Air Dry Clay Tools: The Basics and Beyond

Working with air dry clay requires a few tools to help you bring your visions to life. Unlike other hobbies, you don't need to buy a bunch of expensive tools. I started with a package of clay from the craft store and a few items from the kitchen. Just about anything can be used as a clay tool, whether it's store-bought, or something you have lying around the house.

Basic Air Dry Clay Tools

A few basic tools are needed when you start working with air dry clay. The most important is a non-stick work surface; the second is a non-stick rolling pin. Choose a cutting board made of plastic, marble or glass. An acrylic or ceramic rolling pin of any size works well. For cutting the clay, a utility knife with changeable blades is a must. The blades can get dull from clay build-up and changing out the blade is easier than buying a new utility knife.

Kitchen Tools

If you have parchment paper, and a round bottle or cup made from glass, you have what you need to make your first air dry clay project. This was all I used to make my first project, a rose. Take a look around your kitchen to find other useful items that can become clay tools. The probe end of a broken meat thermometer is used for making holes in clay beads, indentations for eyes, or tilting it to smooth the edge of your project.

Cookie cutters work in clay like they do in dough, letting you cut out shapes easily. Pizza wheels can take the place of a knife, while a lazy Susan makes a great work surface. Take a look around your kitchen and let your imagination lead the way. Remember, don't use any items on food that you've used on clay.

Professional Tools

Though it might make you cringe to see them, dental tools are excellent clay tools. The spatulas, picks and scrapers allow you to smooth the clay as well as do fine detail work. Ask at dentist offices if they have old tools they're throwing away. You might be able to get some tools for free. Wood modeling and pottery tools are great for contouring, scraping, polishing and putting fine details into air dry clay.

Personal Grooming Items

Instead of measuring and marking the clay to get even slices, grab a hair comb. Most combs have at least two sizes of teeth so you can mark the clay for cutting. Make an easy pendant with the cap off of a stick of deodorant. Cuticle pushers and trimmers are useful for smoothing and cutting into air dry clay. Nail files can slice, gouge or indent clay. Take a new look at other items such as bobby pins, eye shadow applicators and hair clips.

From the Office and Other Hobbies

Before you throw out those bent paper clips or old pens, think of how you can use them with air dry clay. The rounded part of a paper clip gives a tiny face an instant smile. Unbend a paper clip to use the end for making indentations for eyes or dimples. Pen caps are handy for indenting eyes and nostrils on faces or joining pieces together using the side of the cap as a mini roller to smooth the clay out. A hand-held hole puncher gives you perfect circles every time.

Hobbies such as sewing, knitting, and needlepoint have a variety of useful items. A sewing tracing wheel is used to give a clay project that "sewn" look instead of having to do it a by hand. Carve and shape clay with crochet hooks and knitting needles. A handy way to hold small clay projects while you work on them is to use sewing pins with balls on the ends. Hold the pin by the ball and you can adjust the angle of the piece you're working on as well as turn it in any direction.

Working with air dry clay is not only fun, but it makes you look at the things you use everyday in a whole new light. You can use almost anything as a tool. Take a look around your house, office or the grocery store for items you can use to make your next masterpiece from clay.