There are many ways to make clay (materials such as clay/clay for crafts), and each method will produce different types of clay. You can make oven-baked clays and self-drying clays. You can even make clay that never dries. This article will show you different ways to make clay.
Ingredients
Ingredients for Unbaked Clay
- 1 cup (225 ml) water
- 4 cups (560 grams) flour
- 2 – 4 tbsp cooking oil
- 1 cups (420 grams) salt
- Food coloring (optional)
- Glitter/gloss powder (optional)
Ingredients for Salt Based Clay
- 1 cup (280 grams) salt
- 1 cup (140 grams) flour
- cup (112.5 ml) warm water
- A few drops of food coloring (optional)
- Glitter/gloss powder (optional)
Ingredients for Corn Starch Based Clay
- 1 cup (180 grams) baking soda (bicarbonate of soda)
- cup (65 grams) corn starch (corn flour)
- cup (167 ml) warm water
Ingredients for Cold Porcelain Clay (Self-Drying Clay)
- 1 cup (225 ml) white glue
- 1 cup (125 grams) corn starch (corn flour)
- 1 tbsp lemon juice or vinegar
- 1 tbsp baby oil (baby oil)
Ingredients for Oil Based Clay
- 1 sheet of beeswax/beeswax (22x28 cm or A4 paper size)
- 4 tbsp petroleum jelly
- 6 tsp baby oil (baby oil)
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
- cup (135 grams) limestone powder (calcium hydroxide)
Step
Method 1 of 5: Making Cold Porcelain Clay
Step 1. Put the pot on the stove and pour the cornstarch into it
You will need 1 cup (125 grams) of corn starch. If you can't use the stove, you can use the microwave instead. Take a microwave-safe bowl and pour 1 cup (125 grams) of cornstarch into it.
Step 2. Add the liquid ingredients and mix well
You will need 1 cup (225 ml) of white glue, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, and 1 tablespoon baby oil. Mix all the ingredients with a spoon or a whisk.
Lemon juice acts as a preservative, which is especially important if you don't plan to use all of the clay at once. If you don't have lemon juice, you can use 1 tablespoon of white vinegar instead
Step 3. Turn on the stove and heat the clay mixture
Keep stirring until the mixture begins to thicken and move away from the sides of the pan.
If you are using the microwave, first stir all the ingredients until the mixture reaches a paste-like consistency, then place the bowl in the microwave and heat for 1 minute 30 seconds. Stop the microwave briefly every 30 seconds and stir the contents of the bowl before reheating
Step 4. Remove the pan from the stove and allow it to cool so that it can be handled
If you are using a microwave, remove the bowl from the microwave and stir the mixture one last time. Let the clay mixture cool enough that you can touch it without getting burned.
Step 5. Transfer the dough to a flat surface and knead
To prevent the dough from sticking, sprinkle cornstarch over the surface you will be working on. Knead the dough by hand until smooth.
Step 6. Consider adding color to the clay
You can paint the clay after it dries, or you can add color to the dough. Add a few drops of food coloring or acrylic paint and knead the clay until the colors are well blended.
Step 7. Let the clay harden a bit
Before you can use it, roll the clay into a ball and place it in a resealable plastic bag. Close the bag tightly and leave it in a cool place overnight.
Step 8. Make various shapes with the clay
The clay will be ready to use the next day. You can shape it and let it dry naturally. If you don't color the clay, wait for it to dry before painting it with acrylic paint. This clay does not need to be baked.
- Consider putting some cold cream on and massaging it into your hands before working with the clay. This will help prevent the clay from sticking to your hands.
- If the clay starts to dry, you can knead a little cold cream into the clay mixture to soften it again.
Method 2 of 5: Making Clay Without Baking
Step 1. Take a large bowl and pour salt and flour into it
You will need 4 cups (560 grams) of flour and 1 cups (420 grams) of salt. If you want to add a little bit of glitter, you can do that now. You can use a fine polish used for scrapbooking (the art of pasting pictures on paper) or a coarse polish used for crafts, but a fine polish will mix more easily. You can add as much or as little gloss as you want.
Step 2. Consider making colored clay
Before pouring water into a bowl of flour and salt, you need to decide whether you want colored clay or not. If you want colored clay, add a few drops of food coloring to the water and stir with a spoon to mix well.
Step 3. Pour the water into a bowl of salt and flour, and mix well
You will need 1 cup (225 ml) of water. Stir until all the ingredients are mixed into a cake dough-like texture.
Step 4. Add a little cooking oil
The cooking oil will help soften the clay and prevent it from crumbling. You will need 2-4 tsp of cooking oil, depending on the fuse and how brittle your clay is.
Step 5. Knead the dough
Using your hands, press, knead, and knead all the ingredients until they turn into a dough. If it's still too dry, add a little more cooking oil.
Step 6. Play with the clay
You can use this clay to repeatedly create fun shapes.
Step 7. Store the dough properly
If you want to play with this clay later, store it in an airtight container. You can also make a small clay figurine and let it dry overnight.
Method 3 of 5: Making Salt Based Clay
Step 1. Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl
You will need 1 cup (280 grams) of salt and 1 cup (140 grams) of flour. If you want to add gloss to your clay, you can do so now. Start with 1 tsp gloss powder. You can use a fine gloss used for scrapbooking or a coarse gloss used for crafts, but a fine gloss powder will mix more easily. Pour everything into a large bowl and mix well.
Step 2. Measure the water to be used
You will need cup (112.5 ml) of warm water. If you want to make colored clay, you can add a few drops of food coloring to the water at this stage.
Step 3. Pour the water into a bowl of salt and flour, and knead all the ingredients
Keep kneading all the ingredients until the mixture becomes a smooth cake batter-like texture.
- If the dough is too dry, add a little water.
- If the dough is too sticky, add a little flour.
Step 4. Transfer the clay onto a flat surface
The clay is now ready to use. You can shape them into small figurines, or grind them up and make decorations.
Step 5. Consider making decorations or souvenirs out of the clay
Start by leveling the clay using a rolling pin. Cut the clay into various shapes using a craft knife, cookie cutter, or glass. If you want to hang the ornament, make a hole near the top using a straw or toothpick.
Salt clay makes a great souvenir. Press your child's feet or hands into the clay mixture until the footprints form
Step 6. Consider baking clay
Transfer your creations to a baking sheet and bake in the oven at 100°C for three hours. If the clay still hasn't set, flip it over and bake for another two hours.
Method 4 of 5: Making Corn Starch Based Clay
Step 1. Measure out the baking soda and cornstarch that will be used, and put them in a saucepan
You'll need 1 cup (180 grams) of baking soda and cup (65 grams) of cornstarch. This clay must be heated on the stove, therefore it is recommended that it be done under adult supervision. You don't need to bake this clay, but you should finish your creation the same day it is made.
Step 2. Pour water into the pot and stir
You will need cup (169 ml) of warm water. Mix all ingredients with a whisk until there are no more lumps or lumps.
Consider adding a small amount of the white or colorful sheen that is commonly used for scrapbooking. Start with 1 tsp at a time until the clay is as shiny as you want it to be
Step 3. Place the pot on the stove and heat the mixture
Stir the mixture, and do not let the mixture boil. The mixture will start to thicken and look like sauce.
Step 4. Remove the pan from the stove once the clay is ready and let it cool
The clay is ready when the dough has become very thick, like mashed potatoes. Let the dough cool long enough for you to touch it without getting burned.
Step 5. Transfer the clay onto a flat surface
Your clay is now ready to be molded. You can shape them into small figurines, or flatten them and make them decorative.
Step 6. Consider making some decorations
Because it is white when it dries, this clay can be used to make beautiful decorations. Roll out the dough evenly to about - 1 cm thick, and cut it into various shapes using a craft knife, cookie cutter, or glass. Make a hole near the top of the decoration using a straw or craft knife.
Step 7. Let the clay dry overnight
The next day, the clay will be a bright white color.
Method 5 of 5: Making Oil Based Clay
Step 1. Assemble the team pot (double boiler)
Fill a large pot with 2.5-5 cm of water. Place a large bowl over the saucepan. The bottom of the bowl should not touch the water. Turn on the stove and let the water boil. Reduce the heat and let the water boil slowly.
Step 2. Wrap the pan with a sheet of aluminum foil
You will need it as soon as you finish heating the clay.
Step 3. Melt the beeswax in a team saucepan
Break the beeswax sheet into small pieces. This will help the beeswax melt faster. Place the beeswax pieces in a bowl and heat until the wax is completely liquid and translucent. Beeswax will prevent the clay from drying out, making it similar to toy wax (plasticine).
Step 4. Add limestone powder and mix well
Slowly pour cup (135 grams) of limestone powder into a bowl of beeswax. The mixture will become a little thick, so you'll need to stir it until all the lumps and lumps are gone.
Step 5. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix again
You will need 4 tablespoons of petroleum jelly, 6 teaspoons of baby oil, and 2 tablespoons of coconut oil. Stir for 30 seconds.
Step 6. Consider adding color to your clay
This clay will be a dull brown color once it is finished. You can make it more colorful by adding 1 tablespoon of powdered pigment color to the clay mixture and stirring until well blended.
Step 7. Transfer the clay mixture immediately to the pan
After 30 seconds, remove the bowl from the pan and pour the mixture into the pan. The clay will soon begin to harden.
Step 8. Allow the mixture to harden and test the texture
The clay will start to harden after about 10 minutes. During this time, you can test the texture and add more ingredients to correct any flaws.
- If the texture is too crumbly, add more oil and mix well. The oil will help soften the clay and make it less dry.
- If the clay is too hard, transfer it back to the team pot and let the clay soften. Add more oil and limestone powder.
Step 9. Wait for the clay to harden before using it
Since this clay is made of oil and beeswax, it will never dry out or completely harden. Once it cools, you can take it out of the pan and shape it.
Step 10. Store clay properly when not in use
While this clay won't dry out or harden like most other clays, it can still be exposed to dust and dirt. Keep your clay looking clean by wrapping it in plastic wrap, placing it in a plastic bag, or storing it in an airtight container. Store clay in a cool place, as hot temperatures can cause it to soften and become sticky.
Tips
- Change the color of your clay with a few drops of food coloring.
- Add shine to your clay with gloss powder.
- If the clay is too wet, add a little flour or cornstarch (depending on the clay base).
- If the clay is too dry, add a little water, cooking oil, or cold cream (depending on the liquid ingredients listed in the recipe).
- If you're not going to use up all of your clay in one day, put it in an airtight container and store it in a cool place. Keep in mind that some of these clays are not durable and will rot over time.
Warning
- Never leave your stove, oven or microwave unattended.
- If using the microwave, watch your clay dough carefully. Every microwave is different and yours may require a shorter cooking time.
- Do not use the same pots, bowls, and utensils used in making clay for cooking and baking.
Necessary things
- Mixing bowl or container
- Shaker and spoon
- Dough rolling pin
- Airtight container
- Baking tin and parchment paper
