How to Christmas Crafts for Kids: Shooting Star Tree Ornament

A Shooting Star Ornament is an simple and fun Christmas craft for kids. There are several materials that can be used to create the main star, but for a durable ornament that can be used for years to come, polymer clay is probably the best solution. Using this oven-bake clay makes this craft better for older children (8+), as you will probably need to assist your children with baking. You may also want to help with some of the preparations, such as cutting the wire into equal lengths.

For each ornament, you will need a 2 oz block of polymer clay, 4-6 equal lengths (2-3 inches) of thin but sturdy wire, a jump ring, and an ornament hook. If you do not use a yellow or a metallic or pearlescent clay, you may want a metallic craft paint to paint on the stars once they have been baked. Glitter glue, tinsel or metallic ribbons may also be used.

Have you child begin by making a 5-pointed star shape out of half the clay block. A good size is 2-3 inches across. It should be at least ¼ inch thick. With a single point at the top, the wire pieces should be inserted (approximately ½ inch deep) onto one side of the star, evenly spaced, between 2 star points. To ensure they will stay in place after baking, additional clay can be pressed into place around the wires with a toothpick. If the wires come out after baking, they can easily be glued back into place. Optionally, the wires (or toothpick) can just be used to make holes and be glued in after baking. If this method is used, tinsel or ribbon can also be glued into the holes.

Now your child should create very small stars to put on the other ends of each of the wires. These should then be affixed onto the wires. The jump ring should be placed into the clay, in the junction between the top point and the one above the wires. Alternatively, the ring can go in the top point, so that the star appears to shoot straight up instead of sideways.

Bake the ornament according to package directions. The stars can now be decorated with metallic paints and/or adorned with glitter glue, tinsel and ribbons. Any of the optional ornamental elements can also be painted or wrapped around each of the wires. The hook goes through the jump ring.