Polymer Clay

Fimo and clay tips and tutorials

Ornament Thursday

by

o1.JPGToday’s project is a simple ornament that can do double duty as a gift tag.  I love embellishing gifts with a little something extra!

Materials:

polymer clay (I used scrap colors in red, olive, teal and white)

vellum paper

ribbon

wet/dry sandpaper (optional)

tools: pasta machine, cutting blade, scrapbooking scissors, paper punch

1. Layer the scrap clays together to form a rectangle, put contrasting colors next to each other.  Warm the clay between your hands, compressing it and compacting the edges of the scraps.

2. Roll the clay through the pasta machine on the thickest setting. 

3. With the cutting blade, trim to form a long rectangle. Starting at one end, roll up the clay to form a spiral.  Trim edges.

4. Roll out a sheet of green clay on the thickest setting of the pasta machine.  Slice off thin layers of the spiral and stick it on the green clay.  Run the sheet of green clay through the pasta machine on the thickest setting one more time. 

o2.JPG5. Trim with scrapbooking scissors. Bake, sand if desired.

6. Print out holiday greetings on vellum with your home printer.  Trim and punch a hole with with the paper punch.  Punch a hole in the top of the polymer clay tag.  Add vellum to clay tag/ornaments with ribbon. 

o3.JPG

See what other crafty goodness those Ornament Thursday designers have come up with this week:

Christmas cookie – Jennifer Heynen

Christmas tree finger labyrinth – Hali Chambers

Ring in the New Year – Kriss Cramer

Quilty pieced snowman – Linda Augsburg
Simply striking sparkling spheres – Margot Potter

Beaded memory wire – Elaine Luther

Wire & beaded tree – Lynn Kvigne

 Beaded sun catcher – Debba Haupert

Jolly and yummy ceramic candy – Melanie Brooks Lukacs 

 Polymer snowflake embedded in resin – Melissa Lee

Beaded candy canes – Candie Cooper

Polymer clay gift tag/ornament – Heather Powers

Twisted blues – Lampwork Diva aka Cindy Gimbrone  

Holiday spiral tree & party pixie – Art Bead Scene  

Wire bird’s nest – Rebecca Peck

Plush gingerbread doggie – Jenny Harada

Swell ornament – Alexa Westerfield

Holiday paper crafting – Brandy Lung Gill

Shaving cream & chipboard ornament – Michelle McGee

Easy needle-felted orb – Katie Hacker

Lisa Liddy’s Lovely Ornament

[tags]polymer clay, holiday crafts, christmas projects, ornament Thursday[/tags]

Comments

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.