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47 Easy Air Dry Clay Ideas and Projects Adults Will Want To Make

Think air-dry clay is just for kids’ trays? Think again. From chic wall hooks and marbled coasters to holiday ornaments and plant stakes, these 47 easy air-dry clay ideas are perfect for adults and make ideal handmade gifts or stylish home décor pieces. Get inspired!

As a child, there was no tech to keep me occupied; we didn’t even have daytime telly. My mum used to sit my sister and me down at the kitchen table with plasticine and a few basic tools. We’d spend hours moulding and shaping.

As an adult, I still love to mould and shape, but this time it’s with air-dry clay, and I make beautiful, useful things for my home or to gift.

Air-dry clay is a fantastic, affordable material for a wide range of crafting projects. It’s straightforward to use and is non-toxic, so suitable for kids too.

Air-dry clay looks and feels like traditional clay but doesn’t need to be fired in a kiln or heated in an oven. It hardens naturally in the air. Then, it can be sanded and painted.

Like traditional clay, it is versatile; it can be moulded, rolled, cut and embossed with textures. It comes in various colours, but most projects use white clay and are decorated with paint. Even air-dry clay comes in a terracotta colour.

41 air dry clay ideas to try

The Air Dry Clay Ideas

I have selected the best collection of crafting projects that use air-drying; most are for adults. There are a few I’m sure the kids would love to try too. You’ll find a fun collection of Christmas Clay and Valentine’s air-dry clay crafts on the blog.

At the end of the list, I have compiled a series of helpful questions and tips for using air-dry clay.

Air Dry Clay Ideas and Projects

The best, most beautiful, fun air dry clay ideas for adults and kids. Many would make wonderful handmade gifts or craft ideas to sell.

FAQs and Tips For Tip Top Results

Q1: What brand do you recommend? There are many brands of air-dry clay, but the main ones I use are DAS and Fimoair.  Both come in a range of colours.

Q2: How long does it take to harden? Depending on the thickness of the air-dry clay project, it usually takes 24 to 72 hours. Leave it to dry naturally in a well-ventilated dry room.

Q3: Do I need to seal the clay? If you want the clay products to last longer and be water-resistant, you will need to seal them. Suitable sealants are acrylic varnish, liquid lacquer or Mod Podge.

Q4: Can air-dry clay get wet? Untreated hardened clay is still porous and will absorb water. Add a sealant to make it water-resistant. For example, mugs can’t be made from air-dry clay as the hot liquid will deteriorate the clay, even if it’s sealed.

Q5: With what can I colour the clay? You can colour air-dry clay with almost anything, from watercolour inks & paint to Sharpies, acrylic paint, and mica powders.

Q6: How breakable is air-dry clay? If you seal air-dry clay projects, they will be robust and last for years. The clay is remarkably sturdy. But like ceramics, it will break if dropped onto hard surfaces and can easily snap thin, delicate protrusions.

Other Craft Materials To Try

There are many other types of crafts and fun materials that you want to try, from working with Shrinky Dinks to Leather Crafts and even household waste materials.

I always feel that Paper Mache is a close cousin to air-dry clay in the craft family, especially when you use the pulp method.

Michelle

Wednesday 21st of September 2022

Air dry clay is one of my favourite mediums to work with. It's just so easy, and you don't have to worry about overbaking your artwork either. Thanks for sharing all these new ideas too, Claire.

Claire Armstrong

Wednesday 21st of September 2022

Thank you. Yeah, it's great fun to play with and very tactile!