Christmas is a magical time of year filled with joy, love, and of course, decorations! Birds are a popular ornament decoration around the holidays because of their symbolism. Birds represent freedom, peace, and new beginnings – all appropriate themes for the holidays. Plus, there are so many different kinds of bird species that can inspire endless ornament designs.
Making your own bird ornament is a fun craft that allows you to add a personal touch to your Christmas tree. With just a few simple supplies, you can create a decorative masterpiece. In this comprehensive guide, we will walk through everything you need to know to make your own beautiful bird ornament from start to finish.
What You Need to Make a Bird Ornament
Making a bird ornament is an easy craft that requires minimal supplies. Here is what you will need:
| Item | Purpose |
| Air dry clay or polymer clay | Used to sculpt the bird shape |
| Acrylic paint | For painting details on the ornament |
| Feathers | To add feathered accents |
| Googly eyes | To add eyes to the bird |
| Glitter | For sparkly accents (optional) |
| Ribbon or string | To hang the ornament |
The specific supplies can vary depending on what type of bird you want to make and how detailed you want the ornament to be. But this covers the basics you need for most bird ornament projects.
Type of Clay
The main supply you need to decide on is what type of clay to use. Here are the pros and cons of the two most popular options:
Air Dry Clay
- Dries hard at room temperature
- Easy to work with
- Affordable and accessible
- Can crack over time
Polymer Clay
- Oven baked to harden
- Holds fine details well
- Does not shrink or crack
- More expensive
Air dry clay is a good choice for beginners and kids crafts since it is very forgiving. Polymer clay will produce more durable, detailed ornaments but requires baking to harden. Choose the option that best suits your skill level and budget.
Choosing a Bird Design
When making a Christmas bird ornament, you first need to decide what type of bird you want to depict. There are endless options to draw inspiration from! Here are some popular choices for bird ornament designs:
Cardinal
- Recognizable red color
- Represents happiness and cheer
- Cute crest headpiece shape
Dove
- Symbol of peace
- Simple elliptical body shape
- Easy to sculpt basic details
Owl
- Represents wisdom
- Large eyes fun to paint
- Can incorporate lots of textures in feathers
Hummingbird
- Vibrant, iridescent colors
- Cute long beak shape
- Tiny details challenge skills
Robin
- Red breast provides color contrast
- Classic Christmas bird
- Simple oval body easy to sculpt
The bird you choose may be based on meaning, color, ornament complexity, or purely aesthetics. Select a design that excites you and fits your skill level.
Sculpting the Basic Bird Shape
Once you know what kind of bird you want to make, it’s time to sculpt it! Here are some tips for sculpting a basic bird ornament shape out of clay:
1. Form an Egg Shape
– Roll clay into a ball, then elongate into an oval shape for the bird’s body
2. Define the Head
– Use your fingers or sculpting tools to taper the top for a pointed head shape
3. Add a Tail
– Roll a small piece of clay into a cone for the tail and attach to the back of the body
4. Create the Wings
– Roll oblong teardrop shapes and attach to each side of the body
5. Refine the Shape
– Look at photos of your specific bird and continue tweaking the shape
6. Add Legs
– Roll thin logs or teardrop shapes for legs and feet then attach under body
7. Consider a Base
– For stability, attach ornament bottom to a flat clay base before baking
Take your time perfecting the shape before moving onto detailing. Pay attention to proportions and angles of your specific bird reference.
Adding Color and Details
After the basic bird sculpture is complete, the fun part of bringing it to life really begins! Here are some tips for adding vivid details:
Painting
– Acrylic paints work best on clay ornaments
– Thin with a bit of water for smooth application
– Use very fine brushes for small details
– Allow to fully dry between coats
Eyes
– Glue or draw on googly eyes for whimsical style
– Paint or glue small beads for realistic eyes
Feathers
– Glue on real feathers for nature-inspired look
– Draw feather details with paint or marker
– Lightly score clay with sculpting tool to resemble ruffled feathers
Accents
– Add glitter or metallic details with paint pens
– Attach a festive bow or bells with jewelry wire
– Write year or name details with a fine paint pen
The finishing touches like feathers and accents will bring your bird to life! Have fun playing with colors, textures, and embellishments.
Finishing and Hanging
The final steps are to seal, protect, and hang your completed ornament creation. Follow these tips:
Sealing
– Spray with clear acrylic sealer to protect paint
– Brush on gloss varnish for shine and durability
Protecting
– Place ornament safely in egg carton while drying
– Store inside a box with padding when not on tree
Hanging
– Tie ribbon or string in a loop for hanging
– Add yarn tassels or jingle bells for fun
– Hot glue a small magnet on back to attach to fridge too
Displaying
– Showcase on the tree, packages, mantels, or tablescapes
– Group in a vignette with pinecones, mistletoe, candles etc.
– Give as gifts to share your handmade holiday spirit!
Tip and Tricks
Follow these extra tips and tricks to make your bird ornament experience even better:
– Work next to photo references of your bird to capture details accurately
– Begin with a simple design for your first few ornaments, then increase complexity over time
– Use aluminum foil balls stuffed inside the clay shape to save on clay usage
– Bake polymer clay ornaments on a baking sheet lined with foil or parchment paper
– Rotate the ornament and check progress frequently to ensure even baking
– Polymer clay can be reused. Knead together scraps to make a new color.
– Let kids make their own ornaments – use air dry clay and supervise baking
– Trace a basic bird shape onto paper, cut out, then use as a template for uniform sizes
– Make large batches of ornaments at once, then paint different designs on each
– Start working on Christmas crafts early – some projects take time to complete!
Troubleshooting
Sometimes issues pop up when crafting clay bird ornaments. Here are some common problems and solutions:
| Issue | Solution |
| Clay drying out while working | Knead in some water to rehydrate and soften |
| Ornament cracking | Avoid extremes of cold and heat. Store at consistent temperature. |
| Paint not sticking | Lightly sand clay first. Use ceramic paint formulated for clay. |
| Feathers or accents falling off | Secure with strong glue like E6000. Test strength before displaying. |
| Difficult sculpting details | Use metal sculpting tools to refine details and textures. |
| Bird shape looks uneven | Continue refining the shape. Add clay where needed for balance. |
Don’t get frustrated, every ornament making experience will teach you something new! Adjustment and problem-solving is part of the creative process.
Inspiration and Variations
While a classic bird shape makes a beautiful ornament, there are so many creative ways to customize your design:
– Use cookie cutters to cut uniform bird shapes quickly
– Create a flock by sculpting multiple birds and grouping together
– Use buttons, beads, seeds, nuts or other materials for textural accents
– Try making owls, swans, chickens, penguins or other species too
– Depict birds in motion – add movement with wings spread in flight
– Design a birdhouse ornament with a clay bird perched on top or peeking out
– Attach bird to accessories like wreaths, garlands, table trees, or swags
– Craft bird feet to make free-standing tabletop ornament figures
– Sculpt birds holding holiday items like sprigs of holly, candy canes, berries etc.
Let your creativity soar and find ways to make your bird uniquely you! The tradition of ornament making allows you to add your personal signature.
Conclusion
Making your own bird ornament for Christmas is such a rewarding craft. Your gorgeous handmade creation will hold special memories and become a family heirloom to cherish for holidays to come. We covered everything from choosing a design to troubleshooting tips so you can confidently create a dazzling bird that captures the Christmas spirit.
The magic of sculpting clay into a tiny, detailed bird is a wonderful artistic journey. Approach the process with patience and know that your skills will improve with each ornament you craft. Don’t worry about perfection. Embrace the wabi-sabi of handmade ornaments!
We hope this guide inspired you and provided all the information you need to start making your own beautiful bird ornaments this holiday season. So grab some clay, turn on your favorite carols, and let your inner artist soar!
