It wasn’t until becoming a stay-at-home mom that Emily fully embraced her passion for painting. Inspired by her children’s imaginations and the vibrant beauty of nature, she began creating colorful abstract works. Her signature "confetti style" art features bold colors and dynamic shapes, celebrating joy and the whimsy of everyday life. Each piece invites the viewer to explore their imagination and embrace the beauty in simplicity.
Her work is a joyful celebration of life, love, and the everyday beauty that surrounds us.
Valentine Heart Clay Ornaments: A Fun and Festive Craft to Celebrate Love
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, there’s no better time to get creative and make something fun and festive! Today on the blog, we’re crafting slab-rolled Valentine Heart ornaments—simple, colorful decorations that will bring joy to any space. These hearts are inspired by the playful, bold style of Emily Nichols, an abstract artist known for her vibrant colors and joyful designs. Let’s dive into this creative project!
Roll Out the Clay:
Begin by rolling out your clay into a slab that’s about the thickness of a cookie. We love using a tabletop slab roller to ensure it’s evenly rolled. The texture of the clay is the perfect canvas for vibrant, fun designs.
Cut Out Heart Shapes:
Next, use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out your heart ornaments. You can create large hearts, small hearts, or a mix of both—let your imagination run wild! Smooth out the edges with your fingers or a damp sponge for a polished finish.
Add a Hole for Hanging:
To turn your hearts into ornaments, use a skewer or a straw to poke a small hole at the top of each heart. This is where you’ll later thread a ribbon or twine for hanging. For a smoother finish, I prefer to drill the hole once the clay is leather-hard—this gives you a nice, clean hole for your ribbon. Let the hearts dry until leather-hard before firing them for the first time (a bisque firing).
Make Them Unique:
Now comes the fun part—let your creativity shine! Use glazes to paint your hearts in the vibrant, playful style of Emily Nichols. Think bold, joyful colors and whimsical patterns that celebrate love and life. You can use contrasting colors, playful shapes, or even add fun details like polka dots or stripes—just like Emily’s signature “confetti style.”
Glaze Fire the Clay:
Once your hearts are painted, it’s time for a glaze firing. This process usually takes about 24 hours, and the glaze will bring out the brilliance of your designs, making each heart as unique as the love you’re celebrating.
Add Ribbon or Twine:
When your hearts are all glazed and fired, take them out of the kiln and add a ribbon or twine through the hole. Now your Valentine’s hearts are ready to hang! They make beautiful additions to a Valentine’s tree, a festive garland, or as a sweet decoration anywhere you like.
Creating these heart ornaments is an absolute blast—each one will have its own special touch, and no two will ever be the same. They’re bright, cheerful, and perfect for spreading love this season. Plus, they make wonderful gifts for friends, family, or anyone who could use a little extra joy.
We can’t wait to see how your Valentine’s hearts turn out. Share your designs with us—we’d love to see the love you create!
Happy New Year and get Artin' for Valentines!
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