Inside: The best, most beautiful, fun and easy air dry clay ideas for adults and kids. Many would make wonderful handmade gifts or craft ideas to sell.
As a child, there was no tech to keep me occupied; we didn’t even have daytime telly. My mum used to sit my sister and me down at the kitchen table with plasticine and a few basic tools. We’d spend hours moulding and shaping.
As an adult, I still love to mould and shape, but this time it’s with air dry clay, and I make beautiful, useful things for my home or to gift.
Air dry clay is a fantastic affordable material for various crafting ideas and projects. It’s straightforward to use and is non-toxic, so suitable for kids too.
Air dry clay looks and feels like traditional clay but doesn’t need to be fired in a kiln or heated in the oven. It hardens naturally in the air. Then, it can be sanded and painted.
Like traditional clay, it is versatile; it can be moulded, rolled, cut and embossed with textures. It comes in various colours, but most projects use white clay and decorate with paint. Even a version of air dry clay comes in a terracotta colour.
The Air Dry Clay Ideas
I have selected the best collection of crafting projects that use air drying; most of them are for adults. There are a few I’m sure the kids would love to try too.
At the end of the list, I have compiled a series of helpful and frequently asked questions and tips for using air dry clay.
Air Dry Clay Ideas and Projects
The best, most beautiful, fun air dry clay ideas for adults and kids. Many would make wonderful handmade gifts or craft ideas to sell.
Air Dry Clay Candle + Match Holder Strike Plate - Home Design + DIY
Embossed Star Decorations
Learn how to make these pretty embossed stars using air-dry clay in this step-by-step tutorial.
Clay Knobs
Learn how to craft Inexpensive Air Dry Clay KNOBS that look and feel like the real deal, except are a fraction of the cost.
DIY 3D Flower Wall Hanging
Make a gorgeous flower decoration for the wall, with air dry clay.
Beautiful Candle Holders
With clay and copper and then marbleized, these candle holders add glamour to any tablescape.
DIY Clay & Rope Pot
A unique clay and rope bowl is one of many gorgeous clay projects by Fransesca. She's even written a book on air dry clay.
Easy DIY Wildflower Seed Bombs
Throw these bombs in the garden and then let nature take action and you'll end up with lovely wildflowers come spring.
DIY Moon Phase Wall Mobile
A fun air dry clay project for astronomy fans.
DIY Bottle Vase (Step-by-Step Tutorial)
Make your DIY bottle vase with air-drying clay and decorate your home with a creative touch.
DIY Air Dry Clay Ring Dish
Make a cute little clay ring dish with hand-painted accents! These darling dishes are a pretty personalized gift and are so easy to make.
Colorful Clay Animal Heads
Create these whimsical Colorful Clay Animal Heads to hang on your walls in no time.
How to Make A Rustic Floral Handmade Clay Tray
Create a handmade tray with flowers and air-dry clay.
Air dry clay eggs - Easter DIY
Say goodbye to plastic Easter eggs. These DIY air dry clay eggs are an easy craft to make for Spring decor!
Recycled Planter
Upcycle plastic containers into quirky planters using air-dry clay.
How to Make a Clay Pendant Lamp
.Love these pendant lamps decorated with paint pens.
Air Dry Clay Faux Succulent
I've made faux felt succulents before, but I must admit this clay version looks more realistic.
Faux Stone Air-Dry Clay Jewelry: DIY Beach Pebble Bracelet
These faux rocks look so real and make a unique bracelet.
DIY: Lacey Clay Containers
I combined some lace samples from the fabric store with air-dry clay, and tada!, now I have the cutest little set of containers in the world.
Air dry clay mini pots
A beautiful rainbow of mini plant pots; the colours are wonderful.
Whale Phone Holder Craft
Such a cute phone holder; this would make a fun handmade gift idea or could even be sold.
DIY Air Dry Clay Christmas Village
A great beginner project to make for the holidays, it has aair dry clay. We love this modern Scandinavian feel of this DIY Christmas Village.
Air Dry Clay Candle Holder For Christmas
Another fun idea for Christmas is using clay to make decorative candle holders.
DIY Clay All Seeing Mirror
Add a bit of fun to your walls with this all-seeing eye mirror.
How To Make Air Dry Clay Bowls
It's the stamping on these clay bowls that take them to another level.
DIY Clay Gift Tags
In less than 24 hours you’ll have some beautiful customized DIY clay gift tags the receiver can also keep as a memory of the day.
Easy DIY Magnets
DIY magnets are perfect for getting organized in style or making as a fun craft. I love these magnets because you can make them as a DIY adult craft or bring the kiddos in and make them together
Clay Baby Handprint Ornament - The Cutest Baby Keepsake!
These are lovely keepsake ornaments and would make a lovely gift for grandparents.
DIY Terracotta Essential Oil Diffuser
Add drops of your favourite essential oils for some fresh-smelling diffusers for the home or car—a lovely homemade gift idea.
DIY Stamped Air Dry Clay Bowls - Alice and Lois
I love the simplicity of the white clay with modern black letters. You could choose whichever words you like, but we were impartial to Love and XOXO. These sweet bowls will make the perfect gift for Valentine’s Day.
Air Dry Clay Projects People Actually Want To Create
An enjoyable and easy project! You can style it on top of books, a tray, a coffee table, or a shelf pretty much anywhere you want to bring a vivid touch to your decor.
Mid Century Ceramic Hand Dish
Use your child's hand print to create some Bitossi-inspired dishes; they make a great memento or gift as it captures a moment in time, the size of your child's hand.
DIY Clay Balloon Planter (Fun & Easy!)
A unique planter that can be weatherproofed to hang outside.
Air Drying Clay Cones
I bet these smell gorgeous with the lavender. The clay cones would make a lovely homemade gift.
Terracotta Mantel Clock
Air dry clay comes in other colours besides white. Use the terracotta clay to make this Boho clock.
DIY Napkin Rings Pottery Barn Style
An excellent accessory for a fall tablescape, they would also make a lovely gift too.
Clay Pineapple Ring Dish
Pineapple themed crafts are one of my favourites, and these ring dishes look sweet as well as handy.
Easy Apple Pinch Pots
Easy and adorable Apple Pinch Pots are an excellent way to use up small amounts of leftover clay and a craft the kids will enjoy.
Clay Mountain Photo Holder
Scandinavian-style mountain photo holders; are a fun mountain-themed craft and could also be used as DIY place card holders for weddings and parties.
DIY Cute Cat
These tiny cats are so cute and use very little air dry clay. They would make fun chopstick rests.
Clay Succulents and Pots
Make cute fake succulents out of clay as well as pots.
Anthropologie-inspired Clay Mushroom Plant Stakes
Everyone loves a cute mushroom craft, and these clay mushrooms fit that brief. They make a fun decoration for your houseplants.
Clay bracelet
How about using your small clay scraps to make a DIY bracelet? You can change the ribbon to match your outfit.
How to Make Botanical-Inspired Air-Dry Clay Coasters
A botanical craft with a set of clay coasters inspired by the beauty of nature using just air-dry clay and leaves. These coasters are quick and effortless, perfect as a thoughtful gift for various occasions. Add gold accents to emphasise luxury, enhancing their graceful and refined appearance.
DIY IKEA Organic Mirror Hack
Use air-dry clay for an IKEA mirror hack by making an on-trend pebble-shaped frame.
DIY Clay Bunny Bowls
This is a cute bunny craft; the bowls are perfect for holding Easter treats such as mini chocolate eggs.
FAQs and Tips For Tip Top Results
Q1: What brand do you recommend? : There are many brands of air dry clay, but the main one I use is DAS and Fimoair. Both come in a range of colours.
Q2: How long does it take to harden? Depending on the thickness of the air dry clay project, it usually takes 24takes to 72 hours. Leave it to dry naturally in a well-ventilated dry room.
Q3: Do I need to seal the clay? If you want to make the clay products last longer and water resistant, you will need to seal them. Suitable sealants are acrylic varnish, liquid lacquer or Mod Podge.
Q4: Can air dry clay get wet? Untreated hardened clay is still porous and will absorb water. Add a sealant to make it water resistant. For example, mugs can’t be made from air dry clay as the hot liquid will deteriorate the clay, even if it’s sealed.
Q5: With what can I colour the clay? You can colour air dry clay with almost anything from watercolour inks & paint, Sharpies, acrylic paint and mica powders.
Q6: How breakable is air dry clay? If you seal air dry clay projects, they are robust and will last for years. The clay is remarkably sturdy. But like ceramics, it will break if dropped onto hard surfaces and can easily snap thin, delicate protrusions.
Other Craft Materials To Try
There are many other types of crafts and fun materials that you want to try, from working with Shrinky Dinks to Leather Crafts and even household waste materials.
I always feel that Paper Mache is a close cousin to air dry clay in the crafts family, specifically if you use the pulp method.
Michelle
Wednesday 21st of September 2022
Air dry clay is one of my favourite mediums to work with. It's just so easy, and you don't have to worry about overbaking your artwork either. Thanks for sharing all these new ideas too, Claire.
Claire Armstrong
Wednesday 21st of September 2022
Thank you. Yeah, it's great fun to play with and very tactile!