How to Make Baker's Clay Ornaments, Pottery and Figurines

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Baker's clay is simple to make using ordinary kitchen ingredients. When baked, the clay becomes rock hard and can be used to create decorative pottery, figurines, ornaments, and pieces for a variety of craft ideas.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

4 C Flour
1 C Salt
1.5 C Water
Mixing Bowl
Measuring Cups/Spoons
Rolling Pin
Cookie Cutters/Kitchen Utensils (for forming shapes)
Food Coloring (optional)
Tempera Paints and Brushes (optional)
Masking Tape/Stickers (optional)
Clear or Spray Enamel (optional)
Embroidery Thread (optional)

Step1

Mix flour and salt in mixing bowl.

Step2

Gradually add water to dry ingredients and gently mix with fingers until the dough is smooth. You can add water a few drops at a time if the dough is too stiff. For pre-colored baker's clay, add 7 or 8 drops of food coloring to the water before mixing with dry ingredients. You will want to use plain water if you plan to paint the clay after baking.

Step3

Roll out the dough and form shapes using cookie cutters, bowls, knives, fingers or household/kitchen objects. For ornaments that you plan to hang, be sure to poke a 1/4 to 1/2 inch hole near the top of the ornament before baking. Plastic drinking straws work well for this purpose.

Step4

Bake the shapes in a preheated 350 degree oven until the pieces are hard. This can take anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour, if the pieces are very thick. "Cookie cutter" pieces from rolled out dough should only take 10-15 minutes. Cool on baking rack.

Step5

Paint the ornaments with tempera paints, and finish with clear or spray enamel for a lasting finish. If you like, put masking tape or shaped stickers on ornaments before painting to create designs (remove before baking). Use embroidery thread or Christmas ornament hooks to hang ornaments.