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How to Make Fall Ornaments from Clay

I’m excited to share my first fall project of the season with you, how to make fall ornaments from clay.

Leaf shaped ornaments made from clay

Did it feel like fall over the weekend where you live?  It did here in Virginia.  Yesterday the skies were clear, the sun was warm, and the air was chilly.  It was the perfect day to be outside. 

Now that it is feeling like fall and the calendar is approaching the actual first day of it, I’ve been motivated to do some fall crafting and decorating.

I crafted fall ornaments from clay, stained them, and then hung them from branches anchored in a silver ice bucket. I love how this looks in my living room for fall!

Fall Ornaments from Clay hanging on a tree branches in a silver ice bucket

The fall ornaments that I made

Before I share how I completed this project, let’s take a closer look at some of the ornaments that I created.

fall clay ornaments

I used a toothpick to make designs on each clay ornament.

Maple fall clay ornament
Maple leaf ornament made from clay
fall clay ornaments

fall clay ornaments
fall clay ornaments

Do you want to know a secret?  I actually made this project in early August before school started and have been enjoying it ever since!

Fall Ornaments from Clay hanging on a tree branches in a silver ice bucket

How to Make Fall Ornaments from Clay

Materials

Supplies to Make Fall Clay Ornaments

Directions

1.  Roll a manageable amount of Sculpey into a ball, flatten it with your hand, and then roll it approximately 1/4” thick with a rolling pin.

Sculpey clay rolled out

2.  Use fall-themed cookie cutters to cut out ornaments from the Sculpey clay.

Leaves cut out of Sculpey clay with a cookie cutter

3.  Use a toothpick to make a hole in the top of each ornament for hanging.

Acorn shaped clay ornament

4.  Use a toothpick to draw veins on leaves and a cap on acorns.  Bake ornaments according to package directions and let cool.

Fall leaf and acorn ornaments

5.  Apply shoe polish, wood stain, or dark wax to each ornament and let dry.  After the ornaments are dry, add a hanger and use for a fall decoration.

I had fun experimenting with staining these DIY clay ornaments using various products that I had in my workshop. 

My two favorite looks were achieved with American Decor Cream Wax in dark and with Kiwi brown shoe polish.

I love how this cream way brings out the detail in the design and gives the design a tan color.

Fall Ornaments made from clay stained with dark wax

The Kiwi Brown shoe color gave the ornaments a beautiful brown color.

Fall Ornaments made from clay stained with brown shoe polish

The Early American stain color worked but wasn’t as dark as I would have preferred.

Minwax Early American Stain and fall ornaments made from clay

Same for the Golden Oak.

Fall Ornaments made from clay stained with Minwax Golden Oak

Redwood worked but I would have liked the color to be more intense.

Fall Ornaments made from clay stained with redwood

Colonial Maple worked very well.

Fall Ornaments made from clay stained with General Finishes Colonial Maple

Final Look

I love how this project turned out and it’s one that I can enjoy for years to come when I decorate my home for fall.

Pin It!

If you like this idea, please pin it to remember for later and to help others discover it on Pinterest.

Leaf shaped ornaments made from clay

28 Comments

  1. LOVE this Paula! Very unique and creative! I love how each one has it’s own look and detail.
    Thanks so much for inspiring me. I am excited to make my own as gifts at Thanksgiving.
    xoxoxo

  2. I like making clay ornaments for Christmas and now I’m inspired to make them for fall too!
    Thank you for sharing this project at Create, Bake, Grow & Gather this week Paula. I’m delighted to be featuring it at Friday’s party and pinning too.

  3. I like making clay ornaments for Christmas and now I’m inspired to make them for fall too!
    Thank you for sharing this project at Create, Bake, Grow & Gather this week Paula. I’m delighted to be featuring it at Friday’s party and pinning too.
    Hugs,
    Kerryanne

  4. Will need to go dig out all my clay tools, etc.Packed away while ago in a massive craft room purging. Had way too much “stuff” in room not used for long time. Now where did I put all that stuff? Bad thing about purging,have to recall where it all went, duh! Maybe in the old non- running Suburban that is used for storing seasonal clothing out in our lower yard, we have 1/2 acre in rural area few miles west of GrandJunction, CO.. We used to live few miles north of Bowling Green, KY before 2004.
    Love your ornaments and love making things like that for seasonal decorating. Just been way too long since I have attempted to make things like that. Need to get with it, used too make clay items often before purging. Time to get back to working with clay. Am, sure what I had is hard as brick after storing in Suburban all this time. Time for trip to craft store.
    Great tutorial.

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