If your kids love slime, why not celebrate the season with this DIY slime ornament? The inspiration for our kid-made ornament is two-fold. First, we’ve made a LOT of slime recipes this Christmas, so to top off our Christmas slime recipes, I thought I’d made a slime-themed ornament with my preschooler, Bo.

Secondly, Bo loves the “That’s not my” books, and this Christmas, we found the book “That’s Not My Snowman” which is the second inspiration for this DIY slime ornament.

Slime lover? Make this super fun DIY slime ornament to show the world how much you love slime! This kid-made ornament is fun for all ages!

The ornament is a snowman, sitting in a puddle of slime, and playing with some slime in her hands.

And you can use this as one of your Christmas tree STEM activities this year, too!

Easy Snowman DIY Slime Ornament to Make with Kids

You can also make this snowman slime ornament when you’re doing Christmas tree STEM activities.

This project was inspired by the book, That’s Not My Snowman, which is one of our favorite winter books.

My daughter loves touch and feel books (even at 5!), and we have quite a few of the “that’s not my” books.

Why Do Preschoolers Love Slime?

Slime has become a big part of our lives this year. We made slime at least two times a week. Bo cannot get enough of slime.

She’s a sensory seeker, and absolutely loves the feel of slime between her fingers.

Bo isn’t as into stretching the slime as she is into squeezing it and squishing it, but there’s no wrong way to play with slime!

When this tutorial was first published, Bo was 4 years old. Now, Bo is 11 years old and is *still* obsessed with slime! She even started a slime making business at her school.

Books about Christmas Trees

These science books about evergreen trees will be a good addition to any Christmas tree STEM project!

It is a low-cost activity that kids of all ages love.

It was fitting that the ornament we made this year was a snowman DIY slime ornament.

What do I need to make a slime Christmas ornament?

Here is what you need to make any slime ornaments out of clay, including our snowman DIY slime ornament.

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This snowman ornament is made from polymer clay.

Clay is easy for kids to manipulate, so it is the perfect canvas for a slime christmas ornament.

You will also need:

Polymer clay
Permanent marker
Super glue
Clear varnish
Paint brush
String
Sticks

Hands-On STEM Resources about Trees

Here are some hands-on STEM resources about trees that can be used alongside this Christmas tree STEM activity.

How to Make A DIY Slime Ornament from Polymer Clay

Read on to learn how to make your very own DIY slime ornament with your kiddos!

Making this slime ornament is super simple, which makes it perfect to do with kids.

First, you’ll want to make the body of the snowman. We used a stick to hold the body pieces and the hat of the snowman together. We stuck two sticks into the body for arms.

The sticks can be baked and it won’t cause any problems because you’ll be using a low-temp oven.

The slime splat we made from red, but you can choose whatever color you want. We also rolled a snake shape and draped it over the snowman’s arms to represent playing with slime.

Bake the slime pieces (and an orange nose) at 250 degrees Fahrenheit for about 20 minutes.

We baked our snowman piece for about 2 hours at the same temperature. Let cool.

Once the snowman is cool, attach all parts with glue and draw on a face with permanent markers.

Use clear varnish to paint over the slime pieces to make them look more slime-like. Let dry, attach the hanger, and your DIY slime ornament is done!

Slime Christmas Ornament Science

The science behind slime making involves chemical reactions and polymer chains. Here’s how it all works:

PVA glue, contains long chains of molecules called polymers. These polymer chains are like long strings of beads, with each bead representing a molecule of PVA.

When an activator is added to the glue, it interacts with the polymer chains.

For example, when borax solution is added, it forms cross-links between the polymer chains. These cross-links create a network that traps the liquid, turning it into a semi-solid substance.

The resulting substance exhibits a property called viscoelasticity, which means it has both liquid-like and solid-like characteristics. It can flow like a liquid, but it can also stretch and hold its shape like a solid.

Other Clay Ornament Ideas

You can make almost any holiday character out of clay and have them hold slime! Here are some other slime Christmas ornament themes to try:

Santa Claus: Sculpt a miniature Santa Claus figurine complete with his red suit, white beard, and hat. You can add details like a sack of gifts or a tiny sleigh.

Gingerbread Cookies: Make gingerbread man or gingerbread house ornaments. Decorate them with “icing” details using clay in different colors.

Candy Canes: Craft miniature candy cane ornaments with red and white striped clay. You can even add a ribbon for hanging.

Christmas Trees: Create small Christmas tree ornaments with green clay. Add tiny ornaments, tinsel, and a star or angel on top.

Snowflakes: Form intricate snowflake ornaments by cutting out delicate shapes from a sheet of rolled-out clay. You can use different shapes and sizes for variety.

Reindeer: Sculpt reindeer ornaments with brown clay. Add antlers, eyes, and a red nose for Rudolph.

Stockings: Craft miniature stockings with various colors of clay. You can personalize them by adding names or decorations.

Bells: Sculpt tiny bell ornaments with gold or silver clay. You can make them as simple or intricate as you like.

Peppermint Swirls: Make peppermint swirl ornaments with red and white clay, similar to the design of peppermint candies.

How to Work with Polymer Clay

Here are the basic steps and tips for working with polymer clay:

What do I need to make polymer clay ornaments?

Polymer clay in your chosen colors
Rolling pin
Clay sculpting tools
Baking sheet or tray
Parchment paper or a silicone baking mat
Oven for baking (follow the manufacturer’s temperature and time instructions)
Optional: Sandpaper, acrylic paints, brushes, glaze, varnish

Tips and Tricks for Making Polymer Clay Ornaments

Here are some tips and tricks for working with polymer clay!

Condition the Clay

Polymer clay can be a bit stiff, so you’ll need to knead and warm it up before using it. Roll it between your hands or use a roller until it’s soft and pliable.

Roll Out the Clay:

Place the conditioned clay on your work surface and roll it out to your desired thickness using a rolling pin or acrylic roller. Guidelines are often marked on the roller to help you achieve an even thickness.

Cut and Shape:

Use a craft knife or clay blade to cut out your desired shapes or pieces. You can also use clay sculpting tools to add texture or details.

Assemble and Sculpt

If you’re making complex shapes or sculptures, you can assemble and sculpt the pieces together. Polymer clay sticks to itself, so it’s easy to attach parts by pressing them together gently.

Slime Christmas Ornaments STEM Extensions

Creating polymer clay Christmas ornaments is a creative and engaging STEM activity that combines science, art, and engineering.

Here are s few STEM extension ideas that you can use when making a polymer clay snowman ornament with your class.

Conductivity

Embed small LED lights and conductive materials into the polymer clay ornaments.

Teach students about basic circuits, conductors, and insulators.

They can design ornaments that light up when connected to a battery source, exploring electrical engineering principles.

Geometry

Discuss concepts of symmetry, tessellation, and pattern repetition.

Use this opportunity to teach them about math in art and architecture.

Color Theory

Discuss the primary colors and how mixing them creates secondary colors.

Allow students to experiment with mixing and blending clay to create custom colors to explore color theory.

Structural Stability

Explore engineering principles by discussing how to make ornaments structurally stable.

Students can learn about the importance of balance and weight distribution in their designs. Challenge them to create unique and stable ornament shapes.

Polymer Chemistry

Explain the molecular structure of polymer chains and how heat and pressure cause polymerization.

Discuss the differences between polymer clay and other types of polymer materials, such as plastics.

These STEM extension ideas provide valuable insights into various STEM concepts, fostering a deeper understanding of the scientific and engineering principles involved in art and design.