How to Make Craft Clay or Bread Clay Name Hangers

Here's a cute idea that is great for a new baby, toddler or teen. Create a door sign made from air drying and hardening craft clay or bread clay. Create several blocks and put one letter of their name on each. String them together and you have a personalized sign for their room.

You can buy air hardening craft clay at any craft shop. If you want to use bread clay you can find the instructions to make it here:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/449143/bread_clay_flowers_a_beautiful_inexpensive.html

It's very simple to create the blocks. Roll out the dough/clay to 1/4 inch thickness.

All you need is a square freezer container or, for smaller blocks, a cookie cutter the size of the blocks you choose to use to cut. If you want to make smaller blocks and don't have the right shape on hand, try a little trick with a pint freezer container. Use the container to cut one big block out of clay and divide it into four sections. Dampen your finger a little and smooth the sides and round the edges out. Use a measuring tape for uniformity. Cut enough squares for your child's name and if you choose, two more to border the name.

You can use any color of clay that you choose. I like white. In order to have the white effect with bread clay you have to add white paint when making the dough.

Cut a cardboard square that is smaller than the blocks that you just created. Glue a loop of yarn to the back and allow it to dry. This cardboard template is pressed into the center of the clay square creating a framed effect. The loop of yarn allows you to easily lift it out and go on to the next square. Use the edge of the cardboard to emphasize the inner edge by cutting slightly deeper.

Use a drinking straw to punch a hole at each side of the block. These holes will be used in the final step to thread ribbon and tie all the letters together. If you are making smaller blocks adjust for the size of the block. A skewer does nicely, but you have to string the blocks together with very narrow ribbon.

The next step allows you to be as creative as you choose. You now have the raw canvas...er...clay for your creativity. You can stamp or create an imprint of the letter, indenting it into the clay center or just let it remain flat and paint the letters on later when the clay has dried.

Set the clay aside to dry completely before you proceed to painting. Decorate the edges with bright pastels, an American flag theme, or GI Joe commando camouflage. Paint the letters in the center of the block. If you made an impression of the letter, fill it in so it is visible.

Thread the blocks together using long enough ribbon that you can form a loop at each end. It's always good to add a little extra to the ribbon to compensate for the threading. Begin at the end block and thread down through the hole at the edge. Pull the ribbon behind the block and thread up through the hole at the other side and down through the hole at the side of the next block. Tie a loop at both ends for hanging.

You also can get a different look by tying each block to the next with an individual piece of ribbon and bow or knot.