Polymer Clay

Fimo and clay tips and tutorials

DIY Santa Face Clay Ornaments For Christmas

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Make them with Polymer Clay, pottery or Air-Dry Clay

These little Santa faces are the sweetest handmade touch for your Christmas tree, gift wrapping, or even as festive garlands. The best part? You can create them in whichever clay you’re most comfortable using—polymer clay for a strong, oven-baked finish, or air-dry clay for a pottery-style look without the kiln.

Materials You’ll Need

  • White clay (polymer or air-dry) 
  • Red acrylic paint or red glaze 
  • Small rolling pin 
  • Craft knife or clay cutter 
  • Sculpting tool or toothpick 
  • Drinking straw (for making holes) 
  • Small paintbrushes 
  • Acrylic paints: black, pink, and red (if not using glaze) 
  • Optional: clay texture mat or doily for Santa’s beard pattern 

Step 1: Roll Out the Clay

  • Roll your clay to about ¼ inch thickness. 
  • Smooth the surface with your roller. 

Step 2: Cut the Santa Shape

  • Freehand cut a teardrop/oval shape for Santa’s face with a craft knife. 
  • Each ornament should be roughly 2–3 inches tall. 

Step 3: Add Santa’s Hat

  • Pinch and shape the top section into a point for the hat. 
  • If you’re using white clay, you’ll paint the hat red later. If you have red clay, cut and press a triangle onto the top of the face. 
  • Add a tiny ball of clay at the tip for Santa’s pom-pom. 

Step 4: Create the Nose

  • Roll a tiny cylinder of clay and press it in the middle of the face. 
  • Make sure it sticks firmly (a dab of water for air-dry clay or blending edges for polymer clay will help). 

Step 5: Add Texture to the Beard

  • Use a toothpick, stylus, or texture mat to press in a pattern for Santa’s beard. 
  • Keep it random and bumpy for a fluffy effect. 

Step 6: Make the Hanging Hole

  • Use a straw or skewer to punch a hole at the top of the hat for hanging. 

Step 7: Dry or Bake

  • Air-Dry Clay: Leave flat on a board to dry 24–48 hours, turning once to prevent warping. 
  • Polymer Clay: Bake according to package instructions (usually 15–30 minutes at 130°C / 275°F). 

Step 8: Paint the Details

  • Paint the hat red (if not using red clay). 
  • Paint Santa’s face in a light peach/flesh tone. 
  • Dot two little eyes with black paint. 
  • Add pink cheeks with a dry-brushed blush of pink. 
  • Paint beard highlights with white if needed. 
  • Add fun hat details—stars, stripes, or snowflakes. 

Step 9: Finish & Hang

  • Once dry, seal with a matte or gloss varnish for protection (optional). 
  • Thread with twine, ribbon, or a hook, and hang on your tree. 

Tips & Variations

  • Add names across the hat band for personalized ornaments. 
  • Use metallic paint for a sparkly Santa hat. 
  • Make a whole set and gift them in little fabric bags as handmade stocking stuffers.

 

Have you read?

DIY Doily Pinch Bowl Set with Matching Platter

There’s something so satisfying about creating a whole handmade set that feels like it belongs together. After experimenting with my grandmother’s doilies on flat slabs of clay, I wanted to see how they would look when pressed onto a curved form. That’s how this set of three doily pinch bowls was born—each one textured on the outside with lace, glazed in soft tones, and displayed together on a matching pink speckled doily platter.

It’s a beautiful way to combine sentimental textiles with modern pottery design. The finished set makes a charming serving arrangement for nibbles, dips, or trinkets, and it doubles as a decorative centerpiece when not in use.

Materials You’ll Need

  • White pottery clay (stoneware or porcelain) 
  • Rolling pin 
  • Crochet doily (preferably a smaller one for consistent texture) 
  • Sponge and water 
  • Small bowls or your hands (to form the pinch bowls) 
  • Knife or clay cutter 
  • Plastic wrap 
  • Kiln access (or community pottery studio) 
  • White glaze 
  • Pink speckled glaze (or white glaze with pink oxide) 

Step-by-Step Tutorial

Step 1: Prepare the Clay

Cut your clay into three equal pieces. Roll each piece into a ball about the size of a small orange.

Step 2: Form the Pinch Bowls

Using your thumbs, gently press into the center of each clay ball and pinch outward, rotating as you go, until you form small bowl shapes. Keep the walls fairly even, but don’t worry about perfection—pinch bowls are meant to have a rustic, organic charm.

Step 3: Press the Doily Texture

Drape a crochet doily around the outside of each bowl. Gently press it into the surface with your fingers or a rolling pin. Carefully peel it back to reveal the lace impression. Each bowl will carry the delicate detail of the doily, almost like a frozen textile pattern.

Step 4: Refine the Shape

Smooth the rims with a damp sponge, rounding off any sharp edges. Leave the outside textured, but clean up the insides of the bowls so they’re smooth for glazing.

Step 5: Dry and Fire

Let the bowls dry slowly until bone dry. Bisque fire them with the platter if you’re making the full set together.

Step 6: Glaze and Finish

For a cohesive look, glaze the pinch bowls in soft white or cream, allowing the doily texture to stand out. Place them on the matching pink speckled doily platter (created using the earlier technique) for a complete serving set.

Styling Ideas

  • Serving Set: Use the three bowls for nuts, olives, and dips when entertaining. 
  • Jewelry Dishes: Perfect for holding rings, bracelets, and earrings on your dresser. 
  • Decorative Accent: Place them on the platter as a centerpiece with seasonal décor inside (dried flowers, crystals, or potpourri). 
  • Gift Idea: Wrap the full set as a handmade, one-of-a-kind present for weddings or housewarmings. 

Why I Love This Project

These bowls carry a story. The lace impressions remind me of my grandmother’s hand-crocheted doilies, yet the final design feels fresh and modern. Displayed together on the platter, they become more than functional—they’re a handmade heirloom set that blends memory with everyday beauty.