Pearly Soda Play Clay Recipes

PLAY CLAY

Steps:

• Mix the cold water, food coloring (if desired) and the cornstarch until smooth Mix the salt and the hot water in a saucepan and bring to a boil.
• Add the cornstarch mixture to the boiling salt water and stir vigorously to prevent it from lumping up.
• Cook over low heat stirring constantly until mixture is stiff.
• Turn the mixture out onto a bread board.
• When cool knead until smooth.
• Use immediately or wrap in plastic wrap and store in an airtight container.
• To make Christmas tree ornaments, roll out dough 1/4" thick and use cookie cutters to make a variety of shapes.
• Using a toothpick, make a hole at the top of each one so that a string or wire can be inserted.
• To harden models or ornaments either air dry them at room temperature for 3 days or bake at 200F for 2 hours.

NON-HARDENING MODELING CLAY

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients together well.
• Keep in sealed container.

SODA PLAY CLAY

Steps:

• Optionals: rubber stamps; ink pads; use different colored pads for a rainbow effect; shallow plastic plaster mold (s), small Christmas figurines/ornaments; flowers or fruits for magnets, brooches or earrings; cookie stamps; craft paints; eyeshadow; magnets; fittings for earrings or brooches; glitter; ribbon/string; glue.
• In a pan mix the baking soda with the cornstarch.
• Add the water and the oil, keep stirring and cook until thickened and it looks like you have mashed potatoes in the pan, usually after 5 minutes up to 10 minutes on a low heat.
• Remove from the heat and cool.
• Knead the clay, it should not be sticky, if too dry add a bit more water, too wet add some cornstarch, put in a plastic bag.
• Super easy is to roll it out and cut out shapes with a cookie cutter, pierce a hole in the top.
• Rubber stamps: ink the stamp, roll out the clay,very gently stamp into the clay,if you do this too hard it will definitely crack during drying, with a small knife cut away around the stamp impression, flatten rough edges gently with your fingers.
• Use a spatula to lift onto baking tray lined with kitchen paper, to let it dry, don;t forget the hole in the top.
• When dry you can still paint it if you want too.
• Plaster molds: use enough clay to fill the mold, use your rolling pin to even it out, it should go over the edges of the mold, carefully and gently ease the clay out of the mold, sometimes a thin knife helps to give you a grip on the clay.
• When out of the mold trim with a knife and smooth the edges with your fingers.
• Again let it dry, for ornaments pierce the hole in the top, leave plain for kitchen magnets or earrings and brooches.
• Cookie stamps: Use like stamps but without the ink for a nice embossed look.
• You can finish them when they are dry with craft paints and you get a beautiful result using eyeshadow with a soft brush almost a water color effect, blusher works too.
• For an old/antique look, brush on antiquing medium,wipe off with a soft cloth right away, take in mind that there are water and oil based mediums and they will have to be used different so read directions first and try it out first on the back of your clay object and you might have to varnish it before you can use the medium.
• If you want to use glitter, brush a thin layer of glue on the area, sprinkle with the glitter shake of the excess glitter.
• Drying time depends on the thickness, keep an eye on them and turn them over during the drying process.
• Leftover clay keeps for a few days in the fridge, keep it in the bag, personally I prefer it kept outside the fridge.
• I do find that when the weather is hot and humid, it seems to crack more during the drying process.

PEANUT BUTTER PLAY CLAY

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients in a bowl and let the kids play their little hearts out.

ORNAMENT AND HANDPRINT CLAY

Steps:

• Combine ingredients and knead dough for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Roll dough out and cut around hand or cut circles out for making hand imprints. Use cookie cutters for ornaments or gift tags. If necessary, slightly dampen pieces to make them stick together.
• Make a small hole for the hanger and prick to prevent air bubbles.
• Bake at 300ºF about 20 to 25 minutes or until golden. You may have to bake considerably longer depending on how thick your items are. They may not feel hard right away but will harden as they cool.
• Paint and decorate as desired. Acrylic paints work best and use a varnish to make them shiny.

MAGICAL MODELING CLAY

Steps:

• Trim the crust away from the bread.
• Pinch the bread into very small pieces.
• Slowly pour the glue into the bread pieces and mix by hand until a dough has formed.
• Package the dough in a plastic bag or airtight container and refrigerate overnight to "ripen.".
• Lightly coat your hands with vegetable oil if dough is not too sticky to handle.
• Knead the ripened dough until smooth and pliable.
• Divide dough and color with food coloring or acrylic paints if desired.
• The addition of the liquid in the form of coloring will cause the dough to become a little sticky again, but just keep on working the dough - it will regain its manageable state.
• Model dough into desired shapes and insert twisted pipe cleaners into the backs of your figures for hanging or simply form a hole with a toothpick.
• Air dry on wax paper.
• It will take from 1 to 3 days, depending on the thickness of your ornament.
• Can also roll and cut this clay.
• Keep in airtight container in refrigerator.