Updated: 7 Recipes To Make Your Own Clay

Note: these aren’t polymer clays. They are a variety of modeling clays suited for different purposes. Some are great for kids because they’re completely harmless and soft. Others are better for a finer grain or take paint better. Ones with glues and finer starches like corn starch will have a nicer finish. Some can be used for techniques similar to polymer clays – I’ve caned with salt doughs for example, in a limited way – and others aren’t suitable for the fine detail you get with PVC-based oven-bake polymer clay. 

If you are looking for an airdrying clay as an alternative I highly recommend Das Airdrying white clay  I have been using it for over 30 years and it never fails me.

If you love modeling clays of any kind then you may want to consider making your own DIY clay.  If you are not already doing so, you may be surprised at how much money it can save you and how easy it really is. Take a look at this list of 7 different clay recipes and give one a try!

Pinch bowls and pottery bowls are very popular right now so make sure to have a go at making your very own small pinch bowls.

Clay for therapy

Before we get into these ideas, as you know working or playing with clay can be therapeutic for a number of reasons. As a reminder here are a few:

1. Clay provides a sense of accomplishment: When you work with clay, you can create something tangible that you can hold in your hands. This can be a satisfying feeling, as it gives you a sense of accomplishment and pride in your work.
2. Clay allows for creative expression: Clay is a medium that allows for a lot of creative expressions. You can mold it, shape it, and form it into whatever you can imagine, which can be a very therapeutic and cathartic process.
3. Clay is a stress-reliever: Working with clay can be a relaxing and meditative activity, as it requires concentration and focus. This can help to take your mind off of other stressors in your life, allowing you to relax and unwind.
4. Clay is sensory: Clay is a sensory medium that can be touched, squeezed, and manipulated. This can be very soothing and calming, as it allows you to engage with the clay on a tactile level.

We think working or playing with clay can be a very therapeutic and rewarding activity that can help to reduce stress, improve mental health, and promote creativity. So let’s get on with these ideas:

1- 3 Clay Recipes from The Artful Crafter. These are for a cold porcelain variety and make good, fine-grained modeling clays. The article has great tips for colouring and working the materials as well.

2- Jewelry Clay from Homemade Clay Recipe. (link no longer working)  This is what I could call more of a salt dough recipe. It’ll have a moderate grain and needs to be finished with a sealer to keep humidity from damaging it over time. It is great for kids though, soft and easy to use.

3- Baking Soda Clay from Etsy Network , nice detailed tutorial for making your own clay

4- How To Make scculpey Clay from eHow is another cornstarch dough type clay.

5- No Bake Polymer Clay from Suzy Homemaker. The pictures in the tutorial are a little misleading being mostly polymer clay (PVC-based) clay items but the recipe is a decent cold porcelain clay recipe using glue as a binder and cornstarch as the filler. The result is a fine-grain product that you can color or paint.

6- DIY Air Dry Polymer Clay from Happiness Is Homemade

7- Non-Toxic Oven Clay from The Hippy Homemaker. This is a good one for kids and does, as advertised, make great kid keepsakes. Completely non-toxic, soft, and simple to use. Again, I would use a waterproof sealer on it to keep the ingredients from swelling or taking on humidity.

Here is a salt dough recipe from our sister site Craftbits.com.

Here is my own DIY recipe for baked white clay – it is a cross between salt dough and Fimo Clay. 

Ingredients:

1 cup of corn starch
2 cups of baking soda
1.25 cups of cold water
Equipment:

Non-stick pot
Wooden spoon
Medium to large bowl (not pictured)
Damp cloth, lid, or plate (not pictured)
Directions:

In a non-stick pot, combine the corn starch, baking soda, and cold water. Stir the mixture until it becomes smooth.
Cook the mixture over low-medium heat, stirring constantly, until it has a mashed potato-like consistency.
Remove the pot from heat and let the mixture cool in a separate container. You can cover it with a damp towel or mostly covered with a plate or lid.
Once the mixture is cool, you can start sculpting it. If needed, use a small amount of water to stick bits of the dough together. Keep in mind that the dough is soft and prone to dissolve, so be careful.
Allow your finished piece to dry for about 2 days, depending on its size and thickness. You can speed up the drying process by putting it in a 150 F oven, cracked open, or a 350 F oven that has been turned off (heat the oven to 350 F and then turn it off).