How to Use Air Dry Clay with Kids
One question pops up again and again – and that’s how to use air dry clay – without it breaking.
Clay can be tricky – whether you have a kiln or not. If you have a kiln, you’re subject to it not firing correctly, uneven glazes and – yikes! – explosions.
And if you use air dry clay, it always feels like things are falling apart. Animal legs, leaves, and any small thing that you can think of – it just never stays on. And it can look dry, crumbly, and let’s face it – it will never be as good.
Or so I thought.
The truth is, with a few tricks, you can pick up a package of Crayola air dry clay and make projects that look just as beautiful with your students – without a kiln, and even in the comfort of your own home.
Here’s how to use air dry clay in a way that minimizes breakage, and in a way that will give it a shiny, glossy finish, making people wonder if you were hiding that kiln in the bathroom.
Warm it up!
Just like kiln-fired clay, air dry clay needs to be warmed before it can be used.
Warming it up allows kids to strengthen their hands, and it also allows those air bubbles that can cause breakage to hit the highway.
Knead it just like bread dough, folding and turning it over again and again!
The Score, Smooth, & Slip Method
One thing kids love to do is attach an arm or leg of an animal by pressing it on, only to have it fall off.
Just like with kiln-fired clay, the score, slip, and smooth method is critical to ensuring that those animal limbs and other smaller pieces stay on.
First, let’s talk about SCORING…
We aren’t talking about a sports game here – we’re talking about making marks on the clay part that will be attached. You can do this with a bamboo skewer, toothpick, plastic knife, or clay tool. But we’re making marks on the clay to make it rough. Make sure to score the piece being attached AND where it’s attached for the best results.
Don’t forget to slip!
You can purchase slip, or you can easily make your own.
Grab a small bit of clay, and a little bit of warm water and throw them in a ziplock bag. Use your fingers to squish the clay and water together until it starts to look like melted ice cream.
OR, do the same, but in a little dish and just stir the clay and warm water together.
Finally, smooth those pieces down until they feel like butter!
That’s right – failure to smooth the pieces together can cause them not to stick as well as you’d hoped. It also helps to minimize all of the small cracks that can cause breakage.
How to use air dry clay - the final seal of approval
One thing that makes clay projects beautiful is that glossy shine. With air dry clay, it isn’t kiln fired, so after painting, it can look a bit…dull.
Well, I have some good news for you – Mod Podge does the trick.
Not only does it provide an incredible shiny finish, it also strengthens the project itself.
You can purchase Mod Podge in matte, glossy, and even MEGA-GLITTER! (These are all afflinks, but plesae shop around!) One of our other favorite Mod Podge options is the spray on. This is fast and easy, but make sure to use proper ventilation since Mod Podge can be a bit of a strong smell.
Ready to try out air dry clay for yourself?
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I use Mod Podge frequently for other projects. However, if it gets wet at all, the M.P. is re-activated and item becomes quite sticky. As my pieces will require being dusted/wiped with a damp cloth, can I avoid this after applying M.P. over hardened clay sculpture?
Thank you!
One thing you might want to try is the Mod Podge spray. It dries MUCH faster! Also, there’s an outdoor version and dishwasher safe version. I don’t think either of these is perfect at what it does but those formulas are used to getting wet more often so they might hold up much better!
Any suggestions on how to make the key chain eyelet not rust in the airdry clay. First round our chains(no eyelet) rusted around and through our keychains.
Unfortunately I think it’s the type of eyelets and not the way to seal them that makes all the difference. You need a metal that doesn’t rust or one that’s galvanized. I’m not sure if there’s anything that can be done to seal them that wouldn’t eventually rust!
Can I paint the MP right onto the air dried clay or is it better to paint in acrylic and then apply MP on top of that?
Some people find the Mod Podge a bit sticky as the final sealant so they prefer to put the MP down first and then paint. I prefer the paint and then sealing, and sometimes even the spray one with gloss!
Do you apply mod Podge when clay is still workable and you’re leaving to set or 2-3 days after completion when project is dry?
You’ll want to wait until the clay is completely dry – that’s the best time to apply (in my experience, at least!)