MODELING CLAY

Modeling Clay Products –

There are many types of modeling clay available for children. Some are oil based and never dry out, others air dry and some are meant to be baked in an oven until they harden.

Some types of modeling clays are better for fine, detailed work than others. Note that some brands of modeling clay stain and will not come out of carpets if ground in. For best results, use all modeling clays on a hard smooth surface. Sink cutouts from carpenters work well.

Check below to learn more about the different types of modeling clay products. Real clay is not included in this list.

Plasticine® is a registered trademark of the Bluebird toy company of the United Kingdom.

It is an oil based modeling clay that never dries out and is sold in one pound packs, as well as in smaller kits. Plasticine® is not meant for baking. It’s quite stiff when cold but easier to manipulate after being used for a while. I used to put it above the heater in my classroom on cold mornings.

If it is cold, give younger children smaller pieces rather than one big chunk as it is difficult for tiny fingers to manipulate the clay.

Picture book illustrator and author, Barbara Reid, has created wonderful award winning artwork for her books, all created with plasticine. Check out her process here.

Fox Walked Alone by Barbara Reid

Crayola® Model Magic® modeling compound is a non-toxic modeling material that is easily manipulated and joined to make any form or shape. Lightweight, clean and resilient, this modeling compound is non-crumbling and non-staining and it doesn’t cling to skin or room surfaces.

It can be attached to plastic, wood, cardboard and other materials. It’s available in various colors and is easy to paint after it has dried for 24 hours. The compound dries to a pliable consistency within 24-36 hours, without kiln firing.

Play-Doh can be purchased in individual cans for classroom use. It is an air-drying modeling clay great for using again and again if kept in its sealed containers.

It’s not good for small, fine work that needs to be dried as it tends to split as it dries. Bake it at a low temperature (200 degrees) if you want to preserve any creations. Playdoh tends to crack when baked and other compounds are better for this purpose. Baked items will probably break if played with.

The compound is non-toxic, non-irritating & non-allergenic except for children who are allergic to wheat gluten. They may have an allergic reaction to this product.

 

Crayola Air-Dry Clay® is a fine, natural white earth clay that air dries to a hard solid. It softens easily with water and quickly cleans from hands and surfaces. It can be painted with tempera, acrylics or watercolors when dry.

Easy-to-use, nontoxic white clay that makes solid, durable forms without the need for baking in an oven or firing in a kiln. It’s easy to use with traditional modeling techniques and easy to clean up. Air-Dry Clay is smoother, finer and less sticky than traditional clay.

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Sculpey  Original Clay® This white clay is soft and pliable, works and feels like ceramic clay, but will not dry out when exposed to air. Bake it and once it is cool, it can be painted with water based acrylics or Sculpey brand glazes.

Perfect for everything from molded items to free form jewelry pieces; figurines; ornaments and scrapbook embellishments. Shape; bake and once cool can be sanded, drilled, carved, glued, and inked. Made in USA.

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Terra Cotta – Sculpey Original®
Same as above but in terra cotta.

Bake & Bend Sculpey Kit® can be kneaded, shaped, rolled and cut like any other polymer clay.

After you bake this clay it becomes flexible; bendable and it always snaps right back! Step-by-step instruction with easy to follow directions are included. Non-toxic

Homemade Bread Clay

This homemade recipe takes a bit of effort to make, but is smooth and pliable to work with. It won’t crack like some homemade play dough when it dries. It will keep in the fridge for quite a while if sealed in plastic bags. It has to be baked in the oven or air-dried before painting.

When I first started teaching my class made necklaces with this recipe. They turned out beautifully except we painted them with tempera paints.

Forgetting that young children’s fingers are often wet, in their mouths and playing with the things hanging around their necks, I was horrified to see their white t-shirts smeared with paint at the end of the day! Be sure to use acrylic paints! One student said, “No problem,” then whipped off her shirt, turned it inside out and put it back on.

Materials:

8 slices day-old white bread
8 tablespoons (1/2 cup) white glue

Procedure:

Making the Dough

• Remove the crusts from the bread and tear the slices into small pieces.
• Pour the white glue over the bread and mix with the hands.
• At first the mixture will be extremely sticky.
• Knead the dough vigorously for about 5 minutes until smooth and velvety. Be sure to knead for a full five minutes as the texture of the dough changes dramatically in this time.
• At this point the dough should no longer stick to the fingers but if it does wash hands and apply a little hand lotion and knead some more.
• If properly kneaded, the mixture should now form a smooth ball.
• Store tightly in a plastic bag in the refrigerator.

Coloring the Dough

• Liquid food colors can make the dough too sticky, but paste colors work well
• Knead into the dough

Working the Dough

• This dough dries out quickly so take only what you need out of the plastic bag
• Model on a hard surface
• Allow for shrinkage when cooked, so make impressions slightly deeper than needed
• When joining pieces wet the underside of each piece slightly so it adheres well

Drying and Baking

• The dough can be air-dried or baked
• Place on tin-foil before baking
• Bake at 200 degrees and check often

Finishes

• Paint with poster paints, watercolors, acrylics, etc.
• Do not soak with water

The recipe and hints above are from Decorations for Holidays and Celebrations by Barbara B. Stephan, published by Crown Publishers in 1978.