How to Make a Stylish Clay Bowl

This type of bowl is simple enough for children to make, and can be dressed as much as a talented adult would like.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Ready to use clay from a craft store, not play clay but the type that can be fired in a kiln or dried in an oven
• Rolling pin or dowel
• Cardboard to dry it on
• Plastic pot or coffee can (any thing which can elevate the center)
• Paint or glaze
• Leaves or other tools to make impressions in the clay

1. Roll clay out on the carboard with a piece of plastic to prevent it from sticking to the cardoard or the rolling pin. Roll to a thickness of 1/4 to 3/8 inches and about 15 to 18 inches in diameter.

2. You may now press leaves (or coins or any object into the clay to make decorative designs). Alternatively, you might write words or inscribe pictures into the clay.

3. Decide whether the decorative areas should be on the outside or inside of the bowl. Then drape the clay over either a pot, bowl or can--anything large enough to let you shape the drape into a bowl shape. Leave to dry in a safe dry place for 2 or 3 days.

4. Read the directions for the purchased clay. Some can be dried in an oven at low heat, but make sure that you do not put flammable items or plastic in the oven with it. Follow package directions for drying.

5. When dry you may add paint or glaze. This is not meant for food but purely for decorative use. At this point you may also add metallic leaf to the interior for a glamorous touch.

Tips & Warnings

• This is a very simplistic form of creating pottery. It makes a wonderful creative project, but the finished product must be handled with care.
• These need not be round--they can be squares or rectangles or even organic shapes. The goal is to create a bowl-like form. Draping the clay loosely over the object creates the bowl form.
• Never use these types of projects to hold food, especially acids like vinegar. In some instances a toxic substance can be created.