How to Personalize Ornaments and Charms

In the following video, Glenn & Debi from Deb & Co show you how to personalize Christmas ornaments with simple, easy to learn techniques to give your ornaments a professional look.  The lettering techniques are demonstrated on cured polymer clay ornaments, however, personalizing air-dry-clay ornaments and charms would be done the same way.    

They also show a few ways to correct errors when working with permanent inks.    I haven't tested these correction methods with air-dry clay, so I recommend doing a test on a cured sample of your own favorite brand.   The various types/brands of air-dry clay may react differently.   You also might try top-coating & sealing the ornament first, then write your personalization ....and then seal again!

Make these cute elves

Cute, expressive Christmas elves...step by step!  A little late for Christmas this year, but you could always start making them now for next year! See tutorial at Cold Porcelain Tutorials.

Tutorial was written for cold porcelain and you can use either homemade cold porcelain or purchased brands such as Craft Porcelain.   See the recipes section of Cold Porcelain Tutorials (and Recipes) for a few different ways to make your own cold porcelain.   If that's not your thing, many other air-dry clays would work as well...especially the soft  pre-colored brands such as  Deco Clay, Cloud Clay, Hearty Clay, Makin's Clay and many other brands of soft, or semi-soft, clays.   

How to Make a Paperclay Snowman

This is a 5-part video demo from MLB Studios showing us how to make this folk art snowman with stick legs that can either stand or hang from tree.   Creative Paperclay is used but many other air-dry clays would work as well.    Using an instant papier mache (such as Celluclay) could give it an even more vintage look and feel!

Part 1... Making the Armature



Part 2... Adding the features



Part 3... Adding details



Part 4... Adding color



Part 5... Finish

Kissing Ball Made with Clay Flowers

A few days  ago I came across this great idea from CreativeNimi at  Craft Ideas for All.    It's a Pomander Ball, also known as Kissing Ball, made from clay flowers.  These decorative flower balls are used in weddings, at Christmas, at baby showers and other festive occasions.   The clay flowers can be made from cold porcelain or any of the softer air-dry clays, such as Deco clay.  To make the flowers, see our list of Clay Flower tutorials in the menu tab above.

CreativeNimi made the beautiful blue and white clay flower ball shown above.  She says: "Usually fresh flowers are used as it requires a lot of flowers. Making them in clay makes it extra special and this way it lasts longer. Pomander Ball with clay flowers is a labor intensive project, but once completed you really get the satisfaction of creating something magnificent."   Read more about her idea at Craft ideas for All.

How to Make This Cute Clay Angel

Here's a tutorial from Ben Franklin Crafts for a cute little angel made with Hearty Clay.   This would make a good beginners project.   http://createyourcrafts.com/Projects/projects/angel.htm

Glue a magnet to the back and you've got a useful and decorative item!  ....Glue a pin to back and you have jewelry!    ....Add a hanger and you have a tree ornament!    ....or ... Make it big and put a hole in the back to  hang on the wall!!   ;-)

Tutorial: Easy holiday ornament

Here's a quick and easy air-dry clay ornament to make. I bet you could come up with all kinds of ideas for different words and for customizing this project.

Author includes a link to the font she used to trace letters.
http://ginghamcherry.blogspot.com/2009/12/joy-to-world.html

Tutorial: Personalized Ornament #2

Here's another personalized Christmas ornament that you can give as a gift or make for yourself.   This tutorial for a teddy bear family and house ornament is from Makin's Clay.   Makin's Clay is an air-dry clay that is available in many colors, but other brands of air-dry clay will work as well.   Most air dry clays are only available in white, but you can pre-tint clay with acrylic paints or paste colorants .... or paint after curing!

Tell us about the personalized ornaments you've made with air dry clay!  Do you have any tips to share?   ;-)

Tutorial: Personalized Ornament

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and a nice holiday weekend (in USA)!  I was busy with Thanksgiving and shopping from Black Friday to Cyber Monday!  TOO much time spent shopping...LOL!  Haven't had any time to post on this blog, but now my Christmas shopping is all done and maybe now I can come up with some new tips and tricks for your clay projects. 

This Tuesday Tutorial is from Makin's Clay to create a personalized Christmas ornament with air-dry clay.   Makin's Clay and a few other brands are