How to Make Air Dry Clay

Making sculptures with clay is the perfect craft for a rainy day. You can make it with your kids, then watch them play with the non-toxic, inexpensive clay for hours. Air dry clay can even be painted after it's fully dry. Make it completely from scratch with baking soda and cornstarch or try the quick version using school glue. For adult craft projects, try cold porcelain clay, which you can use to create finer sculptures.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Air Dry Clay from Scratch

  1. Image titled Make Air Dry Clay Step 1
    1
    Gather your supplies. This recipe for air dry clay can be made with ingredients you probably already have around the house. Check your pantry and assemble the following supplies:[1]
    • 2 cups baking soda
    • 1 cup cornstarch
    • 1 1/2 cups cold water
    • Food coloring (gel or liquid)
    • Old pot
    • Whisk
    • Bowl
  2. 2
    Add the baking soda and cornstarch to the pot. Use a spoon or a whisk to stir them together until the mixture is completely incorporated.
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  3. Image titled Make Air Dry Clay Step 3
    3
    Stir in the water. Whisk it until you no longer see any lumps, and the mixture is completely smooth.
  4. 4
    Stir in the food coloring. Add a few drops of food coloring to change the dough from white to red, blue, green, orange, or any other color you like. Just a few drops will turn the dough a pastel color. If you want a deeper color, add more food coloring until you're happy with the way it looks.
  5. 5
    Heat the dough over medium heat. Stir it constantly as it heats to keep it from sticking to the bottom of the pot.[2]
  6. Image titled Make Air Dry Clay Step 6
    6
    Whisk the dough until it thickens. It will begin to bubble, then thicken and form a ball after about five minutes of whisking. When it's difficult to move the whisk through the dough, remove it from heat.[3]
  7. 7
    Cool the dough. Transfer the hot dough to a bowl. Cover it with a wet dishcloth to keep the atmosphere in the bowl moist, and let it sit until the dough is completely cool.
  8. 8
    Knead the dough until it's smooth. As you knead, pay attention to the texture. If the dough seems sticky, add more cornstarch to help it thicken. If it's too thick, knead in a teaspoon of water.
  9. 9
    Mold and dry the dough. Make stars, fake food, dinosaurs, Christmas decorations or flowers. The sky's the limit! When you're finished, set your creations on a tray to dry.
    • This clay may take 24 to 48 hours to completely dry.
    • When it's dry, you can decorate the object with acrylic paint.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Air Dry Clay with Glue

  1. Image titled Make Air Dry Clay Step 10
    1
    Gather your supplies. This quick, no-cook recipe is a great go-to choice when you don't want to spend much time putting your clay together. All you need are the following supplies:
    • 2 cups cornstarch
    • 1 cup white school glue
    • Food coloring (gel or liquid)
    • Bowl
  2. 2
    Put the cornstarch in the bowl. 2 cups is a good amount to start with. With this simple recipe, you can easily add more; you'll just need more glue as well.
  3. 3
    Add the glue slowly. Add small amounts of glue to the container while stirring. Keep adding glue until the mixture reaches a good consistency—it should end up being about two parts cornstarch, one part glue.
    • If it's too crumbly, add more glue.
    • If it's too sticky, add more cornstarch.
  4. 4
    Color your clay. Add food coloring to the bowl and knead it in with your hands. If you want the clay to have a richer hue, add more coloring until it looks the way you want it to.
    • If you want to make clay in several colors, separate the batch into two or more parts and color each one separately.
  5. Image titled Make Air Dry Clay Step 14
    5
    Use the clay. You can use sandcastle molds and cookie cutters, or you can let your imagination run wild. Once you're satisfied with what you've made, set it in a cool, dry place to harden. In a few hours you can paint it and then voila! Your very own air dry clay creation.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Air Dry Cold Porcelain Clay

  1. Image titled Make Air Dry Clay Step 15
    1
    Gather your supplies. Cold porcelain clay is a great alternative to polymer air dry clay for craft projects like clay candle holders, jewelry and other small sculpted items. It's a delicate clay that shrinks up a bit as it dries. Here's what you'll need:
    • 1 cup cornstarch
    • 1 cup school grade white glue
    • 2 tablespoons white vinegar
    • 2 tablespoons canola oil
    • Plastic wrap
    • Microwave-safe bowl
    • Extra oil so the clay won't stick to your hands
  2. Image titled Make Air Dry Clay Step 16
    2
    Place the ingredients in the microwave-safe bowl. Add the wet ingredients first: the glue, vinegar and canola oil. Then stir in the cornstarch until the mixture is completely smooth with no lumps. The texture will be gooey.
  3. Image titled Make Air Dry Clay Step 17
    3
    Microwave on high for 15 seconds. Remove the bowl and stir the mixture, which will be hot and still gooey.
  4. Image titled Make Air Dry Clay Step 18
    4
    Microwave on high for another 15 seconds. Remove the bowl and stir the mixture. The surface should now be slightly firm instead of gooey.
  5. 5
    Microwave on high for a third time. Give it 10 or 15 more seconds, then remove the bowl and check the mixture. The clay should have pulled together to form a sticky, lumpy ball.
    • If the clay still looks gooey, microwave it for another 15 seconds. The finished clay should still be sticky and pliable; if it seems dry, you've overcooked it.
  6. 6
    Knead the clay. After it has cooled for a few moments, oil your hands with cooking oil and knead the clay for about three minutes, until it is smooth and stretchy in texture. Form it into a ball, then pull it apart to test it. The dough is ready when it stretches and forms a peak when you pull off a piece. If it breaks into bits, it's overcooked.
  7. 7
    Wrap it in plastic wrap for storage. If you're not going to use it right away, store it in tightly-wrapped plastic wrap to keep the moisture content high.
    • There are many varieties of clay.[4]
    • Decide whether you want to make pots or sculptures with your clay. The clay that is good for throwing on the wheel might not work for making a big sculpture.[5]
    • Then look up a clay formula in the ceramics magazine where they give you the exact proportions to make different types of clay.
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    Are there other ways to color it?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Yes, if you do not have food coloring you can use chalk pastels or even paint.
  • Question
    What can I use as a substitute for cornstarch?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    You can use flour but for 1 tablespoon of cornstarch, you would use 3 tablespoons of flour.
  • Question
    Can method 1 or 2 be stored before use?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Yes, they can. Use an airtight container and store the clay in it. Keep in a cool, dry place for best results.
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References

  1. ↑ http://artfulparent.com/2011/12/model-magic-crayola-vs-homemade.html
  2. ↑ http://artfulparent.com/2011/12/model-magic-crayola-vs-homemade.html
  3. ↑ http://www.southernasbiscuits.com/2011/11/homemade-model-magic.html
  4. ↑ https://www.artmolds.com/clay-types
  5. ↑ https://www.artistsandillustrators.co.uk/how-to/sculpture/beginners-guide-to-sculpting-in-clay/

About This Article

Natasha Dikareva, MFA
Co-authored by:
Natasha Dikareva, MFA
Clay Art Instructor
This article was co-authored by Natasha Dikareva, MFA. Natasha Dikareva is a San Francisco, California based sculptor, and installation artist. With over 25 years of ceramics, sculpting, and installation experience, Natasha also teaches a ceramic sculpture workshop titled "Adventures in Clay" covering concept development, hand-building techniques, texture, and glazing techniques. Her work has been featured in solo and group exhibitions at the Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts, Abrams Claghorn Gallery, Bloomington Center for the Arts, Maria Kravetz Gallery, and the American Museum of Ceramic Art. She has taught at the University of Minnesota and the American Indian OIC School. She has been awarded the Excellence Award at the 1st World Teapot Competition, Best in Show at the 4th Clay & Glass Biennial Competition, and a Grand Prize at the American Museum of Ceramic Art. Natasha holds an MFA from the University of Minnesota and a BFA from Kiev Fine Arts College. This article has been viewed 617,598 times.
5 votes - 100%
Co-authors: 36
Updated: February 11, 2023
Views: 617,598
Categories: Featured Articles | Making Clay
Article SummaryX

To make air dry clay, whisk together baking soda, cornstarch, and water in a pot until the mixture is smooth. If you want colored clay, add a few drops of food coloring to the mixture. Next, heat the dough over medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring it constantly so it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pot. Transfer the hot dough to a bowl and cover it with a wet dishcloth until the mixture has completely cooled, then knead the dough until it’s smooth. Make different shapes with the dough, then leave it on a tray for 24-48 hours until it’s dry. If you want to learn how to make clay using glue, keep reading!

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