Easy Clay Crafts
Air Dry Clay Leaf Dish with a Real Leaf Imprint
Press a real leaf vein-side down into a clay slab, cut around it and curve the edges into a small dish, then pick out the veins with a paint wash.
Tutorials
30 tutorials published
Easy Clay Crafts
Air Dry Clay Plant Markers for Indoor Pots
Cut pointed clay strips, stamp or paint a name on each and seal every side. An honest guide to markers that suit indoor pots and short-term use, because damp soil softens the clay even when sealed.
Easy Clay Crafts
Air Dry Clay Magnets: A Quick Beginner Project
Cut small flat shapes from a thin slab, paint and seal them, then glue a craft magnet to the back. Includes how to match the magnet to the weight.
Easy Clay Crafts
Easy Air Dry Clay Trinket Dish: Step-by-Step Tutorial
Roll a slab, cut a circle around a bowl and let it dry into a shallow dish for keys, rings and coins. A decorative, dry-use first project.
Painting & Finishing
How to Seal Air Dry Clay: Varnish, Finishes and Honest Limits
What a clear sealer does for air dry clay, what it cannot do (it is water-resistant at best, not waterproof), and how to brush on thin coats of varnish in matte, satin or gloss.
Painting & Finishing
How to Paint Air Dry Clay: Paints, Prep and Clean Coats
Which paints suit air dry clay, how to prep a dry piece, and how to build color in thin coats without streaks or a tacky finish.
Painting & Finishing
How to Sand Air Dry Clay for a Smooth Finish
Sand air dry clay only when it is fully dry, work from medium to fine grit, and control the dust by working outdoors and wiping up with a damp cloth.
Clay Techniques
Air Dry Clay Cracking: How to Reduce the Risk and Repair Cracks
Cracks come from uneven shrinkage as air dry clay loses water. Even thickness, little water and slow drying reduce the risk, and most small cracks can be repaired.
Clay Techniques
Adding Texture to Air Dry Clay: Stamps, Leaves and Fabric
Press lace, leaves and household objects into soft air dry clay for pattern, carve lines once it firms up, and use a paint wash to make the texture show.
Clay Techniques
How to Smooth Air Dry Clay Before and After It Dries
Smooth air dry clay in three stages: scrape and sponge while it is wet, burnish when it is firm, and sand lightly only once it is fully dry.
Clay Techniques
How to Join Air Dry Clay Pieces So They Stay Attached
Pieces fall off air dry clay when they are only pressed together. Scoring, slip and a blended seam give joins a much better chance of holding as the clay dries.
Clay Techniques
How to Shape Air Dry Clay: Pinch, Coil and Slab Basics
Pinch, coil and slab are the three hand-building methods behind most beginner clay projects. Here is how each one works and when to use it for decorative, dry-use pieces.