Faux Filigree Clay Ornaments
Back in 2011, I decided to enter my first craft show. I made several sewn projects as well as sequined ornaments and stuff for small children and babies. My favorite product though was my clay faux filigree ornaments. I loved creating them. My Bachelor’s degrees main focus was in the art of clay but since graduating I hadn’t touched anything remotely similar.
So finally here I was creating with a type of clay again and I came up with these beauties.
I was really excited to try and sell them. However, things didn’t go as planned and I went home with almost all my clay ornaments after the show. Although a lot of people liked them, and said how unique they were, maybe only one or two were sold.
However, I am glad I still have several of them. They adorn my Christmas tree every year and like I mentioned before, I love them. I am also glad I still have them so I can share them with you—and how I made them.
How to Make Faux Filigree Clay Ornaments
Here are the supplies you will need:
- Polymer Oven Bake Clay
- Clear Glass Ornament
- Clay extruder (optional)
- Shiny or satin gloss for polymer clay (optional)
- Clay tools (optional)
- Small knife (I use a paring knife)
- Baking Dish
- Oven
This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something I may earn a commission. Thanks for your support.
Step One
If your clay is a bit on the hard side, work it with your hands till it becomes malleable. If using the extruder, put the clay in and extrude your clay through the small round opening.
*Tip: even if the clay is really soft it is tough to extrude. I like to wrap a towel around the handles and the bottom and press with my full body weight to get it done quickly.
*Also, if you can clean your extruder out between colors that will help from making the colors muddy. If not, always start with the lightest color first, such as white.
If you are not using an extruder, you can use your good old hands. Make long even thin snakes of clay. Try to make them as even as possible. I tend to use this method if I have realized I need more of a lighter color and don’t want it to be muddy.
I also like to make all my clay snakes first before attaching them to the ornament.
Step Two
Once you have all your snakes made, you can start spiraling them into the glass.
You will continue to do this till the ornament is covered. Try doing several spirals. Connect them with straight clay snakes etc. I also add small balls of clay and press a circle into the center with my clay tools. I use the same tool to add dots to my spirals.
Step Three
Once your ball is covered it is time to bake it. Follow the manufactures instructions based on the oven bake clay you purchased.
*Tip: I like to bake mine at night before bed. That way I can turn the oven off and leave the ornaments in there overnight to cool slowly. You don’t want to accidentally stress the glass with a temperature change and it shatter—hasn’t happened to me but I wouldn’t want it too.
Step Four
Once your ornament is baked and cool you have to option of sealing it with a shiny or satin gloss. This is optional but it makes it look really nice and finished.
I hope you enjoy making your own clay ornaments.
Start to Bloom by choosing JOY—Julia
