3 DIY Christmas decorations using air dry clay

Snowman in air dry clay

Extra bits and pieces you will need:

• Pencil
• Fine paint brush
• Cup to hold water
• Pair of scissors
• Some twigs for the arms
• A small piece of fabric for the scarf

Start by unwrapping the clay and place onto your working surface. You then want to measure the block of clay into four segments: one large, one medium and two small pieces. Once ready, slice the block up into these segments.

Let’s start building your snowman! Begin moulding the large piece of clay into a ball and press down to even the surface. Move onto rolling the second ball using the medium slice of clay and place it on top of the large ball.

We don’t want your snowman falling apart, so grab a toothpick and press it down into the clay using a pencil to secure the two balls together.

Every snowman needs a head, so roll the smallest ball of clay and place it onto the stack, pressing down gently so that it stays. Grab another toothpick and push it into the top of your snowman’s head to secure it with the rest of the body. Press on the clay once more to make sure it all holds together!

To smooth the out clay like a snowball, add a touch of water and dab in and around each ball.

Using the last small ball of clay, roll a little cone shape for your snowman’s carrot nose! To add texture, like on a carrot, take another toothpick and gently add spaced lines.

To secure the carrot nose, stick the toothpick inside and secure it onto your Snowman’s head. We almost a face! You can add some more spaced lines to the nose once it is secured in place.

Your snowman is a bit limbless, so let’s give him some arms! Take two little twigs or sticks and trim if needed. Pop two small holes on either side of your snowman and stick the arms in.

Because your snowman is a bit frosty, you can tie a piece of fabric around the neck as a scarf. So that the scarf fits snug, press down on it gently with the pencil and snip any loose bits of thread. Now we’re looking stylish!

A carrot nose is not realistic without a bit of orange! So, take a little bit of orange paint and a thin brush and paint it in.

The finish off your snowman’s face, dip your thin brush in the black paint and dot in two eyes. Hello there!

Don’t forget the buttons too!

Tealight house in air dry clay

Extra bits and pieces you will need:

• Wax proof paper
• Paper towel
• Cup to hold water
• 30cm ruler
• Pencil
• Medium round brush
• Printed template of the house (see downloadable references)

Let’s make a tealight house for your Snowman to warm up next to!

Begin by unwrapping the clay and measuring it against the template (you can download the template by clicking on the downloadable resources button above). Slice the block using a ruler into three segments according to the template.

Take your clay and roll it out on your workspace surface using the end of a paintbrush. Just like you’re rolling out dough! Add a touch of water to your hands and smooth each slab out.

Now onto the fun part – we can begin cutting out the house! Place the template onto the flat slab of clay and press down to make sure it is secure. Once ready, pick up your palette knife and cut the excess clay to fit the template.

You then want to dot each corner to carve out the windows. Once done, peel the template off. We’re getting there!

Wet your trust paintbrush and add a little bit of moisture to the clay. Carefully slit the corner of each wall, ensuring you don’t slide the clay.

Add another slit down the corner adjacent to the first and then another on the other side to form rivets. Then, lightly peel off the excess clay.

Okay, let’s move on! Grab an acrylic palette or an old plastic cutting board, and mould the clay around to from the house shape.

Take a palette knife and press it onto the clay to make sure your house holds up and doesn’t get blown away in the blizzard!

It’s time to start carving out the doors and windows, kind of like carving a pumpkin!

Grab the roof of the house and using a palette knife, scrape excess clay to make the shape nice and even.

No tealight house is complete without a toasty chimney, so you can use the left-over clay to roll out a tube shape for the chimney. Cut the tube in half and flatten the base with the palette knife. Press the side of the knife to secure the chimney piece in place.

Press the side of the knife to secure the chimney piece in place and lightly sweep (pun intended!) over it with a wet brush.

Use the back of the brush to even the piece out. So that Santa can come down the chimney, poke the brush through to create a hole and hollow it out.

Smooth out any edges using the palette knife and take the roof off to place your LED tealight in. Now you have a cozy little tealight house for your snowman!

Tree ornaments in air dry clay

Extra bits and pieces you will need:

• Wax proof paper
• A sheet of card to paint on
• Printed template of the decorations (see downloadable references)
  Twine
• Small round brush
• Medium brush
• Pair of scissors
• Cling film

A Christmas tree isn’t complete without some festive decorations, so let’s jazz it up with some handmade treasures!

Start by snipping out the templates for each ornament (you can download the template by clicking on the downloadable resources button above).

Take your slab of clay and place a sheet of cling wrap over the top. Whip out a paintbrush and use it to roll over the clay. Looks like you’re making dough again!

Then, remove the cling wrap and place the template down onto the clay. You can then start cutting out the shapes with a palette knife.

Almost at the fun part! But first, add a touch of water to your clay and smooth out any edges with your palette knife.

At this point the shapes are looking a little bare, so let’s add some detail! Using the shape that will be our house, cut three small slits for the door using your palette knife.

Move onto cutting a slit for the roof and then four slits to make some windows. Pop-out the excess clay from the windows and you have a little house!

After smoothing out any edges using the palette knife, grab a paintbrush and poke a hole in the top, dipping into the top. Allow the clay to dry for about 10 minutes.

We made it to the extra fun part! You can apply a coat of silver paint to one side of your star to make it shine bright. Set aside to dry for about 5 minutes.

Add some life to your Christmas tree by painting it green. Allow this to dry and move onto the house.

Colour the house with the red to make it jolly and set it aside to dry too.

Going back to the dry Christmas tree, dip the end of your paintbrush into the red and silver paint to add some snazzy baubles.

While you wait for your Christmas tree to dry again, you can paint the other side of your star and house.

Once all sides of our decorations are painted in, set them aside to dry out for about 5 minutes.

We’re almost finished! Once all ornaments are dry you can cut your string and thread it through the holes. Tie a loop around each decoration and trim any excess string.

We made it! Now, you’re ready to deck your halls and sit back to admire your decorations made with love!