Air-dry clay can be a lot harder to work with than you would think. To help on your crafting journey Sock Goblins wanted to provide you with some tips we learned along the way in our crafting journey.
Cracking in clay
When working with air-dry clay, you may add too much water. As the clay shrinks, it may begin to crack. Don’t worry, not all is lost. For minor cracks, you can fill them in with slip!
Dry out the clay
When working with air-dry clay, it’s best to allow your projects to dry for 72 hours before applying paint. This will give it proper time to harden and won’t leave you with any projects that aren’t dry in the middle.
Always knead your clay.
Kneading your clay allows it to become more maluable and mixes all those good clay ingredients together. It’s always a good idea to knead your clay. Especially when you’re adding water to your clay. Below is a video walking you through how to knead clay!
Sealing clay
Since air-dry clay is well air dry. It is extremely vulnerable to water. It’s always a good idea to seal your project with modge podge or some other sealant after painting. This can even protect your gorgeous paint job from getting damaged!
How to store your air-dry clay
Air-dry clay like the name suggests, will dry out when exposed to air. To avoid this, you can store your clay in ziplock bags. It’s always a good idea to double-bag just in case you don’t close it properly, or it has a secret hole.
What to do with dried-out clay
If your clay has already dried out, don’t fear! This has happened to everyone. You can easily recycle dryer clay into slip by allowing it to soak in a bowl of water for a day or so. Check in every few hours to see what the clay’s consistency is. It’s also a good idea, when possible, to work that water into the clay. You can also recycle any clay scraps you may have into slip.
Emma. (2021, June 16). Air dry clay tips and tricks. Gathering Beauty. https://www.gatheringbeauty.com/blog/air-dry-clay-tips-tricks
Wedging Clay: Ram’s Head method. (2020, November 22). Wedging Clay: Ram’s Head method [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/iWXuY1xKEV8