How to make my own air dry clay trinket dish

Step by step

1. 01

   Lay baking paper on a clean, smooth table. Take the clay you need from the packet and wrap the rest tightly straight away, because it starts drying the moment it meets air. Knead your piece for a minute until it feels smooth and even.

2. 02

   Put the two wooden guides on either side of the clay and roll it out between them until the rolling pin rides on the guides. This gives an even 5 mm (1/4 inch) slab. Uneven thickness is the main cause of cracks, because thin parts dry and shrink faster than thick ones.

3. 03

   Lay the template on the slab and cut around it with the knife held upright. Lift away the extra clay and wrap it up for later.

4. 04

   Dip a finger in water, shake most of it off, and run it around the cut edge to round it off. Smooth the top surface with the damp sponge. Use only a little water: a slimy surface is too wet and will crack as it dries.

5. 05

   Line the small bowl with cling film. Lift the clay circle and press it gently into the bowl so it takes on a curve, or simply pinch and lift the rim up all the way round with your fingers for a flatter, freeform dish. Smooth any creases with a damp finger.

6. 06

   Add any texture or details now while the clay is soft: press in a leaf, stamp letters, or scratch a pattern with a toothpick. Fill hairline cracks by rubbing in a little paste made from clay and a few drops of water.

7. 07

   Let it dry slowly at room temperature, away from radiators and direct sun. After about 12 hours, lift it out of the bowl so the base can dry, and turn it over now and then. It is fully dry when it is lighter, evenly pale all over and no longer feels cool to the touch, usually after 24 to 72 hours.

8. 08

   Sand the dry dish outdoors or over a damp cloth. Start with 220 grit on the rim and any bumps, then finish with 400 grit until it feels smooth. Wipe off the dust with a barely damp cloth and let it dry for an hour.

9. 09

   Paint with acrylics in thin coats, letting each coat dry before the next. Two thin coats give a smoother finish than one thick one. Gold or metallic paint on the rim looks smart and hides small chips.

10. 10

    Seal the whole dish, inside, outside and underneath, with two or three thin coats of water-based varnish, drying each coat as the tin says. The varnish protects against fingermarks and the odd damp ring, but it does not make the dish waterproof. Leave it 24 hours before using it.

Notes

• Common failure: cracks appearing as it dries. The usual causes are drying too fast (near a heater or in the sun), uneven thickness, or too much water while smoothing. Fix small cracks by pressing in a paste of clay and water, letting it dry, then sanding it level.
• Air-dry clay is not food-safe and not waterproof, even when varnished. Do not use it for food, drinks, soap or plant pots. Wet it and it softens again.
• If you want a dish that can hold a damp sponge or soap, use oven-bake polymer clay instead and follow the temperature on the packet.
• Wrapped tightly in cling film inside a sealed bag, opened clay keeps for weeks. If it gets a little stiff, knead in a few drops of water.
• To make a matching set, cut every dish from the same slab with the same template, and dry them side by side so they shrink the same amount.

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