Clay Ornaments with Napkin Decoupage

Today I’m sharing an easy DIY clay ornament Christmas craft that feels homemade without requiring too many crafting skills. The best part is, you can do it with your kids.

These little ornaments are made with oven-bake clay and pretty paper napkins, so you can customize them to match your Christmas tree, your gift wrapping, or whatever color scheme you want.

Let’s jump right in.

Materials Needed for DIY Clay Ornaments

This post contains Amazon Affiliate Links. I may earn a commission from sales made. Thank you.

You only need a handful of supplies to make these napkin decoupage ornaments:

Oven-bake polymer clay (white)
Decorative paper napkins
Decoupage glue or Mod Podge
Small paintbrush or foam brush
Rolling pin or smooth glass
Christmas cookie cutters
Parchment paper
Scissors or a craft knife
Straw
Ribbon or twine
Optional gold acrylic paint

NOTE: When choosing your clay, I recommend using a light-colored polymer clay, especially white or cream, if you’re going to use colorful napkins. Napkin paper is very thin, so darker clay can show through and make your pretty design look a little muddy. White clay gives you a nice blank canvas and helps the colors stay bright.

How to Make Clay Ornaments

1. Roll Out the Clay

Start by conditioning your polymer clay according to the package directions. Basically, you want it soft and workable before you start rolling. You do this by rolling and squeezing the clay to warm it up and make it more pliable.

Next, roll the clay out onto a clean surface until it’s about ⅛ to ¼ inch thick. You don’t want the ornaments too thin because they can be fragile, but you also don’t need them super thick.

2. Cut Out Your Shapes

Use your cookie cutters to cut out your ornament shapes. Mittens, stockings, trees, and simple round ornaments all work really well.

3. Make the Hole for Your Ribbon

Once you have your shapes cut out, don’t forget the most important part: make a hole for the ribbon before baking! I like using a straw to make a clean hole near the top.

4. Bake the Ornaments

Place your clay ornaments on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake them according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

This part is important because polymer clay brands have different baking temperatures and times, so check the package rather than guessing.

Let the ornaments cool completely before moving on to the decoupage.

5. Prepare Your Napkin

Next, prep your napkin for decoupage. Most decorative napkins have multiple layers of paper. You only want the thin, printed top layer.

Very gently separate the layers. It can take a little patience because that top layer is really thin.

Once you have the printed layer, cut out pieces that are slightly larger than your clay ornaments (you can trim the edges later).

6. Decoupage the Napkin Onto the Clay

Brush a thin layer of decoupage glue (or Mod Podge) onto the front of your completely cooled clay ornament.

Carefully place the napkin on top. Start in the center and gently smooth the napkin toward the edges to remove wrinkles and air bubbles.

Napkin paper tears easily, especially once it gets wet with glue, so try not to fuss with it too much. And don’t worry if it’s not absolutely perfect. A little texture actually adds to the handmade look.

6. Let It Dry

Set your ornaments aside and let the decoupage medium dry completely. Resist the urge to pick them up every five minutes to see if they’re ready. Ask me how I know.

Once they’re dry, carefully trim any excess napkin around the edges. Small scissors work well, or you can carefully use a sharp craft knife if you prefer.

7. Seal Your Clay Ornaments

For a little extra durability, brush a thin coat of decoupage medium over the top of the napkin. Let it dry completely before adding another coat.

You can also use a compatible clear, water-based sealer if you want a more finished look. Just make sure whatever sealer you use is compatible with your clay and other materials.

Note: We used the Mod Podge as our sealant. It gave it a textured, almost rustic look that I liked. However, I think a spray sealant would have made the finished product smoother.

8. Paint the edges with gold acrylic paint

Once your sealant is dry, you can continue to the finishing steps. To give your clay ornament an extra nice detail, paint the edges with some gold acrylic paint.

8. Add the Twine or Ribbon

Finally, thread a pretty ribbon or piece of twine through the hole for the finished look.

And that’s it! You now have your own handmade clay ornaments ready to give as gifts or to hang on your Christmas tree.

Tips for Making Napkin Decoupage Clay Ornaments

Use white or cream colored clay. This is probably my biggest tip. Because the napkin is so thin, a light background will help your design look much brighter.
Don’t use too much glue. A thin layer is plenty. Too much glue can make the napkin overly wet and more likely to wrinkle or tear.
Handle the napkin gently. Once the napkin is wet with glue, it becomes surprisingly delicate. Try to smooth it once and then leave it alone.
Make extras. Seriously. If you’re already making a batch, make a bunch.

These DIY clay ornaments are perfect little handmade gifts, and you’ll probably find yourself wanting to try different napkin designs once you see how easy they are.

Clay Ornament Ideas

Once you’ve made the basic version, there are so many ways you can change them up.

Try:

Vintage Christmas napkins
Botanical or floral napkins
Plaid or gingham
Snowflakes and winter scenes
Toile patterns
Neutral Scandinavian-inspired prints
Personalized names or initials
Gold or silver painted edges
Different shapes for each person in the family

You could even make a set of coordinating ornaments using several napkin designs from the same collection.

A Sweet Handmade Christmas Ornament

There’s just something about homemade Christmas decorations that makes a tree feel a little more personal.

These clay ornaments are inexpensive, easy to customize, and don’t require a giant pile of craft supplies. Plus, they’re the kind of project you can make with your kids in an afternoon while listening to Christmas music and nibbling on a few Christmas treats. Which, honestly, is the best kind of Christmas craft.

So grab some polymer clay and those pretty napkins you’ve been saving, and make yourself a batch of these simple DIY clay ornaments.

More Hand-Made Gift Ideas

DIY Oven-Bake Clay Ornaments FAQ

Can you do the napkin decoupage before you bake the clay?

No. For this project, bake the polymer clay first and add the napkin and decoupage medium after the ornament has completely cooled. Napkins and decoupage glue should not be put in the oven.

What kind of clay is best for clay ornaments?

Oven-bake polymer clay is a great choice because it can be shaped easily and hardened in a home oven. Follow the specific baking instructions for the brand you use.

Do I have to use a Christmas napkin?

Not at all! Floral, botanical, vintage, plaid, toile, and other decorative napkins can all make beautiful clay ornaments.

How do I keep the napkin from tearing?

Use only the printed top layer of the napkin, apply a thin layer of decoupage medium, and smooth the paper very gently. Once the napkin is wet, avoid repeatedly moving or rubbing it.

Can I personalize these clay ornaments?

Absolutely. You can add names, initials, dates, painted details, or other embellishments to make them into personalized Christmas keepsakes.

Easy DIY Clay Ornaments with Napkin Decoupage