This was my first time working with air dry clay, and while I made some mistakes along the way, I’m so happy with how it turned out! Read below to learn from some of my mistakes and what I’d do differently next time. (Watch video tutorial here)

Supplies:

Air Dry Clay (I used the kit from Pott’d)
Paint (I used gold paint from FolkArt)
Sealant (this is the one I used)
Optional: Leaves or flowers for imprints (I used rosemary!)

Getting Started
I started by making a stencil for the shape I wanted. Using some scrap cardstock and the sponge I’m using this for, I played around with different dimensions until I found the look I liked. Once my stencil was ready, it was time to roll out the clay!

Shaping the Clay
I rolled the clay on parchment paper for easy cleanup and flattened it using my hands and one of the provided tools for a bit of texture. Then, I used my stencil to cut out the three pieces.

`TIP: Use scrap paper to play around with different dimensions of your stencil!`

Leaf Imprinting

To add a fun, natural touch, I used some rosemary from my plant to imprint on the front piece! The best part about air dry clay? If you don’t like how it looks, you can easily flatten it out and try again—perfect for a little trial and error (I did this a couple of times before landing on this imprint!)

`Use leaves or flowers to imprint a fun, earthy design! I used rosemary here`

The Construction Phase
This is where things got a little tricky. I cut a strip of clay to connect the rounded piece to the base and used a tool to blend them together. In hindsight, I should’ve have used the sponge with water more and pay closer attention to sealing the bottom of it. One side held up better than the other…when I went to move it the next day after drying one side fell off! I decided to use some Gorilla Glue to hold it together instead of starting all over and it’s been holding up just fine. Not ideal, but sometimes you have to roll with the punches!

Painting and Finishing Touches
For the finishing touch, I used a gorgeous metallic gold paint from FolkArt and sealed it with a heavy-duty, water-resistant sealant. After waiting for everything to dry, I was so excited to see how it all looked!

This is the final look! I love how it compliemtns my soap dispenser and brings a fun touch to my sink area. What do you think of this DIY? Would you give it a try? Let me know in the comments!