Crayola Air-Dry Clay

When you think of crafts for adults or even teenagers, you hardly think of Crayola. For years I thought it was just a brand that catered to children and simple crafts. But simple doesn’t mean that it’s low quality.

In fact, I feel like Crayola Air-Dry Clay is one of the best clay alternatives. I have tried several “advanced” artist materials and nothing quite compares to the natural feel of using real clay. But Crayola is the perfect solution!

Especially if you don’t have access to a kiln.

The only difference I noticed when using air dry clay is that constant water is needed when sculpting and smoothing. It dries and cracks faster, but can be easily fixed with a little bit of patience.

While most reviews claim that the clay is too brittle and difficult to work with, it is important to remember this is not a ceramic clay. It’s a natural clay alternative which requires different methods to produce similar results.

Air dry clay takes about 24-48 hours to completely dry. It strengthens as it dries and does not need to be baked or fired. Afterwards, you can paint your piece and seal it with a gloss varnish.

I personally like to use acrylic paints as it bonds well to the clay. But if your paints aren’t working, you can try sanding the clay first or apply a layer of gesso as a primer.

If you’re a beginner or just looking for a new hobby, air dry clay is an affordable option for all your crafting needs.

For more options, check out my DIY materials.

I hope you find some new crafting inspiration!