Clay Crafts to Make for Decor or Gifts

by admin January 7, 2022

Get over 40 ideas for clay crafts, perfect for kids or adults! You’ll find lots of projects including both air dry and polymer clay. Get great ideas for decor, gifts, and more.

There are a lot of craft supplies that, over the course of time, get “typecast” into certain roles. For example, clothespins. If I think about clothespin crafts, I typically think about kids’ crafts. The same goes for popsicle sticks and pom poms.

But just as I don’t like assumptions being made about me, I think we’re being unfair to clay. Sure there are clay crafts for kids, but that isn’t the only way to enjoy this underappreciated material. There are plenty of projects to make for adults, or that both kids and grown ups can enjoy together.

Using Clay in Crafts

I think another way that clay gets stereotyped is that some crafters think using it is difficult. And what are you supposed to make? The truth is, it isn’t that difficult – and I’m about to show you over 40 ideas to show you exactly how easy it is to use.

I promise you can make any of these projects, even as a beginner!

I personally like Sculpey clay as my go-to brand, if you’re wondering. I love the colors and find it really easy to shape. You’ll find that people typically use two types of clays in their projects: air dry and polymer.

Air Dry Clay vs. Polymer Clay

The main difference between these types of clays is the drying method. Air dry clay is just as it sounds; it will dry by leaving it out. It can take multiple days – I’ve had to leave a project out for a week before.

You’ll probably want to add a polycrylic top coat (even Mod Podge will work) to seal your project. That is because air dry clay isn’t resistant to water, even when fully dry.

Polymer clay needs to be baked to dry. When it is baked, it hardens into something that is waterproof and won’t lose its shape. You can seal it to add shine if you like. But you don’t have to!

Air dry clay is cheaper and you can find it in the kids’ section of your craft store. Michaels also has an entire clay section, at least in my local stores. Polymer clay comes in TONS of colors! Air dry clay doesn’t but you can paint it – you can paint both, actually.

Tools You’ll Need

The most common tools that people use for working with clay are the following:

Silicone mat – for rolling out the clay on a non-stick surface.
Roller or brayer – just like for baking, a roller smooths your clay out and gives you a flat working surface. The clay pasta machines are really nice if you want to spend a little extra.
Stamps – want to put letters or a pattern design into your project? That’s what stamps will do.
Sculpting tools – the sets might look like they are for professional potters, but you’ll end up using the knives, smoothing tools, drawing lines with tips, etc. Get an inexpensive set with just a few tools to start.

Ready to jump into the projects? I’d love to know what you think of these clay crafts. Take a peek and let me know your favorites in the comments. And if there is something I’ve missed, let me know that too. Enjoy!

Clay Crafts

Learn how to make a bunch of clay crafts, perfect for kids or adults. You can make a variety of projects, some for decor, others for gifts. All easy enough for beginners!

The post Clay Crafts to Make for Decor or Gifts appeared first on DIY Candy.