diy clay gift tags/ornaments
Lemme start by saying I didn’t invent clay, gift tags, or clay gift tags. But I do cherish any opportunity to make other people feel inferior over the holidays. Crafting my own clay gift tags makes me look super committed to the holiday season without putting in a lot of effort. The fact that they can alternate as tree ornaments is a nice bonus, and makes me look extra clever.
If you, too, would like to make other people feel inferior you’ll need:
- oven-bake clay (I used white Sculpey, but there are a variety of brands and colours available at craft stores)
- rolling pin
- tiny cookie cutters
- skewer
- baker’s twine/string
- parchment paper (optional)
Plus some decorating mediums such as:
- stamps/presses
- stencils
- craft paint
- small paint brushes
Knead a portion of clay until soft and smooth and then roll out 1/4 inch thick. I rolled mine on the counter and then cut the shapes on scraps of parchment paper. (I found that the clay was easier to lift from the paper without shape distortion.) Use small cookie cutters to cut out your tags – any shape you like. Tiny trees would be adorable. (Why didn’t I make tiny trees?)
I used an 8 oz. package of clay to make 47 ornaments ranging from 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter.
Press designs into the ornaments or leave as is. I left some plain, and pressed others with a small wreath stamp and letters. Do not paint before baking.
Use a skewer to poke a hole for the string or hanging apparatus. Carefully lift and place the ornaments on a baking sheet and then bake according to package instructions (mine required 15 minutes at 275°F). After baking, allow the clay to cool and fully harden before embellishing.
Use acrylic craft paint and/or stencils to embellish your tags. You could even use a Sharpie to write the gift recipient’s name on the back of the tag. Thread with baker’s twine, ribbon or human hair.
Once finished, kick up your feet and bask in DIY glory. Rolling your eyes at store-bought gift tags is optional but highly recommended.
I would leave a pithy comment but I am smothering under the heavy weight of my inferiority complex.
Mission accomplished.
I look at these gorgeous tags and how clever you have to be to think this stuff up and part of me wants to hate you. The other part thinks you’re the bomb. 🙂
Maybe you should just love to hate me?
I LOVE these! Oh.. time to get my “craft” on!! You make this look so easy.. I’m going to have to get creative and give these a try. I haven’t heard of Sculpey before but I do have that little rolling pin:D xx
Says the woman with a champagne Christmas tree! You make everything look easy… xox
Hi, I like your ornaments. Would you be able to tell me where you got your wreath stamp. Thanks Iesha
Sorry, Lesha, this post is about five years old. I can’t remember where I got the stamp and I’m relatively sure it wouldn’t be around at this point anyway. It may have been a Martha Stewart product?
you’re so fancy.
I know.
I can see you rolling your eyes from here… missed the tags strung on human hair, though. Post those pics as soon as you can.
Okay. Also, please send some of your hair.
I actually kind of love this idea. And I definitely want to make people feel bad on the holidays. Done.
Making people feel bad is the best part of the holidays. Also, eating.
Eating is the best. But making people feel bad comes in a very close second. If your tags were also edible, you could win both categories.
I’M ON IT.
Love these! I’ve been tinkering w/ Sculpey lately and this project looks perfect. Looks shmancy, but super easy 🙂 Btw, your other commenters are just as hilarious as you are. I get nervous posting a boring, normal comment, lol 🙂
One day my readers will take over this blog. There will be no stopping them. They’re too clever.
I don’t doubt a coup in your future 🙂
Wow! You have out done yourself- again!
Thanks, Michele!! xox
Totally envious of your crafty gene!
These are so great! I’ll have to see if I can figure out the equivalent of scupley in Sweden and get on this project. Or, maybe I’ll buy the clay (provided I can find it) and just let it sit in the drawer with the vintage ballerina cake toppers I “had to have” after your little transformed ballerina posts two years or so ago and I couldn’t find modge podge, or whatever it was called. Maybe I can do both of these projects in 2020 if/when I move back to the states and if/when I get my act together.
I’m glad I met Hadley first. She only made me feel intellectually inadequate. You just make me feel all sorts–crafty, DIY, baking–inadequate!
These are so neatly done, so precise. You are already making some of us look bad…
Pretty sure that was the point. Just resign yourself to loving to hate her. Or hating to love her. Something like that.
Love to hate me, people. Love to hate me.
I am absolutely doing this. Firstly, because I, too, like making people feel inferior around the holidays (but usually I’m the one feeling inferior, because frankly, I suck at the holidays). Secondly, I have a tendency to lose control of my lower jaw when walking past cute gift tags in the store, and I believe this issue is in direct relation to the price of said gift tags. I’m hoping that once I make some of these, the condition will resolve itself.
What a clever idea! I am gonna steal this to make some Xmas extras for the holidays for friends and family. 😀
omg making people feel inferior over the holidays? my best thing ever. I actually come from a long line of women who live for that same feeling, and we do it with ease…and crafts. I’m totally making these because i love them.
i think it goes without saying that Mr. Table will enjoy me adding even more craft supplies to the stockpile.
These are beautiful! I tried to get my dog to imprint her paw in one of them a couple of years ago, but it didn’t work too well. Can you share where you got the letter stamps? I could not find them that large.
Thank you!
Hi Gaby! A paw print would have been AWESOME!! The letter stamps are from Wilton. (I think!) They come in a set for cake decorating. I don’t see the exact set on their website, but I got it years ago. It’s something like this: http://goo.gl/tqTWf5, and I bet you could find it any your local cake decorating store or Michael’s!
Love these, particularly the berry wreath with the large letter! Would you mind sharing where you purchased large-letter, fine-line font stamps and the berry wreath stamp (or maybe a triple leaf stamp) ? Thanks!
I’m not 100% sure, Trina. This post is four years old! The letters may have been part of a set for baking – maybe Wilton? And I believe the stamps came from Martha Stewart – though I don’t know if they are made anymore. I would think a trip to the craft store might prove fruitful!
If you search fondant alphabet press set tons of the letters come up! or I’ve also found “Alphabet Stone Stamps” for like concrete and stepping stones! I’ve yet to find a good wreath so if you find one keep me updated please! I absolutely love this one 🙁
Comments on this post are now closed as it was published in 2014.