Christmas Ornaments

So school was a bit hectic before the break, and I figured I'd try to catch up before school starts again.  For most of the last week of school my class made some clay Christmas ornaments, kind of just to get into the spirit of Christmas. 

I found this really cool design on Pinterest!  My tree is mostly blue and silver so I figured Id make my mom an ornament as a little stocking stuffer since I was basically broke after all my other gifts.

 

I started by finding a star shape online that I liked, and printing it up.  I then ran a dull blade over the paper, over a sheet of clay in order to get the star shape I wanted. 

Next, I found a tool a little bigger than the sides of the star so I could make straight and even cuts, I then began to carve.

I carved the star fairly deep because it was coming out pretty messy to start, and I wanted lots of room to sand it down.

After it dried, I sanded it, this was probably the most exhausting and boring part, but the results defiantly paid off. It was kiln time.

The star successfully survived the kiln, then it was time for the fun part; painting it.  Now unfortunately I was in a rush and I totally forgot to take a picture!  I have a picture of the finished results, but I wish I'd remembered to take one of the first paint job.

I picked out two colors one was more aqua, which I wanted to make my accents, and the other was a dark blue, which I wanted to make my main color.  I first painted thick in the carvings with the aqua color, and a little outside the carvings.  Next, I ran a wide paint brush over the star in one direction, trying to leave some of the aqua carvings exposed. 

We threw them in the kiln, and it was literally ready 10 minutes before I left for the Christmas break on Friday!  My mom loved it!  :)