20 DIY Clay and Felt Christmas Ornaments
You’ll love how simple materials like air‑dry clay and wool felt can turn into heirloom ornaments that show off your style. I’ll walk you through 20 projects, from marbled baubles to felt mittens and tiny nativity scenes, with tips for color, texture, and finishing touches. Start with a few easy shapes and you’ll soon be customizing pieces that look shop‑bought — and I’ve got ideas to keep you inspired for the whole season.
Clay Gingerbread People Ornament
Start by rolling out air-dry clay into a roughly 1/4-inch slab. Then cut gingerbread people shapes with a small cookie cutter—you’re aiming for clean edges so the details will show after drying.
Paint simple faces, add piped icing lines, and embed ribbon loops. These gingerbread decoration ideas use straightforward clay ornament techniques so you can customize freely and confidently.
Felt Mittens With Button Accent
A pair of felt mittens with a bright button accent makes a quick, cozy ornament you’ll want to hang everywhere.
Choose simple felt mitten patterns, cut two layers, stitch around edges, and stuff lightly.
Explore button accent ideas—vintage, wooden, or colorful plastic—to personalize each mitten.
Add a loop, mix contrasting colors, and let your creativity roam free on the tree.
Polymer Clay Snowflake Pendant
Make one delicate polymer clay snowflake pendant that catches the light and ties your tree or gift tag together with handmade charm. You’ll roll smooth clay, use simple polymer clay techniques to stamp crisp snowflake designs, trim edges, and bake. Sand lightly, add a metallic wash, then thread ribbon or wire. It’s portable, freeing, and makes a minimal, elegant ornament.
Layered Felt Christmas Tree
For a cozy, tactile ornament that’s easy to customize, try a layered felt Christmas tree you can stitch or glue together in minutes. You’ll cut graduated triangles, stack with layered felt techniques, and secure with simple running stitches or hot glue. Add beads, tiny pom-poms, or ribbon to make bold felt tree decorations. Hang it from a branch or gift tag—your choice.
Clay Reindeer Face With Jingle Bell
When you shape a plump little reindeer face from air-dry clay and press a tiny jingle bell beneath its chin, you get an irresistibly charming ornament that jingles as it swings on the tree. You’ll smooth features, paint a button nose, and add tiny antlers—simple steps that let you personalize reindeer decorations. Tie a loop, and your jingle bell crafts are ready to fly free.
Felt Hot Cocoa Mug Ornament
If your tree is already jingling with clay reindeer, add a cozy felt hot cocoa mug to bring warmth and whimsy to the branches.
Cut two mug shapes, stitch around edges, stuff lightly, and sew a little felt handle.
Embellish with whipped-cream felt, tiny pom-pom marshmallows, and embroidery for steam.
Hang with ribbon; enjoy a playful, liberated holiday accent.
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Textured Clay Star Ornaments
Start by rolling out air-dry clay to an even thickness and cut star shapes—your fingers will shape the character of each piece as you press patterns, stamps, or found textures into the surface.
Embrace textured clay techniques: vary depth, scrape edges, or add metallic highlights. Hang with twine or ribbon.
Explore simple star ornament designs that feel free, personal, and ready to sparkle on your tree.
Felt Candy Cane Trio
Although simple to make, a felt candy cane trio adds instant charm and a homemade touch to your tree, mantel, or gift tags. You’ll cut three striped shapes from red and white felt, stuff them lightly, and whipstitch edges for a clean finish. Hang them with thin twine or ribbon to create playful, portable festive decor that lets you personalize color, size, and placement.
Clay Bell With Twine Hanger
One simple clay bell with a twine hanger can bring a rustic, handmade accent to your tree or mantel—start by shaping a small bell from air-dry or oven-bake clay, smooth the seams, and press a hole at the top for the twine.
You’ll explore twine techniques for a secure loop, add paint or metallic wash, and finish with tiny punched clappers for subtle bell decoration.
Felt Woodland Fox Ornament
When you stitch this felt woodland fox, you’ll create a charming, soft ornament that brings woodland whimsy to your tree or garland; simple shapes and a few blanket stitches give it a handmade look even if you’re new to sewing. Pick felt fabric choices that hold crisp edges, layer rust, cream, and charcoal from woodland color palettes, stuff lightly, and add a loop.
Marbled Clay Baubles
If you loved the tactile charm of the felt fox, you’ll enjoy bringing that same handmade warmth to your tree with marbled clay baubles.
You’ll mix two or three clays, twist and fold using marbled techniques for organic swirls. Roll, cut simple rounds, and bake.
Embrace playful color blending, sand lightly, add a hole for hanging, and varnish for a free-spirited finish.
Felt Santa Hat With Pom-Pom
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Clay Polar Bear Face
Soft white clay makes a charming polar bear face ornament that’s quick to shape and fun to personalize. You press a round base, add ears, and carve gentle features; paint subtle polar bear colors for depth. Attach a tiny scarf or glittery hat among polar bear accessories to express your style. Seal, add a loop, and hang it where it frees your holiday spirit.
Felt Plaid Stocking
Pick a cozy plaid felt and you’ll have a classic stocking that’s both quick to sew and endlessly customizable.
Trace simple felt stocking patterns, cut two mirrored pieces, and stitch around the edge, leaving the cuff open.
Add a loop for hanging, mix contrasting festive felt designs for cuffs or patches, and embellish with minimalist embroidery or buttons to make it yours.
Air-Dry Clay Angel Ornament
Grab a small ball of air-dry clay and you’ll be surprised how quickly a simple angel takes shape—press a flattened oval for the body, roll a tiny ball for the head, and attach a thin teardrop for wings. You can personalize with simple tools, carve flowing robes, and experiment with angel ornament designs using basic air dry techniques. Seal, add twine, and hang proudly.
Felt Snowman With Scarf
When you stitch together a felt snowman with a tiny scarf, you’ll get a charming, handmade ornament that’s quick to assemble and fun to personalize. You’ll cut simple shapes, stuff lightly, and sew neat edges. Add felt accessories—a carrot nose, tiny buttons, and a colorful scarf—to create a freestanding snowman decoration that feels joyful, free, and ready for your tree.
Clay Leaf Imprint Ornament
Impressing a real leaf into clay gives you a delicate, nature-inspired ornament that’s simple to make and beautiful to display. Roll clay thin, press a leaf firmly, lift to reveal veins, then cut a neat shape. Add a hole, bake or air-dry, and paint or glaze. These leaf imprint techniques create lightweight, free-spirited seasonal decoration ideas you’ll love hanging.
Felt Nativity Stable Scene
If you loved pressing leaves into clay for a nature-inspired ornament, you’ll also enjoy crafting a cozy felt nativity stable that brings the scene of the season into soft, hand-sewn form.
You’ll cut simple shapes for the stable, stitch felt characters with minimal detail, arrange a tiny manger, and hang the finished nativity scene like a liberated, gentle reminder of home and wonder.
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Clay Moon and Stars Garland
Create a simple clay moon and stars garland that fills your mantel or doorway with soft, handmade light—no sculpting experience needed. You’ll roll small crescents and circles, stamp subtle moon phases, and cut varied star patterns. Paint in muted golds and creams, string on twine, and space pieces freely. Hang low or drape high to celebrate quiet nights and creative independence.
Felt Nordic Heart Ornament
Think cozy: this Felt Nordic Heart ornament brings simple Scandinavian charm to your tree or mantel with basic stitches and bold, graphic shapes you can make in an evening.
You’ll cut mirrored heart halves from contrasting Felt colors, hand-sew a visible running stitch, add a loop, and stuff lightly.
Embrace Nordic design’s clean lines; hang several for a liberated, minimalist holiday look.
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