Name: Patterned Clay Flower Holder
SKU: 93024L
Price: 160.51 AUD

Step 1Take 150g of clay and roll into a ball. Press the clay ball out into a longer rectangle sausage shape as shown. Try to keep the thickness as even as you can all the way through.
Step 2Place your clay onto a modelling board and roll it out using an adjustable rolling pin on the thickest bands - we don’t want the slab to be too thin. Roll over the clay once, flip it over and roll over it again. Repeat until the clay has been flattened.
Step 3Place a ruler down the length of the clay slab. Run a needle tool down both sides of the ruler to cut away the excess clay. Adult supervision is recommended when using modelling tools. Move the end of the ruler close to the end of the slab and use the needle tool to create a square end. Repeat on the opposite end. You will now have a straight, thin, rectangle slab.
Step 4Use the clay texture wheels to add a pattern to your slab. You may wish to texture the whole slab, just some sections or leave it plain. When rolling the pattern, be sure not to push down too hard as you don’t want to squash out the shape of the slab.
Step 5Bring the short ends of the slab together to form a loop as shown. Take note of where the ends are overlapping and use the needle tool to cross hatch these areas. Dip your finger in some water and run this over the cross hatched area before pressing the sections back together to join. The cross hatching and small amount of water will help the clay to join.
Step 6Run your finger over the side joins where the ends overlap to gently blend the clay together. Use the rounded end of a wooden modelling tool to gently blend the clay together at the end joins.
Step 7Place the clay loop on its side and manipulate it into a shape of your choosing. Make sure to keep the base flat for standing.
Step 8Push the needle tool through the middle of the loop at the top, directly opposite the flat base. Pull the needle tool out to create a hole then use your finger to smooth the clay inside the loop around the hole.
Step 9Repeat the above process to create as many Flower Holders as you like! Leave your clay holders on their sides to dry on the modelling board. Flip them to the opposite side after a few hours so they can dry evenly - this will reduce the chance of the clay cracking.
Step 10Once the clay is dry enough to hold its shape, you can also stand it up to allow the edges to completely dry.
Step 11Decorate your flower holder using acrylic paint. You may wish to use a single block colour or many colours – get creative! Once the paint has dried, add a thin coat of gloss finish. Allow to dry. Repeat to add two or three coats of gloss finish, making sure it is completely dry before adding each coat. Allow to dry.
Step 12Your Patterned Clay Flower Holder is now complete! Pick a single flower to display in the holder or create an everlasting flower using craft materials, like in our Bead & Wire Flowers idea!