How to Harden Crazy Art Clay

Various items -- including jewelry -- can be made from clay.

Crazy art clay is a modeling clay used for various craft projects. Crazy art clay is available in various types including oven-hardening clay, polymer clay and self-hardening clay. The package the clay came in will inform you of what type of crazy art clay you have. When you want to preserve the art you created with the clay, harden the crazy art clay using your home’s oven. Even though hardening the art clay is not a difficult process, you can ruin the art by using excessive heat or leaving it in the oven for too long.

Things You'll Need

• Baking sheet
• Parchment paper
• Oven mitt

Instructions

1. Open the windows in the kitchen to ventilate the fumes produced by the clay. These fumes can cause you to become ill if you do not ventilate the area.

2. Preheat an empty oven at 275-degrees Fahrenheit. Most forms of clay -- including polymer, self-hardening and oven-hardening -- bake at low temperatures under 300-degrees.

3. Cover a clean baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the crazy art clay on the parchment paper-covered baking sheet and set inside the oven.

4. Allow the clay the bake for 20 to 25 minutes until hardened. Check the progress of the clay frequently watching for signs of browning or melting. If the clay begins to burn, brown or melt, the oven temperature is too high.

5. Cover your hand with an oven mitt and remove the baking sheet out of the oven. Let the crazy art clay cool for several hours.

References

• Sarajane's Polyclay Gallery: Frequently Asked Questions About Polymer Clay
• Polymer Clay Jewelry: How Do I Bake Polymer Clay?