How to Make an Air Dry Clay Vase
Air-dry clay is the perfect starter clay for young crafters and novice potters: it is inexpensive and can be dried at home, rather than in a kiln. Make this fun clay vase with your children. You can paint it and use it for dried or artificial flowers or pencils. This is the perfect gift for a special friend or family member, and is a particularly effective Mother's Day gift.
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Instructions
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Break off only as much clay as you will use to make the vase. Wrap the rest in plastic so that it does not dry out.
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Work the clay in your hands until it is soft. If the clay begins to dry out at any time during the vase-making process, simply wet your fingertips and rub the moisture on the clay surface.
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Roll the clay between the work surface and the palm of your hand until it forms a long 'snake'. Ensure that the clay snake is the same width throughout.
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Curl the end of the clay snake in on itself to make a tiny clay circle. Spiral the clay around this circle until the base is as large as you want the base of the vase to be. Ensure that the spirals are touching each other.
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Continue to spiral the clay, but now spiral it on top of itself along the outer rim of the base, to make the cylindrical body of the vase. Keep adding rows of clay on top of the one beneath until the vase is as high as you would like it to be. Pinch the clay off and store the excess for later use.
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Dip your finger into the water and then run it over the pinched off end until it is smoothed into the vase body. Dip your finger into the water again and run it over any areas where there are marks or inconsistencies in the vase surface.
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Leave your vase to dry. This will take several hours, if not overnight. Make sure it is not disturbed until completely dry.
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Tips & Warnings
Cover your work surface with plastic wrap to reduce cleaning.
For a smooth vase surface, run your fingers over the outside of the vase while applying gentle pressure. Continue to do so until the vase is completely smooth.
If you want a textured vase look, press objects or fabric into the clay.
You can write messages or names onto the vase with the tip of a wooden skewer or toothpick.
Paint the vase with acrylic paint for decoration. If you intend to create a waterproof vase, paint with oil paints and coat with lacquer. You also need to press the coils of clay firmly together so that there are no holes through which water can escape.
References
Resources
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