PRO Courses Hot Guides Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade
QUIZZES All Quizzes Hot Love Quizzes Personality Quizzes Trivia Quizzes Taylor Swift Quizzes
EDIT Edit this Article
EXPLORE Tech Help ProAbout UsRandom ArticleQuizzes Request a New ArticleCommunity DashboardTrendingForums Arts and EntertainmentArtworkBooksMoviesComputers and ElectronicsComputersPhone SkillsTechnology HacksHealthMen's HealthMental HealthWomen's HealthRelationshipsDatingLoveRelationship Issues Hobbies and CraftsCraftsDrawingGamesEducation & CommunicationCommunication SkillsPersonal DevelopmentStudyingPersonal Care and StyleFashionHair CarePersonal Hygiene Quizzes Love Quizzes Personality Quizzes Fun Games Arts and EntertainmentFinance and BusinessHome and GardenRelationship Quizzes Cars & Other VehiclesFood and EntertainingPersonal Care and StyleSports and Fitness Computers and ElectronicsHealthPets and AnimalsTravel Education & CommunicationHobbies and CraftsPhilosophy and ReligionWork World Family LifeHolidays and TraditionsRelationshipsYouth
LOG IN
Log in
Social login does not work in incognito and private browsers. Please log in with your username or email to continue. FacebookGooglewikiHow Account No account yet? Create an account
RANDOM
Home
Random
Browse Articles
TrendingNew
Quizzes & Games
All QuizzesHot
Love Quizzes
Personality Quizzes
Fun Games
Dating Simulator
Learn Something New
Forums
Courses
Happiness Hub
Explore More
Support wikiHow
About wikiHow
Log in / Sign up
Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow
Categories
Hobbies and Crafts
Crafts
Clay Projects
Making Clay
How to Use Air Drying Clay Download Article A guide to choosing, shaping, and drying the clay Co-authored by Natasha Dikareva, MFA
Last Updated: July 31, 2025 Fact Checked
Download Article
Shaping Your Clay
|
Drying Your Clay
|
Choosing and Buying Your Clay
|
Video
|
Q&A
|
Tips
|
Warnings
|
Things You'll Need
|Show more|Show less ARTICLE VIDEO X
This article was co-authored by Natasha Dikareva, MFA. Natasha Dikareva is a San Francisco, California based sculptor, and installation artist. With over 25 years of ceramics, sculpting, and installation experience, Natasha also teaches a ceramic sculpture workshop titled "Adventures in Clay" covering concept development, hand-building techniques, texture, and glazing techniques. Her work has been featured in solo and group exhibitions at the Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts, Abrams Claghorn Gallery, Bloomington Center for the Arts, Maria Kravetz Gallery, and the American Museum of Ceramic Art. She has taught at the University of Minnesota and the American Indian OIC School. She has been awarded the Excellence Award at the 1st World Teapot Competition, Best in Show at the 4th Clay & Glass Biennial Competition, and a Grand Prize at the American Museum of Ceramic Art. Natasha holds an MFA from the University of Minnesota and a BFA from Kiev Fine Arts College. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 693,002 times.
Air drying clay is a popular and relatively inexpensive choice for art projects big and small. It can be a great way for a budding artist or craftsperson to practice their skills, and even experienced artists often enjoy the simplicity of air drying clay. Air drying clay can be used for jewelry, ornaments, and different craft projects. Best of all, air drying clay doesn't require an oven or kiln to create a beautiful, unique product. Usually air dry clay will be dry to touch after 24 hours. The thicker the clay is, the longer it will take to fully dry. It can take as long as 72 hours.
Steps
Part 1 Part 1 of 3:
Shaping Your Clay
Download Article
1 Open your clay. Begin working over a smooth, clean, nonporous surface. Open your sealed bag of clay and pinch off the amount of clay that you want to use. If your project is larger and you need several bags of clay, only open one for now.
You can use a wire or floss to "cut" chunks of clay off of a block. This is useful for accurately measuring how much you are using.
2 Knead your clay until it is soft. Kneading and massaging the clay will soften it and make it easier to work with. The warmth of your hands will spread to the clay and make it malleable. Conditioning the clay is essential for proper use. If you planned to work with multiple bags of clay, knead them one at a time.
If using multiple bags for one piece, knead the clay together after each bag of clay has been warmed and kneaded separately.
If using paper based clay, you can add a small amount of water to additionally soften the clay. [1]XResearch source
Resin based clay can be softened (and colored!) with acrylic paint. [2]XResearch source
Advertisement
3 Shape your clay. Both three dimensional and flat figures are easy to make with air drying clay. Use your hands and tools like knives, spoons, or even spinning wheels to form and shape the clay as you desire.
Crafting tools (or even dental picks and equipment!) can be very useful for creating more complex projects, as you can be much more exact with them.[3]XResearch source
If you are making a larger project that needs to stand up such as a vase, make sure that it has a large, flat base.
4 Decorate your clay. You can press beads, yard, or even other pieces of clay into your project. Be sure to be careful, as you'll need to use enough pressure to press your decoration into the clay without changing or squashing your project. [4]XResearch source
5 Store your excess clay. Since clay spoils easily once it has been opened, ideally you'll have used it all. If not, leftover clay can be tightly wrapped in wax paper and stored in a plastic bag. It won't be as simple to work with or as useful afterwards though.[5]XResearch source
Tough excess clay can sometimes be saved by (carefully) using a microwave to warm the clay up.
Advertisement Part 2 Part 2 of 3:
Drying Your Clay
Download Article
1 Dry your clay. Find a clean, smooth, nonporous surface where your clay can dry for 24 hours. [6]XResearch source Put your clay down and do not disturb or move the clay while it dries. You'll need to be patient to make sure that you don't ruin your project.
A cool, dry area (one with low humidity) is best. Mild air circulation is also helpful.
Thicker projects (over 1cm) may take even longer to dry.[7]XResearch source Better to be safe than sorry.
2 Check if the clay is dry. After 24 hours the clay should definitely be dry to the touch, but that doesn't necessarily mean that it is ready. If your clay project is thick you may want to give it some extra time. There are other ways to visually evaluate if your clay is ready as well.
Resin based clay turns darker and more translucent.[8]XResearch source
Paper based clay will stay very opaque.
3 Remove the clay from the drying area. Once it is dry, carefully remove the clay from the drying area and take it back to your work area. You may want to lay down some newspapers or an old sheet. Be careful, while the clay will be hard it may be quite brittle. Don't drop it and risk breaking it.
4 Decorate your clay. If desired, you can decorate your project further! Tempera, acrylic, and watercolor paints can be used on dry clay projects. You can also use glue to attach beads, sequins, fabric, and other fun decorations to your clay project.
Advertisement Part 3 Part 3 of 3:
Choosing and Buying Your Clay
Download Article
1 Determine the type of project you are using air drying clay for. There are different types of air drying clay that are ideally suited for different purposes.[9]XResearch source You'll need to know what you are using the clay for, in order to determine which type of clay is right for you. These are other questions you should ask yourself:
How big is my final product going to be?
How heavy do I want my final product to be?
How much money can I spend on my clay?
Do I want my clay to have a heftier, "premium" feel (usually applies to jewelry/trinkets/beads)?
2 Choose paper-based air drying clay for larger projects. Usually, larger projects will benefit from paper clay. Since they require a lot of material, you'll save money. The finished project will also be much lighter.
Paper based clay feels fluffy to work with, but is hard and light when it dries.[10]XResearch source
Paper based clay will be fluffy and chunks of it will break off in similar fashion to cotton candy.[11]XResearch source
3 Choose resin-based air drying clay for smaller projects like jewelry. Equally strong, resin based clay (sometimes called porcelain based clay) is much denser, and when it is dried seems much more similar to baked polymer clay. It is also much more expensive and heavier.[12]XResearch source
Smaller projects like jewelry or beads benefit from the "premium" feel of resin or porcelain based clay.[13]XResearch source
Resin based clay is denser and will pull apart like fudge, caramel, or toffee.[14]XResearch source
4 Buy your clay. After you've determined what type of clay you want to purchase, you'll need to go out and buy it. Be sure that you buy enough for your project, but don't buy too much. Opened clay is hard to store and can easily become hard to work with and useless. [15]XResearch source . You can purchase your clay locally at an arts and crafts store, or purchase it online.
If you still aren't sure what type of clay to use, or want advice on your project, some stores have clerks that can answer your questions, and even offer classes.
Purchasing your clay online will usually give you better prices and options, but you may have to wait several days for it to arrive.
Advertisement
Community Q&A
Search Add New Question
Question Is it okay if I put my clay models under a fan for faster drying? Community Answer It depends on the size of your model. Smaller pieces can be placed under a fan, but larger pieces can crack, so let it dry naturally. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 14 Helpful 83
Question How do I roll out the clay? Community Answer The easiest way is to use a rolling pin, preferably not a wooden one since they tend to leave marks from the grain. Ideally you want to use a smooth, non-porous material (such as metal, glass, or acrylic) to get a smooth clay surface. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 12 Helpful 70
Question How long does it take for clay to crack or dry? Community Answer It takes at least 24 hours to dry. If it's thicker, it takes longer to dry. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 18 Helpful 76
See more answers Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Submit Advertisement
Video
Reader Videos
Tips
Clay will shrink slightly over time, so be careful when creating clay molds.[16]XResearch sourceThanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
Mix different colors of clay by kneading them together between your fingers. This works well with lighter colors.[17]XResearch sourceThanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Well-kneaded clay is soft and sticky. This is why you want to work on a nonporous surface. Thanks Helpful 4 Not Helpful 1
Show More Tips
Tips from our Readers
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
If you want to cover cracks before letting your sculpture dry, wet your finger with water and gently rub the crack back and forth. The softened clay should smooth over.
If you need to roll clay out to flatten it for whatever reason, use a pasta machine. It creates perfectly smooth strips every single time.
Keep a large bowl of water nearby as you work. Dipping your hands in the water will help to keep the clay from drying out too quickly.
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement
Warnings
Dried clay is hard but brittle and may crack easily. Thanks Helpful 41 Not Helpful 6
Clay is sticky and may adhere to furniture, porous surfaces, clothes, and carpets. Thanks Helpful 27 Not Helpful 12
Advertisement
Things You'll Need
Air-drying clay
Beads, paint, markers, etc. (optional)
Plastic bags
Refrigerator or freezer
Microwave
You Might Also Like
How toKnead ClayHow toMake a Clay PotHow toCreate Clay AnimalsHow to Soften Polymer ClayHow toColor Air Dry ClayHow toMake Clay BeadsHow toMake Air Dry ClayHow toMake a Pinch PotHow toSculpt Using Polymer ClayHow toHarden Modeling ClayHow toRevive Dry ClayHow to Make Clay: 5 Simple Recipes (Plus Troubleshooting Tips)How toDo Ceramic SculptureHow to Make Easy Polymer Clay Earrings: A Step-by-Step Guide Advertisement
Co-authored by: Natasha Dikareva, MFA Ceramics & Sculpting Instructor This article was co-authored by Natasha Dikareva, MFA. Natasha Dikareva is a San Francisco, California based sculptor, and installation artist. With over 25 years of ceramics, sculpting, and installation experience, Natasha also teaches a ceramic sculpture workshop titled "Adventures in Clay" covering concept development, hand-building techniques, texture, and glazing techniques. Her work has been featured in solo and group exhibitions at the Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts, Abrams Claghorn Gallery, Bloomington Center for the Arts, Maria Kravetz Gallery, and the American Museum of Ceramic Art. She has taught at the University of Minnesota and the American Indian OIC School. She has been awarded the Excellence Award at the 1st World Teapot Competition, Best in Show at the 4th Clay & Glass Biennial Competition, and a Grand Prize at the American Museum of Ceramic Art. Natasha holds an MFA from the University of Minnesota and a BFA from Kiev Fine Arts College. This article has been viewed 693,002 times. 18 votes - 73% Co-authors: 37Updated: July 31, 2025 Views: 693,002 Categories: Featured Articles | Making Clay In other languages Spanish Italian Russian French Dutch Arabic Hindi Japanese Indonesian
Print
Send fan mail to authors
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 693,002 times.
Reader Success Stories
M. Aston
Aug 21, 2017
"My brother's 18th birthday is in 6 days and some of the objects I ordered online for his memories box haven't arrived. I needed to know if air drying clay was suitable for the projects I had to recreate, and this article has really helped me decide how and when to use air drying clay. Thank you!"..." more Rated this article:
More reader stories Hide reader stories Share your story
Did this article help you?
Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Natasha Dikareva, MFA Ceramics & Sculpting Instructor 18 votes - 73% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 37Updated: July 31, 2025 Views: 693,002
M. Aston
Aug 21, 2017
"My brother's 18th birthday is in 6 days and some of the objects I ordered online for his memories box haven't arrived. I needed to know if air drying clay was suitable for the projects I had to recreate, and this article has really helped me decide how and when to use air drying clay. Thank you!"..." more Rated this article:
Sonam Gawa
Jun 27, 2016
"I have made a small Buddha but was wondering why it wasn't drying. This article helped me to understand that even objects as small as 1 cm can take up to 24 hours to dry. Also, I didn't know that one can paint air dried clay. Thank you for your kind help."..." more
Brenda Lane
Oct 27, 2018
"I wanted to plant some artificial flowers in tiny buckets for table displays, but the oasis would not hold them firmly enough. l used air-dry clay on top of the oasis; I poked the flowers into the clay and let it dry for 24 hours. Worked brilliantly!"..." more
Amy H.
Feb 26, 2017
"I was looking for info on how long my clay projects would take to dry (which I found), but the overall article was very helpful. Full of information I can use. Thanks."..." more
Tonya Ford
Sep 16, 2017
"I wanted to make a ceramic project, but I was hanging it so I did not want it to be heavy. This article helped me choose the right clay. Thanks."..." more Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories
Quizzes & Games
What's My Hair Type QuizTake QuizWhat Should I Bake QuizTake QuizHair Curl Type QuizTake QuizWhat Instrument Should I Play QuizTake QuizWhat Perfume Note Am I QuizTake QuizWhat Skin Type Do I Have QuizTake Quiz
You Might Also Like
How toKnead ClayHow toMake a Clay PotHow toCreate Clay AnimalsHow to Soften Polymer Clay
Featured Articles
What 16 of the Most Common Hugs MeanJuicy, Deep, & Hot-Seat Questions to Get to Know Your Friends Better40+ Talking Games to Play with Friends, Partners & MoreHow toMake Friends
Trending Articles
Do I Have Brainrot QuizWhat Emojis Mean Sex?What Pokémon Am I Quiz151 of the Juiciest “Most Likely To” Questions to AskSigns a Woman is Sexually Attracted to YouDo You Agree with These Hygiene Hot Takes?
Featured Articles
The Different Types of People You Can Find in a Friend GroupAn Introduction to Kibbe Body Types (with Styling Tips!)Being the Little Spoon While Cuddling: Is It Better Than the Big Spoon?From Alpha to Omega: A Guide to the 7 Male Personalities
Featured Articles
7 Easy Card Magic Tricks You Can Master in MinutesHow to Perform Magic: 8 Tricks for BeginnersHow toHypnotize SomeoneThe Easiest Guinness World Records to Break: Which Will You Try?How to Solve a Rubik's Cube in 20 MovesHow toWhistle with Two Fingers
Watch Articles
How toGrow Out Your BangsHow toDress PunkHow toEnd a Long Distance RelationshipHow toDo E Girl EyelinerHow toRespond to the Fire EmojiHow to Stop Your Glasses from Making Your Eyes Look Small
Trending Articles
Do You Agree with These "Hear Me Out" Character Hot Takes?Am I More Hannah Montana or Miley Stewart?The Most Attractive Zodiac Signs & What Makes Each Sign Beautiful24 Different Types of Bras ExplainedWhat Are the Korean Animal Face Types? (And Which Type Do You Have?)Can Your Finger Length Tell Your Personality?
Quizzes & Games
What’s My Perfect Hair Care Routine?Take QuizWhat Makeup Should I Wear QuizTake QuizWhat Pasta Shape Am I QuizTake QuizWhat Squishmallow Am I QuizTake QuizWhat Should I Draw QuizTake QuizWhat Hobbies Should You Try?Generate
Categories
Hobbies and Crafts
Crafts
Clay Projects
Making Clay
wikiHow Newsletter You're all set! Helpful how-tos delivered toyour inbox every week! Sign me up! By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy.
Home
About wikiHow
Experts
Jobs
Contact Us
Site Map
Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Do Not Sell or Share My Info
Not Selling Info
Contribute
Follow Us
×
wikiHow Tech Help Pro:
Level up your tech skills and stay ahead of the curve
Download Article A guide to choosing, shaping, and drying the clay Co-authored by Natasha Dikareva, MFA 
How toMake Clay Beads 
How toMake a Pinch Pot 
How to Make Easy Polymer Clay Earrings: A Step-by-Step Guide 
Advertisement 
Co-authored by: Natasha Dikareva, MFA Ceramics & Sculpting Instructor This article was co-authored by Natasha Dikareva, MFA. Natasha Dikareva is a San Francisco, California based sculptor, and installation artist. With over 25 years of ceramics, sculpting, and installation experience, Natasha also teaches a ceramic sculpture workshop titled "Adventures in Clay" covering concept development, hand-building techniques, texture, and glazing techniques. Her work has been featured in solo and group exhibitions at the Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts, Abrams Claghorn Gallery, Bloomington Center for the Arts, Maria Kravetz Gallery, and the American Museum of Ceramic Art. She has taught at the University of Minnesota and the American Indian OIC School. She has been awarded the Excellence Award at the 1st World Teapot Competition, Best in Show at the 4th Clay & Glass Biennial Competition, and a Grand Prize at the American Museum of Ceramic Art. Natasha holds an MFA from the University of Minnesota and a BFA from Kiev Fine Arts College. This article has been viewed 693,002 times. 18 votes - 73% Co-authors: 37 Updated: July 31, 2025 Views: 693,002 Categories: Featured Articles | Making Clay In other languages Spanish Italian Russian French Dutch Arabic Hindi Japanese Indonesian 
Take Quiz
Take Quiz
Take Quiz
Take Quiz
Take Quiz
Take Quiz 
Take Quiz
Take Quiz
Take Quiz
Take Quiz
Take Quiz
Generate 
670 
1 Open your clay. Begin working over a smooth, clean, nonporous surface. Open your sealed bag of clay and pinch off the amount of clay that you want to use. If your project is larger and you need several bags of clay, only open one for now. 
4 Decorate your clay. If desired, you can decorate your project further! Tempera, acrylic, and watercolor paints can be used on dry clay projects. You can also use glue to attach beads, sequins, fabric, and other fun decorations to your clay project. Advertisement 
1 Determine the type of project you are using air drying clay for. There are different types of air drying clay that are ideally suited for different purposes.[9] You'll need to know what you are using the clay for, in order to determine which type of clay is right for you. These are other questions you should ask yourself: 
4 Buy your clay. After you've determined what type of clay you want to purchase, you'll need to go out and buy it. Be sure that you buy enough for your project, but don't buy too much. Opened clay is hard to store and can easily become hard to work with and useless. [15] . You can purchase your clay locally at an arts and crafts store, or purchase it online. 
Community Answer It depends on the size of your model. Smaller pieces can be placed under a fan, but larger pieces can crack, so let it dry naturally. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 14 Helpful 83 
Community Answer It takes at least 24 hours to dry. If it's thicker, it takes longer to dry. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 18 Helpful 76 