Pearl Wax Magic: An Elegant Deer Christmas Ornament

What if one little tube of wax could give clay, molded lace, snowflakes, and other embellishments the soft shimmer of pearl?

In this tutorial, Donna from Mason Creations etc. demonstrates exactly that while turning a plain plastic ornament into an elegant blue-and-white Christmas decoration.

The project combines pearlescent metallic paint, flexible Cream Paste lace, DAS air-dry clay, snowflakes, flat-back pearls, decorative ribbon, and Finnabair White Pearl Wax.

The pearl wax is the star of the project. Donna uses it both as an all-over pearlescent finish and as a light highlight that makes her dimensional deer look almost like satin.

Watch the video below to see Donna complete the full ornament, then follow the steps to create your own.

Shop the Key Products

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Materials You Can Shop Here

You can shop the featured finishes and supplies below, then use the tutorial steps to bring the project together.

• Polyvine Multi Surface Lacquer
• Polyvine Heavy Duty Varnish
• Dixie Belle Chalk Mineral Paint
• Dixie Belle Moonshine Metallic Paint
• Adhesive
• Air Dry Clay
• Stamperia Cream Paste
• Silicone Mold
• Metallique Wax Rub
• Brushes & Tools

Also Needed

Fillable Ornament Blanks, Flat Back Pearls, Cord, Ribbon, Beads, and Rhinestone

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Step 1: Clean the Plastic Ornament

Start with a 4-inch, two-piece plastic ornament.

Wipe both halves with alcohol to remove fingerprints, oil, and residue.

A clean surface gives your primer and paint a better chance of bonding properly.

Step 2: Apply Multi-Surface Lacquer

Brush Polyvine Multi-Surface Lacquer over both ornament halves.

This removes the slick shine and creates a protective gripping layer so the paint is less likely to chip or peel.

Be careful not to get lacquer inside the narrow ridge where the two ornament halves will eventually be joined.

For best results, Donna lets the lacquer dry overnight.

Create the Pearlescent Blue Base

Step 3: Apply the First Coat of Metallic Paint

Paint both ornament halves with Dixie Belle Moonshine Metallic Paint in Pacific.

Donna uses a sponge dauber for the first coat because it deposits a little more paint than a brush.

The first coat may look somewhat thin because of the pearlescent qualities of the paint.

That is normal.

Step 4: Smooth the First Coat

Donna finds that the sponge leaves more texture than she expected.

Once the paint is dry, lightly sand the surface with fine-grit sandpaper.

The texture smooths out easily.

Step 5: Add Two More Coats

Apply two additional coats of Pacific using a brush.

Donna follows the paint manufacturer's instructions and allows about two hours between coats.

The completed finish develops a beautiful satin-like pearlescent appearance.

Step 6: Do Not Add Sealer Over the Metallic Paint

Dixie Belle Moonshine Metallic Paint has a built-in sealer.

Donna specifically cautions against trying to seal it with another product because the additional coating may separate and apply unevenly.

Once the paint is dry, leave the metallic finish as it is.

Step 7: Glue the Ornament Together

Use Aleene's Tacky Glue to join the two ornament halves.

Make sure the pieces are aligned correctly.

Let the glue dry for a couple of hours.

Make Flexible Cream Paste Lace

Step 8: Fill a Shallow Lace Mold

Donna uses Cream Paste to make decorative lace because the mold is extremely shallow.

This is exactly the type of mold that can be frustrating to use with clay.

Spread Cream Paste across the mold with a palette knife, making sure it reaches all the fine grooves and recessed details.

Scrape away the excess.

Step 9: Let the Cream Paste Dry Overnight

Leave the filled mold undisturbed overnight.

Once dry, the Cream Paste design remains flexible rather than becoming rigid.

Donna makes two different lace patterns.

One will receive pearl wax, while the other will be painted blue.

Step 10: Clean Up the Molded Lace

If a thin film of Cream Paste remains around the lace design, it can be removed before unmolding.

Donna notes that alcohol on a paper towel can help remove the film.

In this project, she scraped the mold thoroughly enough that little cleanup was needed.

Carefully peel the lace from the mold.

These pieces are delicate, so handle them gently.

Add Pearl Wax to the Lace

Step 11: Apply White Pearl Wax with Your Finger

Donna uses Finnabair Wax in White Pearl.

A very small amount goes a long way.

Place a little wax on your fingertip, then rub your finger and thumb together before applying it.

Spreading the wax between your fingers prevents a large blob of product from landing in one place.

Gently rub the wax across one of the Cream Paste lace pieces.

Let it dry overnight.

No additional sealer is required because the product is a wax.

Step 12: Paint the Second Lace Blue

Paint the second lace design with Dixie Belle Moonshine Metallic Paint in Pacific.

Donna uses a sponge dauber because the lace contains so many tiny holes and delicate openings that painting it with a brush would be difficult.

Let the first side dry for about two hours.

Turn the lace over and paint the back as well.

The metallic paint is self-sealing, so this lace also does not need another topcoat.

Step 13: Cover the Ornament Seam

Use one of the pearl-finished lace pieces to cover the seam where the two ornament halves were glued together.

Apply Aleene's Tacky Glue sparingly to the back of the lace.

Donna uses a sponge dauber to tap the glue onto the lace so it does not ooze out around the edges.

As you attach the lace around the ornament, stretch it very gently.

Its flexibility allows it to curve around the round ornament and lie flat.

Make Cream Paste Snowflakes

Step 14: Fill the Snowflake Mold

For very shallow snowflake molds, Donna again uses Cream Paste rather than clay.

Spread the paste into the mold and let it dry overnight.

Step 15: Trim the Snowflakes

If some excess dried paste remains around the snowflakes, carefully trim it away.

Donna normally cleans the mold surface with alcohol before removing the pieces, but these particular snowflakes are so delicate that they can break when handled that way.

Instead, she uses tiny scissors to trim away the unwanted paste.

Make the Air-Dry Clay Embellishments

Step 16: Mold the Clay Pieces

Donna uses DAS air-dry clay for the larger dimensional embellishments.

She likes DAS because it is easy to work with and experiences relatively little shrinking or cracking.

Create your deer and any other decorative moldings needed for the design.

Step 17: Arrange the Decorations

Begin laying out the deer, snowflakes, flowers, swirls, and other embellishments.

Donna modifies some of the pieces to fit her design.

For example, she cuts decorative swirls away from a flower so she can position them separately in a semicircle.

If a delicate piece breaks, do not panic.

Donna accidentally breaks one of the deer's antlers and simply glues it back on separately.

Once painted and finished, the repair becomes nearly invisible.

Step 18: Glue the Embellishments

Use Aleene's Tacky Glue to attach the clay pieces.

Donna spreads the glue with a silicone makeup brush.

This makes cleanup simple because dried glue peels away from the silicone instead of ruining an artist's paintbrush.

Arrange all the snowflakes before gluing so you can make sure the spacing looks balanced.

Paint the Deer and Snowflakes

Step 19: Mix a Pale Cool-Toned Tan

Donna wants the deer to be slightly darker than the surrounding white embellishments without becoming warm or creamy.

She mixes a neutral, cool-toned tan with plenty of Dixie Belle white chalk paint.

The cool color coordinates better with the blue background.

Paint only the deer with this mixture.

The remaining embellishments will stay snow white.

Step 20: Dry Brush the Deer

Once the tan paint is dry, lightly dry brush the deer with white.

Use a small, somewhat stiff brush.

Dip only the tips of the bristles into the paint, then wipe almost all of the paint off onto a paper towel.

The brush should be nearly dry.

Lightly skim across the high points of the deer.

This creates subtle highlights that will become even more noticeable after the pearl wax is added.

Step 21: Add the Face Details

Donna uses the darker tan paint straight from the bottle to add small marks for the deer's eyes and nose.

She avoids black because it would create too much contrast against the soft pearlescent color palette.

Seal the Painted Embellishments

Step 22: Apply Heavy Duty Varnish

Use Polyvine Heavy Duty Varnish to seal the areas that were painted with regular paint.

Let the varnish dry for about one hour.

The Pacific metallic background itself does not require varnish because it already has a built-in sealer.

Apply Pearl Wax with a Brush

Step 23: Give the White Embellishments Full Pearl Coverage

Now Donna demonstrates the second way to use the White Pearl Wax.

Instead of applying it with her finger, she uses a small paintbrush.

Brush the wax onto all the white embellishments almost as though you were painting them.

The wax gives the snowflakes and decorative elements an all-over pearlescent shimmer.

Step 24: Use a Lighter Touch on the Deer

The deer receives a different treatment.

Donna does not want to completely cover the pale tan paint with white pearl wax.

Instead, she lightly skims the wax over the high points of the details, concentrating it where she previously added the white dry brushing.

In some areas, she softens the wax with her fingertip.

The result creates a subtle satin-like shimmer while allowing the tan color to remain visible underneath.

Step 25: Let the Wax Dry

Allow the wax to dry overnight.

It does not require a sealer.

Donna emphasizes that wax rubs should always be one of the final finishes applied to a project.

Because the White Pearl Wax is solvent based, clean your brush with mineral spirits.

Decorate with Flat-Back Pearls

Step 26: Add Pearls to the Snowflakes

Donna uses a package of flat-back pearls in several sizes, concentrating mostly on the smaller ones.

Apply Aleene's Tacky Glue to the centers and tips of the snowflakes.

A toothpick works well because only a tiny amount of glue is needed.

Use a jewel picker or similar tool to position each pearl.

Step 27: Scatter Pearls Across the Background

Add a few pearls between the larger snowflakes on the blue background.

Donna describes the finished effect as a blizzard.

Keep the placement scattered rather than perfectly uniform so the snow effect looks more natural.

Step 28: Decorate the Back

Donna adds a large DAS clay snowflake to the back of the ornament.

She paints it white, adds White Pearl Wax, and finishes it with additional flat-back pearls.

This gives the back of the ornament the same decorative treatment as the front.

Create the Layered Christmas Bows

Step 29: Make the Main Bow

Donna uses a mini Bowdabra to create the bows.

Place a thin cord or narrow ribbon through the vertical slots.

Then layer your decorative ribbons back and forth through the horizontal slots.

For this ornament, Donna begins with silver glitter ribbon decorated with white snowflakes.

Step 30: Add the Handmade Cream Paste Ribbons

Layer both types of Cream Paste lace into the bow:

• the lace finished with White Pearl Wax

• the lace painted with Pacific metallic blue

Handle these flexible ribbons carefully because the thin Cream Paste designs remain delicate.

Step 31: Tie the Bow

Once all the ribbon layers are in place, pull the two ends of the small cord upward through the vertical slots.

Tie them together tightly.

Remove the bow from the Bowdabra and tie the cord again at the back.

You can now add an embellishment to the center.

Donna makes two matching main bows—one for the front and one for the back.

Step 32: Make the Bottom Bow

Donna creates another bow for the bottom of the ornament using only the glittery silver snowflake ribbon.

After forming the first two loops, twist the ribbon as you make each additional loop so the decorative side remains facing outward.

This bow has six loops, making it fuller than the two bows at the top.

Finish the Ornament

Step 33: Make the Hanger

Use silver cord to create the ornament hanger.

Donna adds decorative beads, including one silver bead and two pearl clusters.

These small details continue the silver-and-pearl theme through the top of the ornament.

Step 34: Add the Top Bows

Glue one of the layered bows to the front of the ornament hanger.

Attach the matching bow to the back.

This gives the ornament a finished appearance from either direction.

Step 35: Add the Bottom Bow

Glue the fuller six-loop silver bow to the bottom of the ornament.

Its larger shape visually balances the decorative bows at the top.

Give Almost Any Embellishment a Pearlescent Finish

The most useful takeaway from this project is how versatile a pearl wax rub can be.

Donna uses Finnabair White Pearl Wax on:

• flexible Cream Paste lace

• molded snowflakes

• painted clay embellishments

• the dimensional deer

• a large clay snowflake on the back

Applying the wax heavily with a brush creates an all-over pearlescent finish, while lightly skimming it across raised details gives painted embellishments a softer satin effect.

That makes it easy to customize the amount of shimmer depending on the look you want.

The combination of Pacific blue metallic paint, crisp white details, soft pearl shimmer, silver ribbon, and flat-back pearls gives this ornament a delicate winter elegance without relying on traditional red and green Christmas colors.

A special thank-you to Donna from Mason Creations etc. for sharing this beautiful ornament and demonstrating several creative ways to use pearl wax and flexible Cream Paste embellishments.

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