Clay Air

how do you make air dry clay?

I am looking for the easiest recipe for home-made air dry clay. I would also like to know the best way to colour it – some say food colouring and others say acrylic paint – What do you think?
Thanks for any help

There are many types of “air-dry” clay you can make yourself… they can be based on paper and paper products, on grains, or other things.

The most common type is probably “salt dough” clay made with flour and salt.
I like the smoothness and fine detail that’s possible with “bread clay” though myself (mostly white bread and “white” glue).
There are also all kinds of paper mash and papier mache, as well as cornstarch clays and other clay mixes which will air dry.
(You can find recipes for salt dough clay and bread clay easily by Googling those names, or just use the search term HOMEMADE CLAY to pull up a number of different types.)

As for built-in colorants, acrylic paint is used most often.
When it dries, it’s lightfast (…if it’s painted on top of the finished clay, it should also make the air-dry item waterproof or a coat of clear acrylic sealer will do the same thing).
Watercolors aren’t lightfast, I think, and definitely not waterproof so would *require* the clear sealer on top, plus their colors may not be as saturated as the acrylics –though the paste ones may be– or as cheap for the same amount. (You could use all kinds of colorants and inclusions though.)

HTH,

Diane B.

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