Simple Air Dry Clay Ideas – Gathering Beauty is a handmade, DIY blog with a love for all things paper. Here you’ll find origami, paper crafts, air-dry clay projects, and fun crochet or weaving tutorials.

Have fun with over 30 air dry clay projects perfect for beginners and more experienced crafters. From simple clay gift cards to clay planters and candle holders, there’s something here for everyone.

Simple Air Dry Clay Ideas

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Top 10 Air Dry Clay Ideas

Today I’m sharing a great collection of air dry clay projects. Air dry clay is fun and easy to use. It is cheap to buy and friendly to both adults and children.

I’ve done a lot of simple air dry clay projects over the years (the stamped air dry clay bowls are still my favorite) so you can guess my favorite how much it is. It is the perfect material to create adorable home decor items like decorative plates or photo holders. In fact, if you want more air-drying clay bowls, be sure to check out this post (there are 25 of them!).

One of the best things about it is that it doesn’t require baking, heating or refrigeration (no high heat here). All you need to do is let your finished project air cure and 48 hours later you will have a spectacular piece that you can decorate with acrylic paints and varnishes.

Air dry clay is a great alternative to traditional clay. It’s lightweight, easy to use, and can be rolled, stamped, rolled, and shaped into anything you want.

8 Ways To Keep Air Dry Clay From Cracking

If you’re looking for simple crafts for kids, the whole family can work together with air-dry clay. It’s great for those who want to try clay but don’t necessarily have the time or resources to go the traditional ceramics route.

The best part is that because it doesn’t need to be fired in a furnace to harden, it’s a great material for beginners. You’ll know your clay is dry when it turns a lighter color. If you use white clay, it will turn from light gray to a slightly off-white color.

Depending on room temperature, humidity, and air thickness, dry clay can take from 24 to 72 hours to dry. If you have any problems, be sure to read this post about how long it takes clay to dry.

Clay Crafts For Kids: Fun Projects To Mold And Create

Although I love air-dry clay, it does have some disadvantages. The main problem is that it’s not waterproof or food-safe, so anything made with air-dry clay should be used for decorative purposes only. If you’re interested, I wrote an article about glazing or varnishing with air-hardening clay and goes into more detail.

Another problem is that not all types of clay perform as well as others. Depending on the type of clay you use, some types may be weak and fragile. I’ve compiled a list of some tried and tested air dry clays below.

There are several different types of clay available. Nearly all of the projects below use Crayola air-hardening clay or my personal favorite, DAS air-hardening clay.

Personally, I prefer white clay but a lot of the projects below use terra cotta for a more natural clay color.

How To Work With Air-dry Clay To Get The Best Results? — Adele Po.

And here are some alternatives that I haven’t personally used but are popular and well-reviewed.

You can use stamps or objects found around the house to add texture, patterns, or even words to your wet clay. Grab a cookie cutter from the kitchen cupboard and create interesting geometric shapes or go for a handmade organic look and just shape it with your hands.

To complete your creation, add some essential oils like the terracotta oil diffuser below or grab acrylic craft paint and add your own unique design, polka dots anyone? If you’re brave enough and don’t mind the mess, you can even try using spray paint to get an even color all over.

Want to know how to varnish dry clay so it lasts for years? Check out my glaze using dry clay. It’s full of tips and tricks.

There’s A Dragon In My Art Room: No Kiln? No Problem! It’s Air Dry Clay Day!

Keep scrolling to see my favorite air dry clay projects. I’ve included some ideas for air dry clay and white air dry clay. I think all of the DIY projects on this list would make a cute gift for friends.

7 Air Dry Clay Craft Ideas — Doodle And Stitch

Make your own succulent or fake air plant from dry clay, you don’t even have to water it!

It’s a swan-inspired mini vase (or planter or mini table organizer). So many options for using this little guy!

Create an elegant clay oil diffuser to scent your home or use as an essential oil air freshener.

These make perfect spring party gifts – your guests will enjoy planting seeds, marking them with clay stakes and watching them grow.

33 Easy Clay Animals And Clay Crafts

The only thing better than a super cute DIY Clay Decanter is one you can make from something you already have on your cart.

I’m not a sculptor and obviously a llama is a difficult animal to make, but hey, it’s still cute whether it looks like a llama or a rabbit!

How cute would it be if they were all arranged in the middle of the table? Cactus themed dinner anyone?!

As we get ready to go back to school, they do a fun art project for kids to make themselves as backpack tags or keychains for friends!

28 Air Dry Clay Projects For Adults & Kids — Sugar & Cloth

What do you mean? Do you want to try any clay projects? If you want to try your hand at some polymer clay crafts, be sure to read this post. It has a combination of dry clay crafts and colorful polymer clay crafts. We just moved Kala into a new room and I realized she needed some little bowls to hold her jewelry, hair ties, and all the little things four-year-old girls like to collect. I’ve always wanted to work with air dry clay and this was the perfect project to try it out.

Before I had my daughter, one of my hobbies was pottery, so I looked for easy ways to get back into it. The great thing about air dry clay is that it doesn’t make a mess and doesn’t require a kiln or even an oven.

*Since we first published this post, we’ve done a lot more dry clay craft projects. You can find them here. Like rainbows, clay plates and bunny bowls.

2. Place the top of the bowl down on the clay. Use a knife to cut around the edge of the bowl. Gently lift the clay out and place it in the bowl. To make the nesting bowl set, I simply used a glass nesting mixing bowl from my kitchen. I used the four smallest ones.

easy Air Dry Clay Ideas

3. Pour the clay into the bowl until it touches the bottom and sides of the bowl. Smooth the edges with your fingers. Let the clay dry overnight, up to a day until dry.

This clay is very easy to work with. I’m dreaming about the next projects I want to try. I find that it can be helpful to wet your hands a little with water while working with the clay. I keep a wet paper towel handy when working with the bowl.

I mean, how cute is this triangle shelf?? I made this for the studio, but somehow it ended up in Harper’s room! This DIY triangular wooden shelf is simple to make and makes a big impact on any wall. You can find full instructions on the Eastern trading site, FUN365. We used…

Posted by Sara I am in need of the perfect housewarming gift. I wanted to give my friend something practical yet unique for her new home. And give her something – just for her! If you are looking to make a gift for your friends – you must try these hand painted color block hangers….

25 Best Air Dry Clay Ideas For Kids

This post is sponsored by Nature Valley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Every January, I find myself wanting to organize, simplify, and make healthier choices. The holidays bring with it a lot and not to mention bad eating habits! Not just for me but for my whole family. January is…

Get your fall and Halloween decorations ready

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