DIYHub Contest 4 Elements Fire Element: Air Dry Clay Candle Holder ...

Hello DIY! How are you? I saw that you're having a contest about making crafts using the four elements which I decided to participate in three days before it ended LOL Maybe this blog will be posted before the contest end. By the way, I saw this a long time ago I've been planning and planning and I have nothing to start with so I was scrolling through Pinterest and I saw a post that someone made a candle holder using airdry clay, which happens I just bought new one for no this reason so why not do it right? Hehe.

So yeah, working using airdry clay is not an easy one I need to be dry the whole day, if you are not a patient person do not attempt to use this medium LOL but I have a little bit of experience with it so I will show you that experience of mine.

So for my entry, I made a candle holder to make it more interesting I added a character which is a cat wearing a babushka cat that is acting like it is warming itself to the bonfire aka a candle. I hope you like this blog enjoy! :D

Materials I Used:

Air Dry Clay
Clay Tools
X Acto Knife
Acrylic Rolling Pin
Cutting Mat
Water
Sponge
Candle
Ruler
Acrylic Paint

Glass Container
Brush
UV Resin
UV Lamp
Lighter
Plastic Gloves
Mask
Weighing Scale
Alcohol
Mixing Pallete

Clay Time:

First I opened the airdry clay base on the instructions on the packaging to prevent the airdry clay from hardening.

I lay a cutting mat, then cut enough airdry clay using the cutting tools next I grab the acrylic rolling pin.

And then I put down two brushes that have the same thickness as a guide to make the air-dry clay have equal thickness.

Now that the air-dry clay is rolled equally, I grab a circle-shaped container as my guide.

I put it on top of the airdry clay and I make sure it is placed correctly to avoid any problems. Next, I grab an X-acto knife to cut it into a circle shape like the guide.

I carefully drag the knife around it, and after that, I remove the excess airdry clay.

Now I have that base of the candle holder. Airdry clay is a fragile medium so Sometimes cracks happen in the process.

I will make a paste out of the air dry that is how to fix the crack on the air dry clay. I air-dry clay in a mixing container and spray it with water little by little.

This is what it looks like and then I grab a flat clay tool to use to even out the airdry clay to make it smoother I use a sponge and a spray to smoothen the surface of it.

I smooth it with a wet sponge until no cracks are visible this is what it looks like.

For the corner part of the candle holder, I put air-dry clay again in between two brushes and rolled it out again just like I did in the first process. Smoothen it with a wet sponge.

Using a ruler as my guide this time then cut it with an X-acto knife.

I realized that I cut it too big so I cut it in half.

I do a test on it first before pasting it in.

Using the wire tool I scorch the side of the base air-dry clay.

Then I put a paste mixture on the base clay.

Next, I scorched the corner part the same as I did the base.

Then I paste it in carefully the first base first then the second one.

And then I cut the excess part.

The next step I am going to is to paste the part where the edge ends. Now it looks decent and I will not forget to finish the bottom part I smoothen it with paste too. This is what it looks like.

The next thing I am going to make is the cat character this is a sketch idea I made. LOL. I grab airdry clay again and weigh it with the weight I wanted and I smoothen it with a sponge to look like that.

Then I made the scarf and ears and I forgot to take a photo of the other part of its body.

I scorch the area where I'll place the item and the bottom of the cat. Then, I apply the paste and carefully set it in the air-dry clay holder. and carefully place it in the holder.

Now that the air dry clay is dried I use the sanding device to even out the clay.

It is ready to be painted I premixed the paint I used I first painted the coaster part and then the scarf.

And then I painted the remaining part that I needed to.

I then use UV Resin and brush to coat the clay it will help to seal the color and to make the clay durable. After I used the brush I put alcohol on the glass lid I had and cleaned it.

Before I cure it using the UV Lamp I first use a lighter around it to remove any bubbles created during applying the UV Resin. And then I cure it until it is not sticky anymore.