Turn an old paint tray into an adorable baking-themed Christmas ornament with air-dry clay, baker’s twine, and a miniature gingerbread man.
How to upcycle old paint trays into mini muffin tin Christmas ornaments
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If you’re anything like me, you probably have a few little paint trays covered in dried-up paint hiding somewhere in your craft supplies.
Instead of throwing them away, I decided to turn two of those well-used paint trays into adorable baking-themed Christmas ornaments. With a coat of dark metallic spray paint, the little wells look surprisingly similar to a miniature cupcake pan. Add a handmade gingerbread man, some red and white baker’s twine, and a tiny sprig of greenery, and suddenly that old craft supply is ready for the Christmas tree.
I especially love an upcycled ornament that celebrates crafting and Christmas baking. This one combines both—and uses supplies you may already have tucked away in your craft stash.
Video Tutorial: Mini Muffin Tin Christmas Ornaments
Watch this quick video to see how this craft came together:
Mini Muffin Tin Christmas Ornaments
Make a charming cupcake-pan Christmas ornament using an old paint tray, Dollar Tree air-dry clay, baker’s twine, and simple craft supplies.
Materials
- Small plastic paint tray
- Dark metallic spray paint
- Brown air-dry clay
- Small gingerbread man template or miniature cookie cutter
- Red and white baker’s twine
- Small faux pine or greenery sprig
- Red and white gingham ribbon, ¼-inch wide
Tools
- Rolling pin or another smooth cylindrical object
- Craft knife
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks
- Scissors
Instructions
- Watch the Video. Follow along with the video tutorial for a step-by-step walkthrough of how to turn an old paint tray into a baking-themed Christmas ornament.
- Paint the Paint Tray. Give the paint tray a light coat of dark metallic spray paint. I used dark bronze, but silver, pewter, or another metallic finish would also work. Set it aside to dry completely. Once painted, the little paint wells will look like a miniature cupcake pan.
- Roll Out the Air-Dry Clay. Roll a small amount of brown air-dry clay to approximately ⅛ inch thick. The brown clay already looks like gingerbread, so there is no need to paint it.
- Make the Gingerbread Person. Print a small gingerbread outline that fits inside the paint tray, or use a miniature cookie cutter. Place the paper template over the clay and trace firmly around the outline with the back of a craft knife or a pen to create an indentation.
- Cut Out the Gingerbread Shape. Remove the paper template and carefully cut along the transferred outline with a craft knife. Remove the excess clay, then use your fingers to gently smooth the rough edges. Set the gingerbread person aside and allow the clay to dry completely.
- Add the Baker’s Twine. Wrap red and white baker’s twine around the center of the paint tray three times. Tie the ends together in a small knot, then finish with a simple bow.
- Attach the Gingerbread and Greenery. Tuck the dried clay gingerbread person underneath the layers of baker’s twine and secure it with a small dab of hot glue on the back. Add a tiny faux pine sprig beside the gingerbread person for an extra festive touch.
- Add a Ribbon Hanger. Cut an 8-inch piece of ¼-inch red and white gingham ribbon. Bring the ends together to create a loop and secure them with hot glue. Glue the base of the ribbon loop to the top center of the back of the paint tray. Once the glue is dry, your upcycled gingerbread Christmas ornament is ready to hang.
Notes
If you don't have brown air dry clay, feel free to use white clay and paint it brown once dried.
The Finished Christmas Ornaments
What started as an old paint tray covered in dried-up paint is now an adorable miniature cupcake-pan Christmas ornament, complete with a handmade gingerbread cookie, festive baker’s twine, and a tiny pine sprig.
I love that you can still see the original paint-tray shape, but the metallic finish completely changes the look. Once all the baking-inspired embellishments are added, it really does resemble a tiny cupcake pan.
This ornament would be especially cute on a kitchen Christmas tree, a baking-themed tree, or tied onto a homemade cookie gift. You could even personalize the gingerbread person with tiny painted details after the clay dries.
So, before you toss those messy little paint trays after your next craft project, save a couple. You never know when a leftover craft supply might become your next favorite Christmas ornament!
PIN this craft for later:
