How to Make a Flower From Clay
There are a variety of clay-like products available today, in a rainbow of colors, for anyone, young or old, to use for easy craft projects. Creating flowers from these clays is not difficult, and they're extremely popular because of the many ways the flowers can be used. Add a few leaves and attach the flowers to pin backs, hair barrettes, ceramic boxes, or jewelry dishes, the possibilities are endless.
Things You'll Need
- Clay-polymer, modeling, air dried, oven-baked finished, or home-made
- Bowl of water
- Glass, bottle, or rolling pin
- Knife
- Tongue depressor or popsicle stick
Instructions
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Make a Clay Rose
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1
Select the type and color of clay you wish to use. Polymer clays, either air-dried or oven-baked finished, are available at craft and hobby stores or on the internet. (see Resource #1). There are also recipes available for making your own craft clay. (see Resource #2)
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2
When craft clay is first unwrapped it can be stiff. Kneading it a little makes it softer and more workable.
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3
Roll or pound the clay into a large flat piece that is about 1/8-inch thick, using a glass, bottle, or rolling pin. You can also pound it flat with the palm of your hand, but that will result in an uneven thickness.
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4
Cut 8 to 12 rose petals out of the flat piece. The petals should vary in size from a narrower width and slightly shorter length, to very broad outer petals.
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5
Take 2 or 3 of the narrow petals and attach them together at the base with a little water.
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6
Add the next widest petals to the group, attaching them at the base with a tiny bit of water and blending the clay together using your finger or a popsicle stick. As you attach the petals, carefully pinch the top and side edges thinner, and slightly flare out the edges to create a natural ruffle effect.
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7
Repeat Step 6 using the widest petals for the outside of the rose. Pinch and flare out the edges of the outer most petals more dramatically to give a natural appearance. If a stem, such as a small wood dowel, is to be added later, make a hole, using the dowel, in the bottom of the rose; the stem can be added, with glue, after the rose has dried. Most clays have some shrinkage during drying, so the hole needs to be slightly larger than the stem.
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8
Follow the directions of the particular clay you chose to use as to drying or hardening the clay rose. If the directions are to air-dry, place the rose in an area where it won't be disturbed. If baking is needed for the clay, the instructions will be on the package or recipe.
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Tips & Warnings
Use this same technique to make other broad-petal flowers like violets and poppies. Before rolling out the clay, you might try mixing a complementary-colored clay with the main clay. Do this by folding and kneading the two colors together, creating 'streaks' or a marbling effect of color within the base-colored clay. It is not necessary to use all the petals you cut. Stop adding petals when you feel the rose is full enough. Return the extra petals to the remaining clay that you have stored in an air-tight container or bag.
