This time of year, I love to take my Bible and coffee out on the patio while the morning air is chill and the birds wake up singing—a fresh reminder to start my day with praise! This simple little project is a fun way to welcome a new season and remember that God keeps care of every little thing for us.

Supplies + Tools

White air-dry clay (craft stores or online)

Acrylic paint

Fabric paint pens (craft stores or online)

Mod Podge

Clear Glaze Spray (hardware stores or online)

Parchment paper (to cover work surface)

Saran Wrap (optional)

 

Cookie cutters + Stencils

Xacto knife

Rolling pin

Paint Brushes

Super Fine (220 grit) Sandpaper

7-way Nail File/Buffer (optional)

Sponge + Water Bowl

 

Steps + Tips

 

  1. Roll out the clay evenly on a smooth surface to your desired thickness (1/16th to 1/8th inch is ideal). Thin is better for shaping and will dry faster. (Pro tip: Laying a piece of saran wrap on the clay before cutting out your shape will give a smooth rounded edge that makes sanding easier later.) If you want an embossed look, lay the stencil on your clay and gently press down; a chopstick works great for this. Carefully peel the stencil back up and away from the clay.

 

 

  1. Gently lift the clay off your work surface (parchment paper helps it come up easier) and use your fingers to smooth the edges. Keep a wet sponge nearby to dampen your fingers if need be.

  1. To create a curved shape, lay the shape (upside down) over a small dish or rounded object to air dry. Glass or metal objects work great for this. Because I used a small clay bowl (the perfect size) for my larger bird, I tightly wrapped the dish in saran wrap first so it would be easy to release my bowl after it dried. Let the clay dry for 24 hours.

 

 

  1. Once the dish is dry, use a piece of fine sandpaper—better yet, a 7-way nail file/buffer is easy to use and gives an even smoother finish! To seal your dish, brush on a light coat of mod podge and let it dry at least 15-20 minutes.

  1. Now it’s time to paint! You can use acrylic paint and a brush—but I decided to try some fabric paint pens. They are double tipped (one end is a brush, the other end is fine tip pen) and they worked amazing, especially in finishing around the edge.

  1. Let your painted dish dry for 12-24 hours. Then spray with one or two coats of clear glaze for a shiny finish.