie cutters from cutting the shapes out completely, so remove the plastic wrap, line up the cookie cutters in the proper spot, and press down on the cookie cutters again.
- Remove the excess clay from around the shapes.
Step 3: Add texture to the clay
- Add a bit of water to your fingertips and gently rub back and forth to smooth out the sides of the clay.
- Next you'll need a sponge with a scrubbing pad or something else that will give the clay a bit of texture.
- Dab at the clay with the scrubbing pad to give it a baked cookie texture.
- Use the end of a straw to make holes in the ornaments for hanging.
- Allow to dry for 24 to 48 hours. Make sure to flip it occasionally so both sides dry evenly.
Step 4: Paint the clay gingerbread
- Add a coat of paint to the top of the ornaments. Allow to dry.
- Paint the sides of the ornaments and add another coat to the top. Allow to dry, and then add a coat of paint to the back of the ornament.
- To create the icing for our gingerbread ornaments we're using white puffy paint.
- Add piped icing details to the cookies. Whatever type of decoration you'd add with icing you can add with the small nozzle of the puffy paint bottle.
- Allow to dry overnight.
Step 5: Add an ornament hanger
- Cut an 8 inch piece of Christmas cotton twine.
- Tie the twine into a loop and then put the loop through the ornament hole to the back.
- Slide the tied end through the loop and pull tight.
- Your clay gingerbread ornaments are complete!
Video
Notes
Looking for more clay Christmas crafts? Here's a few of our favourites:
Clay Macaron Ornament
DIY Clay House
Clay Gift Tags