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Handmade gifts feel special, and clay name ornament and Christmas gift tags make it easy to personalize every present under your tree, and perhaps also the tree itself. Air dry clay rolls smooth, stamps clean and dries into sturdy tags that look boutique. You can paint them or keep them minimalist white. Add twine and a tiny bell for a cheerful finish. The process is simple, relaxing and kid-friendly. Make a batch in one sitting, then let them dry while you wrap and sip a festive cocoa.
DIY personalized ornaments are fun to make and just look how cute these are. You don’t need many materials to make them and they’re ideal for gifting too.
More fun craft projects include birdseed ornaments, pom pom bookmarks, citrus shower steamers, bath bombs and a succulent table centerpiece.
Why You’ll Love It
Easy: There’s nothing tricky about making air dry clay Christmas tree ornaments and you might want to make this a family activity. The kids will love making DIY stamped clay ornaments too and can choose their own cookie cutter shape.
Customizable: You can add any flourishes and decorations you want to these, such as paint, glitter, ribbons, a cinnamon stick, faux berries, or anything else you want on your air dry clay ornaments.
Cute: A regular gift tag will work on a Christmas gift, but why not make your gifts extra special this year with these gorgeous air dry clay decorations? Everybody will love the special touch!
Clay Gift Tag Ornament Materials
A complete list of materials and amounts can be found in the tutorial card below.
Air dry clay: Rolls into smooth slabs for clean edges, takes stamp impressions clearly and dries sturdy for tags and ornaments (here).
Butter knife: Cuts straight lines for classic rectangles, tidies corners and lifts pieces from the work surface.
Alphabet stamps: Press crisp names or short messages so each tag is personalized and easy to read (here).
Acrylic paint: Adds color blocking, borders or full coverage once the clay hardens. You don’t have to paint the tags unless you want to.
Cotton twine: Threads through the hole to turn a tag into an ornament, also ties neatly onto gift bags and boxes (here).
Small brass bells: Bring a cheerful jingle and a polished look near the knot (here).
Clear tacky glue: Secures the twine knot against the back so it stays put and hides cleanly (here).
How to Make Air Dry Clay Christmas Tree Decorations
For more detailed instructions, jump to the printable instructions card.
Cut out the clay shapes: Roll out the air dry clay with a rolling pin to about 1/4-inch thickness and use butter knife to cut rectangles (or whatever shape you like) in your preferred size.
Smooth any rough edges: Wet a fingertip and smooth out any rough parts or bumps and then let the water dry on the clay surface for 20 minutes or so.
Add the names: Use alphabet stamps (here) to stamp a name into each air dry clay ornament.
Let them dry completely: Poke a hole through the ornament on the opposite side of where you put the name and then let the Christmas ornaments dry for about 24 hours on newspaper or wax paper.
Decorate the Christmas ornaments: Paint each ornament shape with acrylic paint if you like, or leave plain if not, and then thread a little bell on an 8-inch piece of cotton twine and pull it through the hole you made, gluing it in place.
The finishing touches: Add some ribbon so you can tie these dry clay Christmas ornaments on to gifts or hang them on the Christmas tree.
Substitutions and Variations
White clay: Use white air dry clay if you can find it, or another color if not. If you’re planning to paint them, it doesn’t matter much which color you have. I like this brand of air dry clay.
No stamps: Use a fine tip paint pen for names after drying.
Shape swap: Cut circles, gift tag angles or hearts using a cup rim or small cutter.
Gluten free clay: Mix a cornstarch and baking soda air dry clay, then follow the same steps.
Color play: Tint your clay with a little acrylic before rolling for soft marbling.
Metal moment: Swap twine for thin ribbon or metallic cord for extra shine.
How to Use Air Dry Clay Ornaments
As gift tags: These were created with gift tags in mind, since they make a cute replacement for traditional paper gift tags. You could also make some to gift as gifts rather than be the tag on a gift.
Hang on the tree: You could hang some on your Christmas tree.
More festive decorating ideas: If you want to try making your own Christmas garlands too, you might like orange Christmas garlands or this one with felt Christmas trees. Another idea is making your own Christmas cookie boxes.
How to Store Air Dry Clay Decorations
Store: Stash these away safely so you can reuse them the following year. I like to put a little bubble wrap around each one then keep them in a box with other salt dough ornaments and the other Christmas decorations.
Top Tips
Even thickness: Use two equal pencils as guides so every tag dries flat.
Clean stamps: Wipe stamps between impressions for sharp letters.
Tidy holes: Twist gently as you open the hole so twine slides smoothly.
Gentle lift: Slide a knife under each tag before moving so edges stay crisp.
Air Dry Clay Name Tag FAQs
You can use a knife or even a pizza wheel to cut out the clay tags. As they’re homemade ornaments, you shouldn’t be too concerned with making perfect rectangles. A little rustic tends to be even cuter. You might even want to use cookie cutters if you want to make different shapes, such as leaves, Christmas trees or anything else with a festive theme.
Excess clay will just dry out so it’s best to use all the clay at once. You can work on more Christmas crafts or double up on names in case one gets broken or you’re giving someone more than one gift, or make a different Christmas ornament with the remaining clay.
Air Dry Clay Ornament Instructions
Clay Name Ornament and Christmas Gift Tags
Equipment
- Alphabet Stamps
- Tacky Glue
Supplies
- air dry clay
- acrylic paint, optional
- brass bells, small
Instructions
- Roll out a handful of the air dry clay ¼-inch thick.
- Use a butter knife to cut rectangular shapes into the clay (you can do small or large rectangles depending on what kind of ornament you want).
- Using a small amount of water on your finger, smooth out any imperfections in the clay. This is also the time to make any changes in the shape of the ornament before it begins the drying process.
- Wait about 20 minutes for the water to dry on the surface of the clay.
- Towards one side of the rectangle, use the alphabet stamps to gently stamp a name into the clay.
- Poke a hole with a straw on the opposite end of the rectangle. This will be to secure the twine when it is dry.
- Let the ornament dry for 24 hours, or until the clay has hardened and turned white.
- You can leave the ornament white, or paint it with any color acrylic paint to add color.
- Cut an 8-inch piece of cotton twine. Slide the bell onto the twine, then pull the tied twine through the hole in the ornament. Pull the twine through itself to secure it to the ornament, and make sure the knot ends up touching the clay on the back side. Glue the knot in the twine to the back of the ornament to hold the twine in place and hide the knot when it is hanging.
- To use this ornament as a gift tag, use a few inches of ribbon or cotton twine to tie the tag onto your gift bag handles or a gift box.
Notes
Clean stamps: Wipe stamps between impressions for sharp letters.
Tidy holes: Twist gently as you open the hole so twine slides smoothly.
Gentle lift: Slide a knife under each tag before moving so edges stay crisp.
Small touches make gifts memorable, and clay personalized ornaments are the kind that get kept. Roll, cut and stamp a stack, then add twine and a bell for a charming finish. You can paint them bright or keep them clean and white. The method scales for parties or quiet evenings too. In a single session, clay name ornament and Christmas gift tags bring handmade warmth to every package and tree branch.
Other Crafts to Try
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
