Every year we bring out all of the precious keepsake ornaments that we have made; It has become part of our Christmas tradition to look back and reminice about past Christmases - and to see how much he has grown!
To make this adorable Father Christmas tree decoration, you will need:
- Approximately 250g of Air Dry Clay (We recommend DAS white air dry clay) Approximately a quarter of a 1kg pack which is the size that most retailers will stock.
- Baking parchment
- Flat firm surface such as a chopping board
- Rolling pin
- Blunt knife
How to make the clay ornament:
1.) Place some baking parchment on top of a flat surface.
2.) Warm the clay in your hands and squash it around until it is soft enough to roll it into a ball shape.
3.) The clay will start to dry out the longer it is left out of the packet. We recommend storing the clay in an air tight box, wrapped in cling film. If your clay starts to dry, dip your fingers into some water and rub it into the clay. This will also help if a crack starts to appear in the clay. Mix a small piece of clay with some water and mush it up to create a slip which can be used to fill in tiny gaps and cracks.
4.) Use a rolling pin to roll out your ball shape on top of some baking parchment. You will want to leave it approximately ½ cm thick. Roll from the centre outwards and rotate the chopping board as you roll to create a circular shape.
5.) Place your hand (or foot) onto the clay and gently give each finger (or toe) a push and a wiggle to make an imprint.
6.) Grown-ups help needed: Use a butter knife to cut out your desired shape. You may want to use a toothpick to carve your name and the date into it. (Alternatively you can write this on the back, once the clay has dried using a Sharpie marker.)
7.) Pierce a hole through the top if you would like to make your ornament into a hanging ornament for the Christmas tree.
8.) Leave it on the parchment and place it in a cupboard, on a flat surface, to dry out. This will take approximately 48 hours.
Keep your eyes peeled for part 2 next week where we will give you some tips and tricks on how to make your ornament look like Father Christmas.
