Craft a pretty, simple DIY house ornament from clay with this easy tutorial! Then try a clothespin star ornament too. This post contains affiliate links.

Flat clay cutouts from air dry clay make gorgeous, classy ornaments. These house shaped ornaments add a touch of hygge to your tree. The minimalist design somehow explodes with personality.

And the best part: air dry clay is an easy, kid-friendly material that the whole family can use to create a DIY house ornament!

There are a few different ways to color air dry clay for this house ornament:

First, you can dye the clay by mixing in paint or food coloring. This can be a bit of a messy process. It’s ideal if you want the texture of the clay to fully show through, and for the ornament to be colored through and through.

My favorite way to color it is to simply paint the outside using craft acrylics when the DIY clay ornament has dried. This gives you more control over tone and texture. You can choose glossy, matte, or even metallic paints. And the authentic color of the paint is what will show. You can also get richer color, especially if you paint more than one layer.

Finally, if you want to make the DIY house ornament from clay really your own, you can add detail as you paint it. You can make it resemble your own home (just skip my template), write your family name on it, or add other details using paint markers. You can embellish with rhinestones or dimensional paint.

Just think of the ornaments as a blank template, waiting for you to add your personal touch!

When you’re done with this, check out more Christmas ornament DIY ideas!

What you need

Air dry clay – my favorites are Sculpey Air and Crayola Air Dry clay
Clay rolling pin and board – I like dollar tree cutting mats
Xacto knife
String – I used sisal twine
Straw or other tool for poking a hole
The template, cut out from paper
Acrylic paint and paint brush
Optional: Mod Podge or clay glaze (I like Sculpey brand).
The template (optional) – found here. Or draw your own

How to make a DIY house ornament from clay

1. Cut out a slice from the bar of air-dry clay.

2. Knead the clay slice against a smooth, nonstick surface or on the cutting mat and roll it into a ball shape.

3. Press the clay ball against the board or the surface you’re working on.

4. Use the rolling pin to flatten the clay ball to about 1/2 a cm or the minimum recommended width on your clay’s package instructions. Try to make it even throughout.

5. Print and cut out the house template. Place it on the rolled out clay. Using an Xacto knife, cut around the house template.

6. Cut out a square window.

7. Peel off the house template from the clay.

8. Remove the excess clay from around your template.

9. Use your finger tips to smooth the edges of your clay house ornament. You can dip them in water as you work if you’d like.

10. Use a straw or a blunt stick to make a hole in the top of your clay ornament. Do this while the clay is still soft. Allow the clay house to air dry overnight.

11. When your ornament is completely dry you can paint it. You may want to do a few layers. If you want a gorgeous finish, seal it with Mod podge or a clay glaze such as Sculpey.

Cut out a piece of string and thread it through the hole. Tie a knot to create a loop. The clay house ornament is ready.

Your DIY clay house ornament is complete! How will you be finishing yours? Comment below!

Air Dry Clay House Ornament Craft

Materials

Tools

Instructions