Clay Craft

I'm back!  May was one of the craziest months I've ever had, but crazy in a good way. I can't wait to unveil the fall projects I've been working on. But really, who wants to think about fall when there's summer to enjoy? At any rate, I thought I'd return with a project I did for my column in the July issue of Family Circle.

I've been obsessed with texture for the longest while now, which led to the lace decoupaged containers and then to these clay projects. I won't hesitate to tell you they were inspired by high-end pieces of pottery crafted by true artists. And while these inexpensive versions will never have the nuance and subtlety that finely crafted pottery has, they satisfy me just the same - both in the making of them and the finished result.

This was only my second time working with clay (and the first time was kid-oriented, so this was an entirely new approach for me). I was able to make about fifteen pieces in one day.  Drying time took anywhere from one to two days and sanding, glazing, and varnishing was quick. It was fun, rather than tedious, and very addictive once I got started.

Make a set of coasters or nesting bowls as a weekend house gift, make party favors for summer gatherings, or place them around your house as handy catchalls. It's also a good activity to do with your kids (my 4 year-old loved making the walnuts and pressing things into the clay). But keep in mind that these pieces aren't food safe and while varnish makes them water resistant, they aren't fully waterproof, so clean them when necessary with a damp cloth. 

See the July issue of Family Circle for directions or get them at Family Circle.com.

 

Unfinished:

Glazed & Varnished:

Examples of items to use for texture:

Leaves (sturdy, heavily veined leaves work best - fig leaves shown here)
Crocheted Doilies
Stiff, textured lace trim or vinyl lace (I used a vinyl lace tablecloth on some designs)
Plastic Texture Mats (such as the wood pattern shown) or Texture Wheels
Honeycomb Foundations (from beehive supply companies)
Shells
Pasta or Pastry cutters to create decorative, pinking style edges
Twigs
Candy or cookie molds (I used two cookie molds to make the walnuts) 

 

Resources:

Basic Supplies -

DAS Air-Dry Clay (found at Michaels)
Sculpey Clay Mat and acrylic roller (found at Michaels)
Americana Glazing Medium (found at Michaels)
Ceramcoat Interior Varnish (found at Michaels)
Acrylic craft paints found at all craft stores 

Textural Elements -

Crocheted doilies from Jo-Ann stores
Vinyl lace tablecloth from K-Mart
Woodgrain Texture Mat from Chinese Clay Art
Honeycomb Foundation from Golden Bee
Walnut Tartlet Molds from Fantes
 

**UPDATE:  Click here to see clay dishes imprinted with evergreens.

Comments

[Suzonne]

Wicker, It has been a long time since I've made those and honestly, I can't remember what I did for those. I decided shortly after that, that I preferred unfinished clay to painted. I've never looked back since! However, I'm pretty sure it was just acrylic craft paint and I would have mixed it with glaze medium (usually found in the same aisle at the crafts store as the acrylic craft paint).

[Wicker]

Hi I'm just starting to experiment with air dry clay and loved the colours you have used. Can you advise how you colour and glaze your finished products? 😀

[Suzonne]

Yas, I'm just guessing, but I'd say at least 1/2 a pack for a charger.

[Yas]

This is great! If I wanted to make charger plates (12"-13"), how much clay do you think I would need?

[Suzonne]

Hi Bonnie,

Thank you (and I'm trying to work on those Family Circle links). At any rate, I think the only way you'd be able to use air dry clay for something like soap is to seal it with some type of polyurethane or glaze. However, I did see a waterproof air dry clay called "Lumina." I think it's available at Joann's, probably online as well. I have no experience with it, so I can't vouch for it. But it does say that, after drying, it's waterproof and extremely durable. I think that would be a better option for you. Let me know how it goes!

[Bonnie Howard]

I would like to make some of these to use as soap dishes. Do you think the air dried clay will hold up to the moist environment that is common to soap dishes? I make soap and think it would be great to have soap dishes that match the theme of my soap - for instance I have a soap that has a pine cone on top and the evergreen plate would work perfectly.

I have read your other posts regarding clay (btw the one from Family Circle is not longer available). You are so creative.

Thank you

[Suzonne]

Hi Diane - I've made dishes but none of them are food safe. They only way to do that, I'm afraid, is with a kiln (and with regular pottery clay). This is just one of those projects that's good for decorative pieces. Any ceramics studios in your area that you can pay to fire for you?

[Diane]

Love this. I have been working with firing clay for about a year now and I love it, however I don't access to a kiln. Someone suggested I try air-dry clay. I can actually throw this on my wheel but didn't know how to glaze. I was doing a search and came across this blog and I love this! I plan on using making some plates. I know you have said you have made dishes, but how do you make them food safe?

[Zielonymyszak.blogspot.com]

Wow :) they are really amazing :)

[Suzonne]

Diane, I believe that I did use both the glaze and the varnish. But in projects I've done since then, I actually prefer the clay without varnish. It's up to you whether you want a matte or shiny finish - I'm a matte person, myself.

[Diane Ugo]

Did you use both glaze and varnish on each piece?

[Suzonne]

Claudete, you only need the forms to lay the clay naturally on them. Here's what I do (I'm going to use a shallow bowl as an example):

1. I roll out the clay onto a non-stick clay mat (maybe about 1/8-inch thick)

2. I put the shallow bowl face down onto the piece of clay and then cut around the edge of the bowl with an X-acto knife (so that my circle of clay is the same size as the outer rim of the bowl).

3. I put the bowl down on the table, lift my clay circle from the mat, then gently lay it into the bowl. Gravity pulls the bottom of the clay down to form the shape of the bowl and the bowl supports the clay while it is drying. After the clay has set (for a number of hours), then I it out of the bowl so that the bottom can finish drying.

So really, you're mostly using the forms to support the clay while it's drying. I hope that helps! Have fun!

[austinseoexpert.net]

Great article, totally what I needed.

[Claudete May]

I know someone else already asked this question: which kind of "forms" (plates, bowls, coasters. items that we have around the house)can be used to form the pieces and the clay should be pressed into it (a plate for example) or the clay lay naturally into it. LOVE ALL THE PIECES you have done. Went out bought supplies (but DAS brand of clay it seems a bit too hard for my hands, got something else recommended by Michaels' employee. Can't wait to make some pieces. Please let me know what kind of dishes/pieces should I use for "mold" Thanks a Million! A Brazilian fan.

[Kathy Mc]

The textures are great...in reading the article everything is air dried and painted with varnish. So, these aren't food safe, as 'Greg' referenced above. Need specific clay body, high fire glazes and a kiln. But, they are great for coin collectors or cover with towels to serve breads and things. I guess it's one more reason that handmade pottery costs more.

[Suzonne]

Schea - Thank you! You can follow the link in this post to get complete directions from Family Circle.com, but as an overview, I turned the bowls or plates upside down on a piece of clay and used a clay knife to trim the clay to size. Then I placed the dish right side up, lifted the clay with my hands or a spatula, and gently placed it inside of the corresponding dish. After that, gravity pretty much takes over and the clay molds itself to the shape of the foundation piece underneath. Only after it feels mostly dry did I remove it from the dish and turn it over so the back side could dry.

[Schea82]

I love this idea! How do you get to make their shape? Do you press the clay in the dishes or just place it and let it settle into the shape?

[Suzonne]

Wansa, it depends on the clay you're using. DAS, the brand I used for these projects, is specifically air-dry and that's exactly what I did. Have fun!

[Wansa McGhee]

Hi, Do these have to be baked or just air dried? They don't have to go into a kiln do they?

[Suzonne]

Thanks, Laura. I appreciate that! And you should try it - not at all difficult and so much fun! The possibilities are just endless. (See this link for clay dishes that I made over the winter) -

http://urbancomfort.typepad.com/urban_nest/2011/12/evergreen-imprinted-clay-dishes.html

[Laura]

This looks absolutely amazing! I am so glad to have stumbled across your post and I look forward to giving this a try myself. :) I shared your link at http://creativityunmasked.blogspot.com.au/2012/08/six-for-saturday-or-sunday.html

[Lena]

Oh so fine - i really want to start making it. I have made some littel boxes out of clay myself... Its a wonderfull thing to work with. If you want you can see Them on pinterest.

[lisa bdidi]

Hi I there are recipes on pin interest to make your own air dry clay,.
the ingredients are, cornflour, or cornstarch, oil, vinegar and 1 other ingredient.

lisa B

[internodiciotto]

wow i love this totally! it's a lovely diy for gifts as well, such a lovely idea!

[Bikram Miami]

These are all very pretty