Use Air Dry Clay to Make A Mother’s Day Gift

In the U.S., Mother’s Day is the second Sunday in May. It’s time to get grandkids working on a Mother’s Day Gift.

This year, we’re working with air dry clay. I had bought a five-pound tub as a backup for Miss T, when I gave her a pottery wheel for Christmas. It’s either too frustrating to use or she has lost interest, because she hasn’t asked for more clay.

This clay is sticky so it’s not as easy to work with as polymer clay. The benefit: air dry clay hardens by being exposed to air; you have to bake polymer clay.

As a first-time user, I found some helpful tips for working with air dry clay and a Q & A with more useful information. Then I experiment and here’s what I learned.

Kids can make a love jar for a Mother’s Day gift.

How to Roll Out Air Dry Clay

Be sure to protect all work surfaces before you start. To roll out, I tried sandwiching a lump of clay between two layers of wax paper, then I tried parchment paper. In each case, the clay stuck a little to the paper. When I used plastic wrap, the clay came away clean.

To roll out the clay on plastic wrap, be sure you’ve smoothed it out so you don’t end up wrinkles in your finished project. Lay another sheet of plastic wrap smoothly over the clay, then roll out with a rolling pin.

More Mother’s Day Ideas for Kids

From a google search, it appears that air dry clay isn’t toxic, so you can use your cookie cutters. To wash off dried-out clay, just soak it in water and the clay will come right off.

How to Dry Air Dry Clay

First, I dried the clay pieces on parchment paper, turning once, halfway through the drying. Air-dry clay takes about 24 hours to feel dry; 72 hours to dry completely, with fluctuations based on weather and the size of your work.

Afterwards, I thought of drying the pieces on a cooling rack for better air circulation. That seemed to work, although the clay pieces may not dry as flat, since the entire underside of the project isn’t sitting on a flat surface. You’ll have to experiment.

Mother’ Day Gifts to Make from Air Dry Clay

• Baby’s Foot Paperweight. Press baby’s foot into a disk of air dry clay to make a keepsake gift for mom. Air dry. Be sure to date the paperweight. Or turn this footprint into a wall plaque by poking holes for hanging before drying. Run a ribbon through the holes for hanging.
• Ring dish. Set a cut-out heart in a small bowl lined with plastic wrap to form raised sides. Air dry.
• Pinch pots. Start with a ball of clay, and working from the center pinch to the edges of the ball with fingers until you have a pot shape. Air dry. Mom can store anything from paper clips to baubles in this pot.
• Coasters. Roll out clay to an even thickness. Cut with a large biscuit cutter or the rim of a glass cup turned upside down. Imprint a pattern by pressing a leaf into the clay. (We used a geranium leaf.) Air dry. You don’t need a set; kids could just make one for mom.

Finishing the Project

When dry, air dry clay is not waterproof. You can make it water resistant (not waterproof) by painting with acrylic paints and finishing with PVA glue (such as Elmer’s glue). Review the recommendations for varnishes and sealants to give you a range of choices.

Finished clay pieces can be a little rough, especially when made by a child. You might want to sand the bottom with sandpaper or an old nail file to be sure the piece doesn’t scratch good furniture. Alternatively, glue a felt bottom using some Elmer’s glue.

Make a spice bottle vase for a Mother’s Day gift.

Mother’s Day is a good time for grandparents to help grandkids appreciate all that their mom does for them. Work with the kids to make a gift to honor mom on her special day.

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