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Make it yourself with these easy homemade clay recipes
Use the following recipes to make homemade clay that can be rolled or shaped into sculptures. Some dough's should be dried overnight, while others are best baked in an oven. When hard, sculptures can be decorated and preserved with acrylic paint or finish. Victorian Salt Clay (can be used to make beads for necklaces) 2 cups salt 2/3 cup water 1 cup cornstarch 1/2 cup cold water Mix salt and water in a pan. Stirring constantly, heat over a low flame for about 4 minutes (Do not boil). Remove from heat. Quickly mix cornstarch and cold water together and add this combination into heated mixture. Stir and mix quickly. If resulting mixture is not a thick paste, place back on low heat and stir for about a minute until mixture is dough-like. Treat homemade clay like bread dough - knead on flat surface until dough is a smooth and pliable mass. Can be stored in plastic or foil and kept in an airtight container. Color can be added when dough is being cooked or when being kneaded, or modeled objects can be painted when dry. It takes 2 days for a modeled object to dry at room temperature. For quicker results, preheat oven to 350 degrees, and then turn the oven off. Place the model in the oven, preferably on a wire rack, and leave inside until the oven has cooled off. For a finishing touch, smooth dry models by rubbing gently with sandpaper or an emery board. Homemade clay can also be rolled out like cookie dough and cut with a cookie cutter. To make beads for a necklace, punch holes with a toothpick while the homemade clay is still pliable. You can also string the beads through a thin wire, letting them dry on the wire itself. Basic Clay recipe 1 cup cornstarch 2 cups salt enough water to make a thick paste Stir while cooking, cook until stiff. Allow to cool and cover with a damp cloth. Coloring can be added when cooking or while molding, let dry then paint with water color. Jewelry Clay 3/4 cup flour 1/2 cup cornstarch 1/2 cup salt warm water Mix dry ingredients. Slowly add water until mix can be kneaded. Roll homemade clay into balls for beads. Piece each with a toothpick for hole to thread onto string. Air dry and paint. Modeling Clay 2cup flour 1 1/3 cup salt 4 tsp. powdered alum or cream of tarter 2 cup boiling water 4 tsp. vegetable oil food coloring Combine dry ingredients in a mixing bowl. Add vegetable oil and boiling water. Stir until well-blended. Clay should not stick to the sides of the bowl and should be cool enough to handle. Add food coloring, and knead into clay until color is well-blended. Continue adding color, a little at a time, until clay reaches desired tint. Homemade clay will keep several months in an air-tight container. Projects will dry overnight. Candy Clay recipe 1/3 cup margarine 1/3 cup light corn syrup 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon vanilla or peppermint extract 1 pound confectioners’ sugar Mix the first four ingredients. Add sugar, then knead. Fine Craft Clay recipe 2 cups baking soda 1 cup cornstarch 1 1/2 cups water Food coloring or Wonder Colors Oil of cloves or peppermint extract Matte acrylic varnish In a saucepan over medium heat, stir together the baking soda and cornstarch and add the water, stirring constantly. Mixture will become thin and smooth at first. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture is too thick to stir. Turn the mixture out onto a cookie sheet to cool, covering with a damp cloth. When cool, knead until smooth. Store the homemade clay in a tightly closed plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Mold this clay by shaping with hands, rolling out and cutting with a cookie cutter, or pushing through a cookie or garlic press. Clay will harden at room temperature, depending on the size of the object. Most items are dry after 24 hours and, if necessary, you can preheat the oven to 350 degrees, turn it off, and put the clay in to dry, turning the pieces occasionally. After drying, smooth off any dry edges with an emery board. Because this clay is absorbent, more than one coat of varnish or shellac will be necessary. Experiment with a trial piece to see how many coats you will need. You may use as many as five coats on a thick figure. You can even tint the clay with spices from your kitchen for an earthy look. Play Clay Tips recipe Homemade clays are a lot of fun to make with young kids. Aside from being less expensive than store-bought varieties, these concoctions are often easier for little hands to manipulate. And since the ingredients, mostly common kitchen staples, take minutes to mix up, that means a nearly instant project for your kids and one less trip to the art store for you. Here are a few tips for working with it:
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