Sometimes, what starts as a simple craft idea can spiral into a full-on challenge. We set out to make a few small bowls using air-dry clay—a quick, easy project, or so we thought.
Turns out, air-dry clay behaves very differently from the polymer clays we were used to. Shrinkage, cracking, and unexpected breakage all came into play.
But rather than give up, we leaned into the imperfections and used the beautiful Japanese concept of Kintsugi to bring the pieces back together—with some surprising and delightful results.
Why This Plan Works
- It’s a great beginner project for learning how to work with air-dry clay.
- The concept of highlighting imperfections turns a failed craft into something stunning.
- It introduces Kintsugi-style crafting in a fun, accessible way.
- You don’t need expensive tools—just a few basic supplies.
- Each bowl becomes a one-of-a-kind decorative piece with personality.
What You Will Need
- 1kg air-dry terracotta modeling clay
- Plastic wrap (clingfilm)
- A tin and a glass bowl (used as molds)
- A container of water
- Acrylic paints (variety of colors)
- Clear, fast-drying glue (like UHU all-purpose adhesive)
- Metallic acrylic paint or mica powder
- Paintbrushes
- Permanent paint markers (e.g., gold, black)
- Cocktail sticks
- Knitting needle, skewer, or awl
Step 1: Preparing the Molds
We started by wrapping the base of a tin and a glass bowl with clingfilm. This step helps the clay release easily once it’s partially dried. These containers acted as our bowl molds—easy to find in any kitchen.
Step 2: Forming the First Bowl
We rolled a flat circle of clay and placed it onto the base of the glass bowl. Pressing it gently, we shaped it upward to form the bowl walls.
To create stability, we added a ring of clay at the base and poked three holes through using a knitting needle. A bit of water on our fingers helped smooth the surface and refine the shape.
Step 3: Sculpting the Second Bowl
For the tin mold, we laid a circle of clay over the end, then built up a ring around the outer edge. To make sure additional layers stuck, we scored the clay and added a bit of water before wrapping a flat clay strip around the outside.
Once everything was smoothed and thinned out, we repeated the three-hole pattern at the base and left it to partially dry.
Step 4: The Shrinkage Surprise
Here’s where the trouble began. We expected some shrinkage but didn’t anticipate how quickly the clay would pull away from the mold and warp.
After just a few hours, cracks appeared, and the shapes distorted. Instead of forcing them, we let the bowls dry completely while still on their molds.
Step 5: Breaking and Strategizing
Once dry, we carefully removed the clay bowls, breaking them into as few pieces as possible. Keeping the fragments large made the next step—reassembly—a lot easier. We arranged the pieces like puzzle parts to see how they fit before gluing. For misaligned edges, we either smoothed or overlapped them, depending on the bowl’s shape.
We placed some clear glue on parchment paper and stirred in gold acrylic paint using a cocktail stick (mica powder would work, too). Though the plan was to apply the gold-glue mix with precision, we quickly found that squeezing the glue directly from the tube was far more efficient!
Step 6: Adding Raised Break Lines
To enhance the Kintsugi effect, we applied extra gold-paint-glue mix along the outside of each seam.
This added a raised texture that would later catch light beautifully once painted. These lines transformed breaks into bold, intentional design features.
Step 7: Painting with Intention
We experimented with color combinations. One bowl was painted pink with silver lines, but it didn’t quite pop.
So, we repainted it in a deep purple, which made the gold accents shine dramatically. For the flatter bowl, we used metallic silver outside and a calm blue inside, making the break lines resemble elegant welded seams.
Step 8: Final Touches for Bowl 1
Although we initially mixed gold paint into the glue, we ended up painting directly over the seam lines later for a richer finish. A gold paint marker was perfect for outlining the rim, giving it a polished edge. The contrast between the rich purple and shimmering gold gave the bowl a luxurious feel.
Step 9: Final Touches for Bowl 2
To give the flatter bowl character, we added faux rivets along the seam lines with a black Sharpie. On the inside, we scratched simple sea creatures using an awl—playful and whimsical details that added a personalized flair to the piece.
Note: Don’t worry if the glued seams aren’t perfectly neat—once painted over, they become a stunning visual feature, not a flaw.
Other Details Display
- Molding Tools: Used everyday kitchen items like a tin and glass bowl.
- Clingfilm Lining: Prevented the clay from sticking to the molds.
- Three Holes: Added at the base of each bowl, both decorative and practical.
- Seam Lines: Raised using glue mixed with gold acrylic paint.
- Paint Finishes: One bowl is dark purple with gold seams, the other is silver and blue with black detailing.
- Edge Detail: One rim outlined with gold marker for a refined touch.
- Interior Design: Sea creature sketches added with an awl.
- Repair Technique: Inspired by Japanese Kintsugi, using imperfections as part of the design.
Summary
This air-dry clay bowl project didn’t go exactly as planned—but by embracing the unexpected and using a Kintsugi-inspired approach, we turned broken pieces into something beautiful.
With patience, creativity, and a bit of glue, we saved a DIY disaster and created two unique decorative bowls using air-dry clay.
This plan is a contribution by [FernMakes]. Project Via Instructables – Get the PDF Instructions here.