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Make Beautiful Christmas Decorations with Air-Drying Clay!

today12 December 2023 159 5

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Make Beautiful Christmas Decorations with Air-Drying Clay

Make Beautiful Christmas Decorations with Air-Drying Clay

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    ANGELA – AIR DRYING CLAY Ginger and Nuts

Are you looking for a fun and affordable way to create stunning Christmas decorations? Look no further! With air-drying clay, you can make beautiful ornaments that will impress your friends and family. Let’s dive into the step-by-step process. First, you’ll need to get your hands on some air-drying clay. This amazing crafting material can be found at popular stores like The Works, Hobbycraft, or Baker Ross. Alternatively, you can easily purchase it online.

A kilo of white air-drying clay should cost you around £3 – £4, and it will make plenty of decorations. However, if you prefer smaller blocks, those options are available too! Now that you’ve got the clay, it’s time to let your imagination run wild! Grab your Christmas cookie cutters and stampers to create festive shapes such as angels, baubles, stars, and snowflakes. The possibilities are endless!

If you want to add extra flair, press evergreen foliage, like fir tree leaves, into the clay to make beautiful impressions. But wait, there’s more! Want to add a touch of sparkle and shine?

Once your creations are dry, you can use metallic pens or glitter glue to make them stand out. Make them as colourful and unique as you like! Just think about it – these handmade decorations will become cherished keepsakes.

Each year, when you hang them on your Christmas tree, you’ll reminisce about the fun-filled moments you had while making them. It’s a heartwarming touch to your holiday festivities. Now, let’s gather all the necessary items to get started. You will need a block of white air-drying clay, Christmas cookie cutters, stampers (if available), and some evergreen foliage. Don’t forget ribbon or twine for hanging and metallic pens or glitter glue for that extra sparkle.

On top of that, grab a wooden skewer, cocktail stick, or metal straw to make the holes for hanging and a clean work surface or chopping board. Have some greaseproof or wax paper on hand to protect your table or board. You’ll also need cling film, a rolling pin, or a thick glass bottle to roll the clay out.

Finally, prepare a tray to lay out the decorations while they dry.

A bowl with a little warm water, a damp sponge, and a towel nearby will also be helpful during the crafting process.

So – once you have all those things this is what you do!

1. First Moisten your hands with the damp sponge to help keep the clay from sticking to them. .

2. Next, Break off a good-sized piece of the air-drying clay and warm it up by kneading with your hands to soften it.

3. Then lay the clay onto the greaseproof or wax paper.

4. after that lay some cling film over the clay and roll it out to about a 1/3rd of an inch or approximately 3mm in thickness.

5. Now is the time to grab your evergreen foliage, pop it on top of the clay, roll or press the pattern into the clay, and then peel it off. If you’d prefer, you can use some stampers to make a design, or even get creative by finding things around your home that would make a good impression on the clay!

6. Then, use the festive cookie cutters to cut out your decorations. Some cookie cutters come with an embossed pattern on them which adds a decoration to the clay as well as cutting out the shape. If you find there are any ragged edges, simply smooth them out with a moist fingertip. 

7. Now, use a wooden skewer, cocktail stick, or a metal straw to make a hole for hanging your decorations.

8. Once done, pop your decorations onto a tray or leave them on the greaseproof or wax paper for at least 24 hours to dry out completely. 

9. When dry you can add some more detail if you wish, like outlining a pattern with a gold or silver metallic pen or with glitter glue, remember, if you do this to allow them to dry so they don’t smudge. 

10. Then thread some twine or ribbon through the hole and you’re all done! 

11. Finally, hang them on your Christmas tree or onto some branches in a vase.

 

Written by: Kat Y (Ginge)

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