About a month ago I’ve asked on my Instagram stories what animals you’d like to see as Christmas ornaments. The most votes were for a polar bear, fox, deer and a raccoon.

To make these clay animals firstly I had to play with mud as I like to call it:). For me building something out of clay, especially animal figurines has a therapeutic effect. I can put on some good audiobook or watch a episode or two of my favorite Tv show while I’m working. I watched Sandman while doing these stoneware ornaments.

It took me about two working days to make enough animal ornaments to put in my Etsy shop. Usually on the first day I play around more and try to discover the clay shapes that I like. The second day everything goes faster as I already know what I’m doing.

Clay Christmas ornaments before the first fire, polar bear, deer, fox, raccoon — The first few ornaments

After I’m done I put everything on a shelf and forget about them for a week to 10 days. Then it’s time for underglaze coloring. You can do that after the first firing, right before putting on the glaze but that way you won’t be able to fix any potential mistakes.

Cat heads ceramic clay ornaments in kawaii style putting on the colors. — I’ve made some cat heads as well

animal ornaments made out of clay with engobe

A day later I put them in the pottery kiln for the first firing. Then it’s time for putting on the glaze. You can put it with a brush or dip them in the glaze. I’ve combined both methods for this batch.

Once dry the Christmas ornaments are ready for the second and final firing.

Christmas ornaments clay ceramic raccoons in the kiln after glazing — Raccoon ceramic ornaments in the kiln after glazing

Cat head, raccoon, fox, deer, polar bear Christmas ceramic ornaments

If you’d like more details on how I did it, you can watch my YouTube video

how i make ceramic animal ornaments

how to build a rack for glazing ceramics