With DIY crafts becoming more popular and ceramic art taking over social media feeds, working with clay is having a major moment. Whether you're just starting out or have some experience under your belt, air dry clay offers a simple and fun way to explore this creative hobby at home.
If you're new to clay crafting, there are a few essential tools you'll want to have on hand, and opting for an air dry clay kit can be an excellent starting point.
We put the Jasmine Pottery Studios Clay at Home Kit for Two to the test, crafting a plant pot to see if it has everything needed for a successful project. Keep reading to find out how it turned out!
Jump straight to:
- Summary
- How we tested
- Jasmine Studios Plant Pot Clay Pottery Kit review
- Where to buy Jasmine Studios Plant Pot Clay Pottery Kit
- Our verdict: should you buy Jasmine Studios Plant Pot Clay Pottery Kit
- Looking for more air dry clay kits?
Summary
This is a great kit with plenty of good quality clay, though a board would’ve been a nice addition. The inclusion of paints and sealant made up for it, allowing me to complete my pot from start to finish.
- Buy now from Etsy (£34)
How we tested
I tested the kit by following the instructions to create a plant pot using a pinch pot technique, though I had to use my own board and scraping tool since these weren’t included.
I assessed the kit based on five key criteria: contents, ease of use, clay quality, and final results.
I evaluated the items provided, including the tools, clay amount, paints, and varnishes. I also considered how beginner-friendly the kit was, the clarity of the instructions, ease of molding, and if the drying times were accurate.
For clay quality, I focused on texture, pliability, smoothness after drying, and durability. Finally, I judged the final results based on the appearance and durability of the finished pot.
The results
Jasmine Studios Plant Pot Clay Pottery Kit review
Key features
- Tools: 5
- Clay: 1.5kg
- Instructions:
- Paints: 6
- Varnish: Yes
- RRP: £34
What's included- 4/5
When I first opened the Jasmine Pottery Studios Plant Pot kit, I was pleasantly surprised by the pretty orange tissue wrapping that held all the clay and tools—a nice touch! The kit came with everything needed to get started, including tools, paints, and sealant, which was great.
However, the kit didn’t include a board, so I’d recommend using an old chopping board or a table you don’t mind getting messy. Just a heads up—newspaper or greaseproof paper will stick to the clay. While you can use those to protect your table, you’ll still need a sturdy board for manipulating the clay.
I also noticed the kit didn’t include a scraping tool, even though the instructions suggested using an old credit card for that purpose. Luckily, I had a scraping tool on hand that worked well. The kit also lacked a sponge or a water mixing bowl, so I improvised with my hands and an old cup.
- 2 bags air dry clay (750g each) with instructions on how to make a plant pot on the back
- 6 acrylic colours (black, orange, yellow ochre, green deep, sap green, permanent green light)
- 5 wooden tools
- 2 brushes
- Mixing palette
- Sealer
Ease of use - 4/5
At first, without a proper board, the clay was a bit tricky and sticky to handle. But once I found an old board to use, things got a lot easier.
The instructions on the back of each clay packet could've been clearer. There weren't any size references for how much clay to use or how thick to make it. Thankfully, there's an instructional video on the Jasmine Pottery Studios website that was super helpful.
The carving tool provided was a bit wide for my liking—I would’ve preferred something finer for making more delicate cuts on the base. A size guide for the project would’ve been nice, too. But overall, the clay was pretty easy to mould and work with.
Clay quality - 4/5
The clay was quite thick and tough to work with at first, but once it warmed up and got a bit wetter, it became much easier to handle.
It took about 36 hours for the clay to dry completely, and I was happy to see that there was no cracking at all.
The clay was very porous when it came time to paint. Although the instructions suggested painting directly onto the clay, I wondered if it might have been better to seal it first, then paint, and seal again afterward.
As for the paints, the quality was decent. The green was much thicker and more vibrant than the orange, which required three coats to really pop.
I went with the earth tones pack, but the kit also offers primary colours or pastel shades as options.
Final results - 5/5
I’m very happy with my pot and love the design. The orange paint did require three coats, but the final look is great.
I would have preferred to smooth out the pot a bit more with a sponge, though I’m pleased with the rustic finish. In hindsight, measuring the top size before drying might have been a good idea.
Value for money - 5/5
I think this kit offers excellent value for money. At just £34, you get 1.5kg of clay, which is more than most other kits out there! The inclusion of paint and sealer is a nice bonus.
While the instructions weren’t as detailed as those in the LDN Wildflower air dry clay kit, they were still effective, especially with the help of the online video.
The only missing items were a board and a scraper tool, but the generous amount of clay for such a low price more than makes up for it.
Where to buy Jasmine Studios Plant Pot Clay Pottery Kit
- Buy now from Etsy (£34)
Our verdict: should you buy Jasmine Studios Plant Pot Clay Pottery Kit?
Whether you're a beginner embarking on your pottery journey, a seasoned pro, or simply seeking a fun date idea, I highly recommend the Jasmine Studios Plant Pot Clay Pottery Kit. It's a fantastic, creative activity that's easy to use and offers excellent value for money.
Looking for more air dry clay kits?
If you're still browsing and want to find more pottery kits to choose from, check out our roundup of the best air dry clay kits!
