Holiday Gift to Make Your Grandparent: Polymer Clay Scroll Ornament

Except for the very basics of the design, this holiday ornament can be completely customized to fit your grandparent. You can use his or her favorite color for the edging, and choose something meaningful to the both of you for the printed area.

Materials You will need white polymer clay, red, blue, green or purple polymer clay, a sheet of white paper for printing, white craft glue, a mat, a rolling pin, and decorative string for hanging the ornament. Optional: Glitter, acrylic spray sealer

Printing Use your computer to type up and print out the first stanza of your grandparent's favorite holiday poem, or the lyrics or the music to the first verse of their favorite Christmas carol or other holiday song. If you prefer, you may use a proverb, a scriptural quote your grandparent likes, a wise phrase your grandparent frequently uses, or some other message that is special to your grandparent. You could even use a photograph, as long as it will glue in place. Whatever you choose to print, it should be sized so that the poem or song can be cut down to a 2" x 4" strip of paper.

Making Roll out a block of white polymer clay into a rectangle 1.5" x 8" by 1/8". Roll a piece of the colored clay into a strip ½" x 8" x 1/8". Cut the strip of colored clay in half lengthwise. Place one of the ¼" strips on either side of the white rectangle, overlapping slightly. If you have glitter, sprinkle it sparingly over the colored clay now. Roll over the rectangle gently with the pin until the white and colored clay combine. Take the top inch of the rectangle and roll it up toward you. Roll the bottom inch underneath the rectangle. If the rolls want to collapse, try chilling the clay for 30 minutes in the fridge before rolling.

Baking Bake the scroll on a sheet of aluminum foil according to the clay package directions. Allow the piece to cool completely.

Finishing Glue the printed paper to the front of the scroll. If you wish, use the acrylic spray sealer to give the piece a shiny finish and protect the printed sheet. You may instead coat the top of the printed area with a thin layer of the white glue, once the initial glue has dried. Tie the string into the top roll for hanging.