Buzz
Sculpting with clay is a perfect craft activity for rainy days. You can engage children in making clay and then watch them enjoy hours of play with this non-toxic and inexpensive material. Once fully dried, air-dry clay can be painted with additional colors. You can create basic clay using baking soda and cornstarch or try a quicker method by using white glue. For adult craft projects, you might experiment with cold porcelain clay, which produces sculptures with a smoother finish.
Steps
Making Basic Clay
Gather your materials. This air-dry clay recipe requires ingredients you likely already have at home. Check your pantry and prepare the following items:
- 2 cups of baking soda
- 1 cup of cornstarch
- 1.5 cups of cold water
- Food coloring (gel or liquid)
- An old pot
- A whisk
- A bowl
Add baking soda and cornstarch to the pot. Use a spoon or whisk to stir until the two ingredients are thoroughly combined.
Stir in the water. Mix until no lumps remain and the mixture becomes completely smooth.
Incorporate food coloring. Add a few drops of food coloring to transform the mixture from white to red, blue, green, orange, or any color you prefer. Just a few drops will give the mixture a tint. For a deeper hue, add more drops until you achieve the desired shade.
Cook the mixture over medium heat. Stir continuously while heating to prevent the mixture from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
Stir until the mixture thickens. The mixture will begin to boil and then thicken into a dough-like consistency after about 5 minutes of stirring. When it becomes difficult to move the whisk through the mixture, turn off the heat.
Cool the dough. Place the hot dough into a bowl. Cover it with a damp cloth to retain moisture and let it sit until it cools completely.
Knead the dough until smooth. While kneading, pay attention to the dough's texture. If it feels sticky, adding cornstarch can help thicken it. If it’s too stiff, mix in a teaspoon of water to soften it.
Shape and let the clay dry. Mold stars, fake food, dinosaurs, Christmas decorations, or flowers. The possibilities for creativity are endless! Once shaped, place the creations on a tray to air dry.
- This type of clay typically takes 24 to 48 hours to dry completely.
- Once dry, you can decorate it with acrylic paint.
Making Clay with Glue
Gather your materials. This quick, no-cook recipe is perfect when you want to save time. All you need is:
- 2 cups of cornstarch
- 1 cup of white glue
- Food coloring (gel or liquid)
- A bowl
Add cornstarch to the bowl. Start by measuring 2 cups of cornstarch. With this simple recipe, you can easily adjust by adding more cornstarch or glue as needed.
Slowly mix in the glue. Gradually add the glue to the bowl while stirring. Continue adding glue until the mixture reaches the desired consistency—aim for a ratio of two parts cornstarch to one part glue.
- If the mixture remains crumbly, add more glue.
- If it becomes too sticky, incorporate additional cornstarch.
Color the clay. Add food coloring to the bowl and knead the mixture by hand. For a more vibrant color, add more dye until you achieve the desired shade.
- To create multicolored clay, divide the dough into two or three portions and color each separately.
Use the clay. You can use sandcastle molds or cookie cutters, or let your creativity flow by sculpting freehand. Once satisfied with your creation, place it in a dry, cool area to harden. After a few hours, you can paint the clay and finish your masterpiece! Now you have your very own homemade air-dry clay model.
Making Cold Porcelain Clay
Gather your materials. Cold porcelain clay is an excellent alternative to polymer-based air-dry clay for crafting items like candle holders, jewelry, and small clay figurines. This lightweight clay tends to shrink slightly as it dries. You'll need the following items:
- 1 cup of cornstarch
- 1 cup of white glue
- 2 tablespoons of white vinegar
- 2 tablespoons of canola oil
- Plastic wrap
- A microwave-safe bowl
- A small amount of oil to prevent the clay from sticking to your hands
Combine the ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl. Start by adding the wet ingredients: glue, vinegar, and canola oil. Then, stir in the cornstarch until the mixture is completely smooth and free of lumps. The mixture will have a runny, paste-like consistency.
Heat the mixture in the microwave on high for about 15 seconds. Remove the bowl and stir the mixture, which will still be thick and slightly warm.
Heat the mixture on high for another 15 seconds. Take the bowl out and stir again. The surface of the mixture should now feel slightly firm rather than pasty.
Heat the mixture a third time on high. Microwave it for an additional 10 to 15 seconds, then remove the bowl and check the mixture. The clay should now be forming into a sticky dough-like ball but may not yet be smooth.
- If the clay is still too sticky, microwave it for another 15 seconds. The finished clay should be pliable and slightly sticky; if it feels dry, it has been overheated.
Knead the clay. Once the clay has cooled for a while, apply cooking oil to your hands and knead the clay for about 3 minutes until it achieves a smooth and pliable texture. Roll it into a ball and stretch it to test. The clay is ready when it stretches and forms a pointed tip when pulled. If it crumbles, it has been overheated.
Wrap the clay in plastic wrap for storage. If you don’t plan to use the clay immediately, seal it tightly with plastic wrap to retain its moisture.
Tips
- Add food coloring to the water if you want colored clay, but avoid adding it to the dry ingredients!
- Be patient while waiting for your creation to dry. Larger models will take longer to dry completely.
- Clean up after finishing to avoid dried cornstarch and glue residue on your countertops.
- Once the clay dries and hardens, it may crack or break.
- Store the clay in a dry or cool place.
- Note that cold porcelain clay models shrink as they dry, so make them slightly larger than intended to achieve the desired size.
