How to Make Modeling Clay for Baking

Children can make their own modeling clay for baking in the oven.

On the next cold and rainy weekend, mix up some supplies found in the kitchen and stir up some creativity with modeling clay that is hardened in your oven. Children will enjoy sculpting small animals, dollhouse furniture and beads for handmade jewelry with the homemade clay. The clay can also be used to make holiday ornaments. After rolling out the clay with a rolling pin to an even thickness and cutting out cookie-cutter-shaped ornaments, the baked clay ornaments can be painted with acrylic paints.

Things You'll Need

• 2 cups flour
• 1 cup salt
• Mixing bowl
• 1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• Parchment paper
• Rolling pin
• Cookie sheet
• Kitchen oven
• Acrylic paints
• Artist’s sable paintbrush

Instructions

1. Pour the salt and flour into the bowl. Add the oil and water, one-quarter cup at a time, and mix the salt and flour together until you have a smooth and supple clay.

2. Cut a cookie-sheet-sized piece of parchment paper off the roll.

3. Roll the clay into a quarter-inch thickness with the rolling pin over the parchment paper. Use the cookie cutters to cut ornaments or make small sculptures or beads with the clay.

4. Place the parchment paper on the cookie sheet. Place the cookie sheet in a 250-degree Fahrenheit oven for 1 hour to harden the clay. Remove the cookie sheet from the oven and let the clay cool for 30 minutes.

5. Paint the hardened clay sculptures with the acrylic paint, using the sable artist’s paintbrush. Let the paint dry for 1 hour.

References

• “Creative Activities for Young Children”; Mary Mayeski; 2009
• “Super Simple Clay Projects”; Karen Latchana Kenney; 2009