I LOVE the look of ceramic bows—they’re the perfect touch of charm and whimsy. But have you seen the price tags? Some go for $100–$200 for just one! It’s wildly expensive, so I thought… why not try to make my own? And I did—using two different methods! In this post, I’ll show you how to make a DIY clay bow using both air dry clay and oven-bake polymer clay. Let’s get into it!

How to Make a DIY Clay Bow (Two Easy Methods!)

SUPPLIES

For Both Methods:

Clay cutter or knife
Acrylic rolling pin
Wax paper
Sponge + water (for smoothing)
Mod Podge (Glossy finish)
Acrylic paint (optional)

For the Air Dry Clay Version:

Air dry clay (I used white)

For the Oven Bake Clay Version:

Oven-bake polymer clay (I used three colors: pink, white, peach)
Clay extruder
Oven
Triangle cookie cutter (for tail ends)

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Method 1: Air Dry Clay DIY Bow

Step 1: Activate and Roll the Clay
Knead your air dry clay in your hands until it’s soft and pliable. Roll it out flat using an acrylic roller.

Step 2: Cut the Bow Loops
Use a clay cutter to cut a 2″x16″ rectangle. Gently sculpt this into a looped bow shape by overlapping the ends in the back and pinching the center to create that classic bow look.

Step 3: Make the Tails
Roll and cut another rectangle to about 2″x10″. Cut that in half to make two 2″x5″ tails. Use your cutter to make V-shaped notches in each tail.

Step 4: Create the Center Wrap
Cut a 1/2″x5″ rectangle to wrap around the middle of the bow, hiding where the loops meet.

Step 5: Assemble and Smooth
Attach the tails to the back and use water and a sponge to smooth out any seams or fingerprints.

Step 6: Let It Dry
Place rolled packing paper between the loops to hold their shape. Let the bow dry for 1–2 days until it turns completely white.

Step 7: Paint and Seal
Paint it any color you love (I used pink acrylic paint) and seal with glossy Mod Podge to give it that shiny, ceramic look.

Step 8: Hang It Up
Attach a picture hanger to the back and you’re done!

Method 2: Oven Bake Clay DIY Bow

This method is a little quicker and gives you a baked finish that’s super durable.

To begin, I used some ribbon and tied it to the size of bow I wanted and then untied it to see how long I need for my bow.

Step 1: Condition the Clay
Start by kneading your oven-bake clay (I used pink) to make it soft. Roll it into a cylinder and place it into a clay extruder to make long rectangular strips that are 22″–23″ long.

Step 2: Create a Striped Effect
Repeat with two more colors (I used white and peach). Gently press the strips together and smooth with your fingers to create a ribbon-like stripe. To be honest, I wish I’d used pink instead of peach, it ended up looking a lot like bacon. I was out of pink clay, so what can you do?

Step 3: Roll and Flatten
Place wax paper over your striped ribbon and flatten it evenly with an acrylic roller.

Step 4: Cut and Shape
Cut a 2″ piece for the bow center. Use a triangle cookie cutter to make notches in the ends for the tails. Then, sculpt the bow shape with two loops and two tails.

Step 5: Assemble and Prep for Baking
Place the center strip around the middle of the bow. While the clay is still soft, press a hanger into the back for easy hanging.

Step 6: Bake It
Bake in the oven at 275°F for 1 hour on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Use rolled packing paper to support the loops while baking.

Step 7: Cool and Display
Once it’s out of the oven and cooled, add a coat glossy Mod Podge. Then it’s ready to hang! No need to paint—unless you want to add extra flair.

Final Thoughts: Which DIY Clay Bow Is Best?

Both methods have their strengths! The air dry clay version is super fun to sculpt and gives you more control over the shape, but it takes a little longer to dry. The oven bake version was faster to finish and I love how polished the final bow looks.

If a fancy ceramic bow isn’t in your budget, making your own DIY clay bow is a creative and affordable alternative. You can customize the size, shape, and colors to perfectly match your decor. Whether hung over artwork or on their own, these bows add such a sweet and playful touch to any space.