For several years, I've been meaning to make cookie ornaments for my Christmas tree. I've had the best intentions (and we all know where that road leads). I even went so far as to buy the air dry clay and a set of Wilton's small Cookie cutters, but time got away from me and when I was finally ready to knead, roll, and cut, I discovered the air dry clay had become a rock solid brick. Another excuse to procrastinate.
Three Christmases have passed without cookie ornaments for my tree.
So, yes, this blog post is a little off season. Am I spectacularly late for last Christmas or obnoxiously early for next? You can be the judge. But on my list of 2026 intentions was a set of cookie ornaments and as January comes to a close, I can happily report they are finished.
I picked up a fresh package of terra cotta air dry clay and after all of last year's Christmas decorations had been put away, I found myself sitting in my office conditioning clay. Thinking I may want to use the cookie cutters for their original purpose in the future, I covered the rolled clay with a piece of plastic wrap so that the cutters wouldn't come into contact with the clay. I cut two of each shape and then a few extra for good measure.
After letting them dry for a few days, I painted them with burnt sienna matte acrylic paint. Then I added the "royal icing" using dimensional paint. Unfortunately, the paint wasn't as puffy as I'd hoped -- it sort of collapsed as it dried. I decided to paint over it with glue and add glitter because glitter fixes everything. It also goes everywhere, so my final step was to spray them with a clear coat to limit future clean up.
And voila! Little gingerbread cookies for my Christmas tree! 2026 Janice gets a gold star! ⭐
