How to Make Clay

Playing with clay is a great way to spend a rainy afternoon.  Kids love the opportunity to make something with their own hands.  The texture of homemade clay is appealing, cool, squishy, and slightly sticky - what could be better?

Learn how to make clay with ingredients that are in your kitchen right now.

There’s no need to run to the toy or craft store, you can make your own clay for pennies, any time you’re trying to think of some fun activities for kids.  The best part about making this clay is that the kids can use it over and over again, or they can let it air dry, to keep that special creation forever.  Once they have finished making their clay creation and it has dried, they can decorate it with paint.  If you intend to use the clay again, just be sure to store it in an airtight container. Clay is a perfect medium for your budding artist.  It’s easy to handle and shape, and any mistakes can be squished and re done!

When you’re ready to learn how to make clay, grab the following things from your cupboards:

3 ½ cups of all purpose flour
½ cup of salt
1 tablespoon of cream of tartar
2 ½ tablespoons of oil
2 cups of water
Food coloring

Step 1: Boil the water and several drops of food coloring. Remove from heat once boiling, and stir in the oil.

Step 2: Put the other ingredients in a large mixing bowl, slowly add the water and oil mixture.

Step 3: Mix together using a wooden spoon.

Step 4: Once the mixture has cooled, knead it by hand, until it becomes pliable, and the same constancy as clay you’d buy at the craft or toy store.

That’s it, you’re done!

You have successfully learned how to make clay.

Make a few batches of different colors to have on hand whenever the kids want to sculpt, and squish the clay.  You can also make a batch with no color for air drying and painting.  Add a little vanilla or other extract to make scented dough.

The next time the holidays roll around, instead of buying grandma perfume, and grandpa another shirt or tie, let the grandkids create something for them with their new, homemade clay!  We promise you they’ll be delighted with the results.  This is also a great idea for a birthday party or playdate.  The children can help with the measuring and stirring.  Then, while the clay is cooling, serve the birthday cake, or a snack.

By the time they’re done eating, it should be cool enough to handle.  Divide it up, and let them knead it, and then play with it.  Give each child a zip top bag to take it home it, along with the recipe, and you have a craft and a favor, all in one.  We promise you it’ll cost you far less then the usual party favors for kids, and the best part is, it’s not dollar store junk that will end up in the trash, broken, a few days later.

So, the next time you need a rainy day activity for kids beacause they are complaining that there’s nothing to do, bring them into the kitchen to make some clay.  By learning how to make clay, and then playing with it, you’ll have occupied them, without the T.V. or video games, for the entire afternoon.

Get more ideas with the rest of our Kids Crafts and Activities!