How to use air dry clay

Air-dry clay is ideal for pottery, jewellery or making embellishments, without the need for a kiln or pottery wheel! In this article, learn how to stamp onto air-dry clay and make this air-dry clay dish.

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Holly Spanner

Published: July 8, 2024 at 9:46 am

Air-dry clay is a fantastic craft for people of all ages to enjoy, it's relatively inexpensive to pick up from your local craft store and you can get sculpting straight out of the box.

Air-dry clay comes in a range of colours, as well in more traditional colours like terracotta, stone and white.

In this article, we share an exclusive project tutorial on how to make an easy air-dry clay dish using your favourite stamps and some pigment ink. We also run through everything you need to know about how to use air-dry clay, we give you our recommendations for the best air-dry clay to buy, round up our favourite air dry clay project ideas from around the web, as well as lots of advice.

Do you have any tips and tricks for using air-dry clay or a favourite project? Let us know in the comments below!

If you like air-dry clay, why not check out some of our other clay crafts – like this cute clay trinket dish, or these fun clay salt spoons, or why not read up on all things pottery with our beginners guide to pottery.

We love seeing what you make, so don’t forget to share your papercraft projects with us on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter, too!

What is air dry clay?

Air-dry clay is a sculpting medium that does not need to be heated for it to cure, or set hard - as the name suggests, it hardens in the air. Air-dry clay is different to other clays, for example, polymer clay or pottery clay (earthenware clays, stoneware clays, ball clays, fire clays and porcelain clays), as room temperature is sufficient for it to harden, after which it can be decorated in a wide variety of different ways.

Some air-dry clays undergo minor shrinkage as the moisture leaves the clay and they dry out, so keep this in mind if you're making something to be a specific size.

How to store air-dry clay

Keep air-dry clay wrapped in clingfilm and in an air-tight container (Tupperware is a great option) when not in use - to retain as much moisture as possible and prevent it from drying out prematurely. Air-dry clays come wrapped in air-tight packages, so be sure to only open the package when you are ready to get sculpting.

How long does air-dry clay take to dry?

Air-dry clay is relatively slow drying. This is ideal as you don't need to worry about having to work fast - you can take your time sculpting the clay before setting it aside to dry. Air-dry clay takes between 24-48 hours to dry, depending on the brand or size of the project. Smaller air dry clay projects will dry much quicker than larger projects.

Buy air-dry clay

1. DAS 1kg modelling clay

Buy now: £5.70, Amazon

When starting out - a lot of crafters opt for DAS modelling clay. It's readily available from all good craft shops and comes in handy 1kg size blocks.

2. Nylon reinforced air drying clay, terracotta

Buy now: £17.95, Amazon

If you're running a class, or are looking to batch make air dry clay projects (perhaps for a side hustle?), then this big 12.5kg bag of traditional terracotta-coloured air dry clay is just the ticket.

3. Nylon reinforced air drying clay, stone

Buy now: £19.95, Amazon

This air-dry clay has nylon fibres that help to reinforce it, reducing the risk of your model cracking whilst drying. It comes in whopping 12.5kg bags, too.

4. Esand air dry clay

Buy now: £15.59, Amazon

This is a different type of air-dry clay, it's lighter and foamier than traditional air dry clay. It's easier to work with than traditional clay, and it's softer, too, so it's ideal for little hands. This set includes 36 colours, all with individual tubs so it stays nice and fresh.

5. Pott'd air dry clay pottery kit

Buy now: £39.00, Amazon

Want all the kit? This air-dry clay kit has everything you need to create your own unique clay creations at home, including acrylic paints, brushes, base coat, sealant, sculpting tools and of course, the air dry clay.

6. Make your own clay pot kit

Buy now: £13.99, Etsy

This mini air dry clay kit from MabelandIvy on Etsy contains 1kg of premium air dry clay, craft tools, black acrylic paint and a brush for detailing.

7. DAS multipack 5 x 1kg air dry clay

Buy now: £21.14, Amazon

If you know you're going to be making a lot - buying in bulk is a great way to ensure that you won't always be looking to replenish your stash.

8. Sago Brothers air dry clay kit

Buy now: £16.99, Amazon

This lightweight coloured air dry clay is great value - you get 24 colours, plus a 72-page tutorial book, tools and spare bags to put your opened clay in. Check out our

9. FIMO air drying clay

Buy now: £7.25, Amazon

If you have ever used FIMO polymer clay, you'll know the name is synonymous with quality. This air-dry clay variety from FIMO comes in white, pale pink and terracotta colours. It's easy to rework, but don't just take our word for it - it's got great reviews on Amazon, so click on the link and read them for yourself!

How to use air-dry clay

Make this easy air-dry clay dish following our step-by-step tutorial!

You will need:

Air-dry clay, terracotta
Stamps
Pigment ink pads, white
Bowl
Rolling pin
Protective mat (or newspaper)
Knife
Sandpaper, fine-grained
Water

Step 1

How to use air dry clay, air dry clay projects – step 1

Take your air-dry clay out of the packet. It probably feels quite cool to the touch, so section off the amount you need, and knead until the clay becomes more pliable. Store the remaining clay in the original packaging, in an airtight container to keep it fresh for when you need it next.

Step 2

How to use air dry clay, air dry clay projects – step 2

Using a rolling pin, roll out your air-dry clay onto a protective surface. I’m making a fairly small bowl, so this clay measures approximately 15cm x 15cm wide, by 4mm thick. Acrylic rolling pins are best for clay, and if you can’t find them in the modelling aisle of your local craft store, check out the cake decorating section as they are often used to roll out icing. This rolling pin from Sculpey is the one I used.

Put any “waste" back into the airtight container and save it for another project.

Step 3

How to use air dry clay, air dry clay projects – step 3

Using a permanent pigment ink, ink up your stamp. I’m using this large stamp to cover the area I need in one go, but if you only have smaller stamps, it’s a good idea to experiment with patterns and layouts by stamping your design on a piece of paper first. I’ve used the Tsukineko Brilliance ink pad in the colour Moonlight White as it’s a permanent pigment ink and it contrasts with the red clay.

Step 4

How to use air dry clay, air dry clay projects – step 4

Go ahead and stamp your clay with your design. You can use other types of ink, but if possible try to stick to pigment ink, as it’s fade-resistant and won’t be affected by the sunlight.

Step 5

How to use air dry clay, air dry clay projects – step 5

Cut a circle from your stamped clay. An easy way to do this is to lay a bowl or other circular object over the clay and cut around the edge with a knife.

Step 6

How to use air dry clay, air dry clay projects – step 6

Peel away the excess clay from around the edge, leaving just a stamped circle of air-dry clay! If you have any jagged edges that are bothering you, dip a paintbrush into some water and gently brush the edges down. Be sparing with the water – you don’t need much, just enough to get the paintbrush damp.

Step 7

How to use air dry clay, air dry clay projects – step 7

Next, carefully lift your air-dry clay circle up, and lay it into your bowl. Gently press the clay down using your fingers, working your way gradually and evenly across the design, being careful not to squash it too much.

When selecting your bowl, choose one that is fairly shallow and wide, rather than a deeper bowl with high sides. This will prevent the sides of your clay bowl from wrinkling as you lower the clay into the bowl.

Step 8

How to use air dry clay, air dry clay projects – step 8

Now, leave your air-dry clay creation to dry! I left this one for around 4 days to dry thoroughly. Halfway through the drying process, I removed the clay bowl from the outer bowl and left it to dry upside down on the bottom of the bowl.

To get the clay bowl out of the original bowl, gently apply pressure to the sides of the bowl and press to slide the clay free. You can also turn it upside down over a soft surface (a towel laid out on your desk works well) and gently tap the bottom of your bowl to release the clay.

Step 9

How to use air dry clay, air dry clay projects – step 9

When both sides of the bowl are dry, take some sandpaper and gently sand the edges to remove any rough areas.

Step 10

How to use air dry clay, air dry clay projects – step 10

Sanding the dry clay creates a very fine (messy) powder. Make sure you work in a well-ventilated area and rid your masterpiece of unwanted powder by brushing gently with a paintbrush. And that’s it!

You can varnish your bowl, or add extra colour by painting with acrylic paint – but I’m going for the rustic look, so I’ve left this one plain.

How to use air dry clay – air dry clay dish 4

How to paint air dry clay

If you’re planning on painting or adding decoration to your masterpiece, depending on the type of model you’re making, it’s sometimes easier to work with white clay as this provides a brighter base to begin with. If you’re working with dark coloured clay, it’s a good idea to prime the surface first using a white undercoat before painting. Check out our acrylic painting guide or if you’re in the mood for some retail therapy, read up on our pick of the best acrylic paint sets.

Acrylic paint (or acrylic-base paint pens) is ideal for painting air-dry clay, as it brushes onto the surface easily and smoothly, and dries relatively quickly. If possible try to avoid oil-based paints as they can take significantly longer to dry and will smudge easily.

To seal your clay, use Mod Podge, varnish or acrylic sealer to add waterproofing and prevent moisture from interfering with your hard work once it’s dry. If your creation is going to be spending time outdoors, be sure to use the outdoor Mod Podge instead of the regular Mod Podge designed for decoupage.

How to make air-dry clay embellishments – completed air-dry clay embellishments on cards

How to create air-dry clay embellishments

Make your own card toppers with lightweight clay and silicone moulds!
Using embellishments can really add something special to your cards, but the downside is that they usually only come in very small packs. If you get yourself some silicone moulds (can also be found in the cake decorating section of craft stores), then making air-dry clay embellishments for your cards and papercraft has never been easier.
If you’re using a polymer clay like Fimo, you can mix colours together to create new ones. Then once dry, the embellishments were coated by brushing with white paint or adding antiquing cream for a shabby chic look.
It’s really easy to create two-tone embellishments by simply adding different colours of clay into selected areas of the moulds. You can also create an impressive gilded effect by painting them with a gold or silver metallic paint.