20 Clay Crafts For Creative Play

Clay is one of our favorite materials to use for arts & crafts. It's tactile, versatile, and fun for kids of all ages. From last minute gifts for grandma, to costume jewelry, to hand-sculpted toys and festive holiday decorations, the list of crafts you can make with clay is virtually endless! In need of inspiration for your next creative play session? Look no further than this comprehensive list of our favorite clay crafting projects!

  • Visual aid of how to complete Clay Rocket
    Clay Rocket

    (Ages 9-16)

    Become a rocket scientist by building your own clay rocket with air dry clay and an old toilet paper tube!

  • Visual aid of how to complete Clay Donuts
    Clay Donuts

    (Ages 9-13)

    These mini clay donuts look almost good enough to eat! Flex your sculpting skills while making a darling miniature to place on a shelf or desk, or to feed to your dolls!

  • Visual aid of how to complete Backpack Charms
    Backpack Charms

    (Ages 9-13)

    Jazz up your backpack with these deliciously creative charms!

  • Visual aid of how to complete Clay Initial Keychains

    Personalize your keys or backpack with these easy and fun clay initial keychains!

  • Visual aid of how to complete Gnome Peg People
    Gnome Peg People

    (Ages 5-16)

    Foster pretend play at home with these darling little gnomes you made yourself!

  • Visual aid of how to complete Clay Charms
    Clay Charms

    (Ages 5-8)

    Art that can be worn is fun for most kids I know. These charms make great gifts, too!

  • Visual aid of how to complete Clay Animals
    Clay Animals

    (Ages 3-6)

    Your kids will go wild over these clay animal figures! Little hands will have a great time molding, shaping and sculpting.

  • Visual aid of how to complete Clay and Bead Peacock

    These bright peacocks are so beautiful, and so simple to make!

  • Visual aid of how to complete Friendship Heart Necklace

    Heart necklaces are a great way to show your regard for a sweet friend--these are made just the way you want, and are so easy to make!

  • Visual aid of how to complete Clay Flower Pots

    Decorate a ceramic flower pot with sculpting clay to give new life to your old pots, or brighten up your garden with some extra decoration. Your kids will have a blast using sculpting clay to express their creativity!

  • Visual aid of how to complete Millefiori Clay Beads

    Learn the art of millefiori, a traditional glass-working technique, by rolling together colorful clay to make intricate patterns.

  • Visual aid of how to complete Air-Dry Clay Ornaments

    Winter-fy your home with these charming DIY snowflake ornaments!

  • Visual aid of how to complete Luminary Clay Lanterns

    Create your own unique votive jars by coating mason jars in a layer of clay and paint, then carve out creative shapes or patterns for the light to shine through. You can use our valentine's day template, or make it your  own!

  • Visual aid of how to complete Pressed Tiles
    Pressed Tiles

    (Ages 3-11)

    These darling tiles have so many uses--put a hole in the top for making a charm, use letters for letter and word games, make a matching game from them, put them in a bag for drawing pieces for an impromptu story-telling....wherever your imagination takes you!

  • Visual aid of how to complete Watercolor Clay Turtles

    Wet-on-wet watercoloring is one of our favorite painting techniques; it's always so fun to see the colors move and travel as they will. Add salt to the watercolors after your object's been painted, and you have even more texture and interesting patterns!

  • Visual aid of how to complete Pictures In Clay

    Create different pictures with clay for a new way to draw and create!

  • Visual aid of how to complete Air-Dry Clay Mobile

    Add a fun and colorful pop of color to your walls with your own hanging air dry clay mobile!

  • Visual aid of how to complete Play Dough Monsters

    Monsters don't always have to be scary! My girls and I love to make these silly, not-so-scary play dough monsters whenever we get out our play dough box! These are a fun Halloween party or anytime play activity and craft.

  • Visual aid of how to complete Poseable Giraffes

    We made these adorable giraffes out of pipe cleaners and air-dry clay, and got to practice with proportion and balance!

  • Visual aid of how to complete Blow Darts
    Blow Darts

    (Ages 3-11)

    Using one straw for the blower, and a thinner straw for the darts, you can make these blow darts and challenge your friends and family!


Get inspired!