How to Make a Vase With Air Hardening Modeling Clay
Air hardening modeling clay, like porcelain and some other varieties, gives you the opportunity to create a multitude of items for decoration and functionality without having to fire the final product in a kiln. Knowing how to make a vase with air hardening clay gives you the ability to practice with this pliable medium that can be enjoyed for endless projects in arts and crafts. A homemade vase made of air-hardening clay of any texture or variety can be used to hold flowers; or simply as a mantel accent in your home.
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Things You'll Need
- 1 lb. air drying clay
- Clay knife
- Pasta roller
- Flexible jewelry wire roll
- Scissors
- Watercolor brush
- Dish of water
Instructions
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1
Chop the 1 lb. block of clay in half. Roll each half through the pasta roller into flattened sheets measuring 1/8 inch thickness. They don't have to be perfectly rectangular.
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2
Snip two 7 inch length of wires from the roll. Snip four lengths of wire measuring 12 inches. Shape each 7 inch length of wire into a disc shape. Twist the ends together of each length of wire.This creates circles measuring approximately 6 3/4 inches in diameter.
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3
Bend one end of each remaining length of wire in a hooked shape. Wrap the hooked end of each length of wire around one of the round wire discs. Do this loosely, so as to allow the attached wires to slide around the ring. Bend the free end of each dangling wire into a hooked shape.
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4
Wind the hooked ends around the other wire ring in the same manner as described above. Sit the 3-D wire form you just created upright.
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5
Use your hands to shape the wire form into the shape of a vase. Squeeze it so that it is concave approximately 2 inches from the top ring. Smooth out the wire and shape it as you want. It should still be able to sit upright without toppling when you sit it down.
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6
Cut strips of flattened clay measuring 1 inch wide by 6 inches long. Wrap each strip around the wire form, pressing the clay into the wire to conceal it adequately. This step takes a few minutes, and you may need as many as 50 strips to complete this. You can also customize the size of the strips you use for your own style. Cover the entire outer surface of the "vase" wire.
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7
Dip the paintbrush into the dish of water to dampen it. Sweep it across the seams of each strip of clay to moisten the clay in these areas. Use your fingers to smudge and shape these areas to make the vase appear seamless.
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8
Cut a disc shape out of the remaining flattened clay measuring close to the bottom of your vase. Adhere it to the bottom of the vase and then smooth the edges of the clay disc into the edges of the clay hanging around the lower sides of the vase.
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9
Sit the clay vase on a waxed paper covered surface for 48 to 52 hours so it can adequately dry.
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Tips & Warnings
Drag an old dinner fork across the surface of the drying vase as you twist it to give it that old fashioned pottery look.
Use a clay carving toolkit to shave blemishes from the vase and even its appearance.
Paint your dried vase and embellish as you see fit.
References
Resources
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