DIY Cold Porcelain Clay Ornaments
Peek-a-boo! Who doesn’t love a super cheap and easy way to make some lovely decorations. I’m impressed at how these DIY Cold Porcelain Clay ornaments came together, even with the little fingers helping!
Just a few minutes before my grand-kiddo was to arrive I decided that we needed a craft to do since I can’t be hobbling around after this energetic almost 3 year old. This clay cooked up really quickly and I had everything I needed at home.
My Story:
I’ll share my little story about crafting as a youngster. I vividly remember when I was in kindergarten and given a craft task to do. We would thread the string through alternate pieces of straw and paper squares to make a necklace. I was so impressed with how it came together; that feeling of accomplishment had made such an impression on me that I remember it over 50 years later! That was the start to my whole lifetime of making and creating! Help a little one discover their inner creativity…
DIY Cold Porcelain Clay Recipe:
- 2 Cups Baking Soda
- 1 Cup Cornstarch
- 1.25 Cups Water
Mix the dry ingredients with a whisk in a saucepan.
Add the water and whisk to incorporate.
It dissolves easily and quickly. Turn on medium heat.
Mixing constantly the cornstarch will start to cook quickly.
On low heat stir until all has thickened.
Plop it out onto some wax paper and start to push together as soon as it’s cool enough for your fingers.
Turn and fold over to knead into smooth clay. I was fascinated at how smooth it is.
Tada! A ball of smooth clay… now just to coax the ‘munchkin to sit in his highchair.
To keep it simple I figured rolling and cookie cutting would be best. There are so many rolling pin patterns available! I had one of puppy dogs so this would be perfect. Keep the clay covered when not using as it will start to dry.
This cold porcelain clay has a nice consistency and rolls easily. It does not stick either – bonus! It has not questionable ingredients so it’s great for the ‘kiddo’! He loved cutting the shapes especially the ‘wabbit’!
Ok, it’s all fun and games. This ‘giggle monster’ knows how silly grandma gets! Nothing quite like endless babbling and laughing, tickles or not.
A few minutes and there’s a huge bunch done. Now that they have dried I realize that they can be quite thin and still be strong.
They Multiply!
I placed them on something that would allow air movement underneath as well. They do take a few days to dry unless you use some heat source. I put some on the vent and used the residual heat after cookie baking to finish the drying.
Some of the heart ornaments were imprinted with crocheted doilies. Anything that you can push into the clay can be great!
Imagine an ornament with tire tracks, or botanical branches… So many possibilities! Maybe foot or hand prints! To finish off I used some lace ribbon and a bead to make hangers. I have a few hundred pounds of beads but simple pony beads would work.
I love white on white! Simple and textural. So quick and inexpensive! This would be great for a classroom craft!
Once I hung them I realized that the thinner ones allowed some light to filter through. Ooooh, more ideas!!! In my frenzy I dropped a couple on the tiles and they did not break! Woohoo, I’m impressed even more. Move over ‘playdough’!
You know I like simple colour for Christmas… and this makes me smile. ‘And so do the little puppies.
Grab the little kiddo’s and make some fun crafts with them. Trust me, they will remember and that feeling of accomplishment is like no other.
‘Wishing all of you the warmest holiday greetings & thanks for being here.
Thank you for sharing.
This is an inexpensive way to decorate…..I am already thinking of Easter….
The photos make me think you had a super time, and little mess, with your grandson.
Have a wonderful relaxing and healthy Christmas.
Stay safe in 22
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Beautiful ornaments, Barb. And what a sweet little grandson! You are so blessed! Glad you are teaching him crafting😊. Happy holidays and stay safe.
Barb, thanks for sharing this simple recipe. You’ve got the gears turning in my head now. I wonder how this recipe would work in molds & how long the clay can be stored in an air tight bag. I’ll have to experiment.
Merry Christmas!
You are like me… I grabbed my silicone molds and tried them and it wasn’t too bad, but not as crisp as the concrete. It held in plastic for as long as I had it until all gone. The only thing that may be an issue is drying them quickly. Experimenting is the best! I only made the one recipe and have tons of ornaments to attach to gifts.
Wonderful project!
Can you provide an estimate of how many ornaments one batch will make – assuming similar size cookie cutters and thinness as your were? Just trying to get an idea.
Also, if one were to add food coloring – when would you recommend it be added?
Thank you in advance.
I think I got about 40, but now I know some could have been thinner. I did only one recipe. I bet the easiest would be to add the colour to the mix once the water is incorporated. If you add later at dough stage it may be more like a marbling which could also be cool!
Thanks! 40 is a lot! Also, was thinking the same about the food coloring. I’ll try both ways.
Cheryl
Love this. Thanks for sharing the recipe. I will def have to try this. The ornaments look beautiful with the lights shining behind them!
This is wonderful! What a great thing to try with the kids when they come to visit. I may have to try some out and see of they can be painted, and with what. I am sure they will want to color them.
I made some of these with my family last year and we painted them with watercolour paints and they turned out beautifully.
They feel like they would be really easy to paint as they have a nice matt finish. I bet they are quite absorbent. Have fun!
Do you need to seal them with polyurethane spray when dried?
I don’t think mine will come in contact with water so I did not. If so, then sealing them will help, but I like to use it in liquid form.
wow Barb I made these many years ago but what I did to dry was set the oven on 200 turn the heat off place the ornaments on a cookie sheet put on the top shelf close the oven door and go to be bed in the morning they are nicely dried
Awesome! Thanks! I will be making more use of this recipe!
I love the ornaments, especially the dog ornaments. I have two Westies and would love to know where you found the dog rolling pin! I am going to make some for my Westie groupl
Well, that rolling pin was brought from Denmark by my daughter. But they are not that hard to find; look here and there’s many options Enjoy!
Had almost given up after trying all sorts of recipes for porcelain clay with less than spectacular results. This one is perfect! Thanks so much for sharing.
Great! Yes, I was pleasantly surprised as well!