Can Someone Tell Me About Clay?

[Hockey Mom]

Last year I bought a tub of Crayola's Air-Drying white clay. We had it for about 6 months, unopened, before we needed it for a project. It was so incredibly hard to work with. I added water to it to try and make it more pliable, but it only ended up leaving us with big, wet, clumps of unworkable clay. And as soon as it dried, our project fell apart.

 

I'm currently making my list of supplies to implement SOTW activities for this year, and there are several projects that will require the use of clay. For smaller items, such as a Sumerian Seal, I plan on using Modeling Magic. However, for the larger projects, like making a Ming Bowl, I'd like to use clay that will harden, and be sturdy enough to use the bowl as a decorative piece. My understanding is that Modeling Magic will dry, but will still be rubbery even when it's dry.

 

Can anyone recommend a clay that will dry sturdy enough to make a bowl, but won't hurt our hands as we try and work with it? I don't mind having to bake clay either, just as long as it doesn't crack or fall apart once it's dry.

 

Thanks in advance.

[Hockey Mom]

:bigear:

[MamaJo]

I like sculpey.

 

http://www.sculpey.com/products/clays/sculpey-iii

[TrixieB]

I like sculpey.

 

http://www.sculpey.com/products/clays/sculpey-iii

Same here. I will add that we prefer Sculpey III, which comes in 2oz packages. Last year I bought a big package of original Sculpey (Sculpey I), thinking it was less $ per ounce, and it was not the same consistency. The dc complained that it was too hard to work with. I ended up throwing it away.

[Mom0012]

I recently discovered Pluffy clay and it is very soft and easy to work with. You can bake it if you want to dry it or use it over and over again like playdough.

 

Lisa

[mcconnellboys]

Unfortunately, that clay has to be used pretty immediately or it simply dries out. Even though the pack is still sealed, it dries out and is unusable.

 

If you want a clay that you can keep around long term, then something like Sculpey would be better. You make it and bake it and it makes a pretty good product that won't break too easily.

 

We've made coil pots and other things out of the air dry Crayola, but as I said, you have to use it while it's fresh. I still have their projects from years ago and they have held up well. It is very lightweight and it will break if it's manhandled. It's not like traditional clay.

 

A heavier clay that you bake will give you more of a traditional look and feel for a pot....