DIY: jewelry dish in self-hardening clay
Here, I'd like to show you how to make a beautiful jewelry dish from self-hardening clay. If you've never worked with this material before, it's very different from traditional clay. One of its greatest assets? It requires no kiln firing to harden. In fact, it simply dries in the open air, making it ideal for all kinds of creative projects at home. Whether you're a beginner or already familiar with this type of activity, it's an excellent option for creating unique objects, without complicated equipment.
Self-hardening clay is also very easy to handle. Its soft, supple texture enables you to shape it with precision and achieve fine details. Once you've shaped your piece, simply leave it to dry for 24 to 48 hours, depending on its size and thickness. Air-drying makes it very accessible, even for improvised projects.
However, this type of clay has its limitations. Because of the way it dries and its properties, it is not designed for food use. This means that it is not suitable for making objects such as bowls or plates designed to hold food. But it is perfect for creating purely decorative pieces, such as this jewelry dish.
Material
For one dish:
approx. 200g. self-hardening clay
a rolling pin
a bowl
a damp sponge
sandpaper
acrylic paint
brushes for painting
a finishing varnish (matt or gloss)
Preparation
1. Start by taking a portion of clay and gently flattening it with your hands to give it a roughly flat shape. Then, using a rolling pin, spread the clay out on a clean, smooth surface. Work gradually to a uniform thickness of about 1.5 cm. Once the clay is well spread, cut out a 12-15 cm diameter circle using a round cookie cutter, a bowl or simply a sharp knife. Take care to cut cleanly around the edges for a neat, even result.
2. Carefully place the clay circle you've just cut out in the bottom of a bowl. This will serve as a mold to give your jewelry dish its curved shape. Gently press the clay against the sides of the bowl to shape the curves and adjust the edges according to the style you wish to achieve. You can opt for a perfectly rounded shape or play with slightly wavy edges for a more organic, natural effect.
3. Once you've defined the shape of your jewelry dish, use a slightly damp sponge to smooth the surface of the clay. This will eliminate small irregularities and give a neater finish. Gently run the sponge over the edges and surface for an even finish. When you're satisfied with the result, leave the clay to air-dry. Although the clay packaging generally indicates a drying time of between 12 and 24 hours, I recommend you wait 48 hours for complete and optimal drying, especially if your piece is a little thick.
4. Once your piece is completely dry, you can move on to sanding. Use sandpaper to smooth out any remaining imperfections. Don't be afraid to apply pressure: if your piece has dried well, it will be solid enough. Then, carefully dust off your dish so you can move on to the next stage: painting.
5. It's time to let your creativity run wild! I recommend acrylic paint, which is ideal for painting on clay without firing. Don't hesitate to apply several coats to achieve an even result. Allow the paint to dry for about an hour, then apply a finishing varnish. This step is essential to waterproof your piece. You can choose a matte or gloss varnish, depending on the desired effect. Another hour of drying, and your jewelry dish is ready!
