Thanksgiving Charger Craft Project

Chargers are a large plate that rest under your dinner plate. They add a fun and elegant detail to any table, Thanksgiving included. These Thanksgiving chargers are made out of simple air drying clay and some elbow grease (provided by the kids). The kids can easily make their chargers in a few hours. They will need to dry and then they can decorate them for Thanksgiving.

This Thanksgiving charger craft project is great for a group of 2, 3 or more kids. They can each make a few Thanksgiving chargers so that you have enough to set you entire table with.

To Make This Thanksgiving Charger Craft Project You Will Need:

Activ Clay or any other air drying clay
Acrylic or Watercolor Paint
Clear Acrylic Spray Paint
Paint Brushes
Tape Measure or Ruler

Start this craft project by breaking off a hunk of clay. Work the clay into a coil or rope shape. You should make this coil about ¼ inch thick. Start making a spiral with this coil. Start as a tight coil and work your way out. Keep adding coils until you have reach between 13 and 14 inches in diameter. The shape of a charger is traditionally a circle, but don't limit yourself to just that shape. You can make a square, rectangle or oval charger. Just make sure your plates can rest level on the charger, otherwise when you go to cut your food your plate will wobble.

Tip: Wile you are making the coils occasionally mist them with water from a squirt bottle. This is important to keep your clay wet so that you can smooth it later.

Once you have you coiled your entire charger start smoothing out the surface. Work the pieces of clay together with your fingers, a butter knife, or some wooden clay tools. Occasionally you can dip your fingers in water to help smooth out the clay.

Once you have your charger completely smoothed out you can use tools to cut designs into it. You do not have to do this step; you could leave the charger smooth and paint designs on it. If you choose to though, you can use clay tools, pencils, needle, knives, and almost anything to carve designs. You could even press some leaf rubber stamps or real leafs into the plate. This would create a great fossil look.

You could also add some three dimensional qualities to your charger with more clay. Roll out small balls of clay and then place them around the edge of the craft project. You could even make acorn shapes to air drying clay and attach them to the outer edge of the charger. If you are crafting ay three dimensional shapes make sure you do not out them in the middle of the charger. You need to be able to set your dinner plate on the charger.

Once you have complete carving the Thanksgiving designs in to the charger allow it to sit out and air dry according to the package directions.

Once the Thanksgiving craft project is dry you can paint it. Acrylics and watercolor paints work best. I like to paint my entire charger white and then paint on lots of sheer coats of water color. You could rub the paint on with a sponge and then wipe it away to highlight any carvings and details. For brighter vibrant colors though use acrylic paint.

Once the paint has dried spray the entire surface with some clear acrylic spray paint. Thus will protect the Thanksgiving art work and keep the chargers looking good.