How to Make Bakers Clay

There are many craft projects that you can create, once you learn to make bakers clay. The clay is easy to shape into holiday ornaments, ashtrays, art sculptures, cornucopias, baskets and other objects. Here's how to work with it.

Things You'll Need

• 4 cups flour
• 1 1/2 cups salt
• 1 1/2 cups water
• Bowl
• Oven
• Ungreased cookie sheet
• Measuring cup
• Mixing spoon
• Paintbrush (option)
• Food coloring (optional)
• Beaten egg (optional)
• Paint, shellac or varnish (optional)

Instructions

1. Combine the flour and salt in a plastic bowl.

2. Add the water very gradually, mixing into the flour and salt with a mixing spoon.

3. Knead the dough once a ball forms around the mixing spoon while you are adding the water. If the dough is crumbly, slowly add more water.

4. Knead the dough for approximately 8 to 10 minutes.

5. Form, sculpt or mold the bakers dough into your craft project.

6. Place the dough on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for the number of minutes specified for your craft project at 300 degrees. The baking time will need to be adjusted, depending on your craft project. If your project does not have a specific baking time, bake your piece until it is hard, but not brown.

7. When your craft project is almost finished baking and appears dry, paint your piece with a beaten egg to make it slightly golden. You can apply the beaten egg 2 or 3 times for a darker gold. Once your project is cool, you can paint it with acrylic paint. You also can apply varnish or shellac at that time.

Tips & Warnings

• Add food coloring to the dough to make colored dough.

• To repair a crack that appears while baking, patch the area with slightly moist dough and continue baking.

• Unused bakers clay can be stored in the refrigerator for a few days, in an air tight covered plastic bowl, jar or a sealed plastic bag.

• If you have made colored dough, don't paint it with the beaten egg.

Resources

• Visit this site for lots of great craft projects