Air dry clay heart with a thrifted pink ribbon hanger.

How to Make Adorable Air-Dry Clay Hearts

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Hiya everyone and a very happy Monday to you all!

This weekend my children and I enjoyed a fun Saturday filled with lots of crafting fun. Dad was busy working on a new pantry area in our kitchen… when an idea sprang to my mind. “Why not busy ourselves with a bit of creativity and imagination? This way, we can stay out of the kitchen space, while also being productive.”

A quick scan of the room led my eyes to a pair of cookie molds I had bought several months ago from a favorite thrift store. That was all it took, the seed was planted and I was ready to gather my pupils around me to explain.

This is where you all come into the picture.  I decided to include my blog readers in on the crafting fun. Without further ado, I shall introduce our easy, Saturday Air-Dry clay ideas to you all. And, as Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching- it will come as no surprise to you, that we decided to make air-dry clay… hanging and lace pattered hearts. 

Indeed, you may recall me referring to English hanging hearts in previous posts. This is another rendition of this English cottage style classic.

Simple items like a heart shaped cookie cutter, air-dry clay, vintage lace, and cookie molds, allowed us to create a charming Valentine’s Day decoration (See more Valentines’ ideas from last week here).

We would be thrilled if you would join in on the family fun.

Now, no dilly… no dally- roll up your sleeves and be ready to craft. Lights out and away we go.

~The Inspiration for the Air-Dry Clay Hearts~

Be it inspiration or a backstory, I always like to share my line of thinking with my readers. Picture this: six months ago, I was minding my own business, browsing in a thrift store, when I saw a sweet cookie mold to my right. Naturally, I picked the cookie mold up in order to inspect my treasure. When I turned the mold over, I saw it was made by Brown Bag Cookie Art (stamped 1986). The mold was beautiful, heavy, and durable. Originally, I thought I would use it for making homemade Christmas cookies.

Fast forward three months later… and I found two more of these charming (yet different) molds in the same thrift store. So, I did the logical thing, which was to buy those as well, to add to my collection. 

Now, I am the proud owner of three of these vintage Brown Bag Cookie Art cookie molds. I think they are charming and sweet. In fact, I even like the way they look (just as they are) propped up on a kitchen shelf. But of course, one of my favorite things is when beauty and function collide.

A thrifted cookie mold.
*Even used as a simple decoration these molds add a lovely cottage touch to a kitchen space.
The back of a Brown bag vintage cookie mold.
*Brown Bag Cookie Art mold from the back view.

~Brown Bag Cookie Molds- For a Bargain!~

The thrill of shopping in a thrift store is largly due to the fact that you do not know what you may find. I was not planning on purchasing a stoneware cookie mold, but I am so glad I did. I foresee these helpful tools, being used often in the future, for various baking and crafting projects.

In my opinion, this is a classic example of a thrift store win- a few dollars well spent! For you see, I did not just buy the cookie molds, I also bought the opportunity to make memories as well.

~Step by Step instructions: How to Prepare the Air-Dry Clay~

Air-dry clay is a lovely product to work with. It does involve a bit of a mess… but nothing major. Air-dry clay projects are perfect for almost any age… making this an ideal homeschool art project. (*To see another similar project using a baked flour dough check out my post here🙂

Here are our simple steps we followed:

  • Firstly, we used a rolling pin to roll our clay out flat (to about a 1/4 inch even thickness). *Note: This thickness may vary based on your individual project needs. (We wanted our hearts to not be too thin… but also not be too fat.)
  • Secondly: After the air-dry clay was rolled out, we then gently pressed the clay into our cookie form.
  • Thirdly, we made sure that all areas of the mold pattern were pressed neatly onto the clay. 
The rolled-out air dry clay on a kitchen countertop.
*A rolling pen is the perfect helper for this arts and crafts project.
The cookie molds and the rolled out air dry clay.
*The two cookie molds have been washed and are ready to be put to use.
The cookie mold that was found in a thrift store.
*I love the dainty details!
A vintage cookie mold is perfect for forming an air dry heart.
*Two birds lifting a fabric banner together.

~How to Punch the Top Hole Before Drying~

Once this step was complete, I used a paper straw to make a hole in the top of the air-dry clay- for easy hanging.

Gently, I removed the clay from the form- and placed it onto a piece of parchment paper.

Lastly, I used a wooden skewer to re-add minor details that had been lost in the demolding process.

The paper straw creates the hanging hole before drying.
*A paper straw makes the perfect size hanging hole.
Using a paper straw to punch a hole through the top allows you to thread a ribbon through once the clay is dry. This makes hanging the heart much easier.
*This is not necessary (depending on end us), however, it certainly makes using the heart as a decoration a simpler task.
The air dry clay has been pressed into the cookie mold and the pattern remains.
*Scalloped details and intricate patterns give this heart a classic vintage style.
The demolded air dry heart with a hole in the top for hanging.
*Scissors were a good tool to trim any excess air-dry clay from the heart shape.
The air dry clay heart is almost ready. A wooden skewer helps to recreate any imprints that were lost in the mold removal.
*Some of the more delicate details were lost in the demolding process. A wooden skewer is precise enough to add some of those details back by hand.
A wooden skewer is a helpful tool when working with the air dry clay.
*Both the pointed end, and the flat end, of the wooden skewer can be used to add detail and pattern.

~How to Add Water to Smooth the Air-Dry Clay~

By adding a bit of water to the air-dry clay, a smooth finish can be achieved. I found a small glass of water and my finger were the most effective tools. Wetting the clay allows the clay to be more malleable and gives a smooth finish. This extra step gets rid of any rough edges- or slightly cracks and wrinkles in the clay.

Using cold water to soften the air dry clay allows the edges to be smooth.

~Drying and Decorating the Air-Dry Hanging Hearts~

Air-dry clay takes 2-3 days to dry in the open air. I found placing the air-dry clay on a piece of parchment paper was helpful.

Once the clay is fully dry, you can paint it or leave it in its natural state. For this project, I preferred leaving it in its natural beauty.  (I do love the creamy plaster like color. Isn’t it dreamy?)

All that was left to do… was to use some lovely ribbon to create a hoop in which to hang the hearts from.

The air dry clay hearts are ready to dry on the kitchen countertop for several days.
*Allow your air -dry clay project to dry undisturbed- (which is no easy feat with four young children!)
Air dry hanging hearts resting in the morning sun on a kitchen countertop.
*One reason to get up early is the beautiful sunlight that streams through the kitchen window.
The details om the hanging heart mimic the cookie mold.
*This is my favorite heart design. I love the intricate details, and I am pleased that the air-dry clay was able to pick up the tiny details.
Air Dry clay hanging hearts resting on a kitchen countertop.
*Vintage and thrifted lace also need a thrifted candlestick holder... in order to feel at home on the kitchen countertop.
A finished air dry clay hanging hearts is ready to be used in a home space.
*This pattern says "rustic" to me.
Air dry clay heart with a thrifted pink ribbon hanger.
An air dry clay heart hanging on a dining cabinet from Ikea.
*These hanging hearts look charming almost anywhere. I decided to hang this heart on a dining room cupboard.
Air dry heart is adding a layer of texture over a vintage metal sign.
*Another option is to layer these air-dry clay hearts over another piece of art.
Using the air dry clay to decorate a dresser drawer.
*Lastly, an English inspired heart looks lovely hanging from a dresser drawer. It creates an English cottage cozy look in a bedroom space.

~How to Add a Lace Pattern to Air-Dry Clay Hearts~

Using a simple heart shaped cookie cutter, we pressed and cut out five air-dry clay hearts. The hearts were lovely as they were, but we wanted to add a bit more charm to their exterior. We tried many different things before landing on the lace.

For each heart we gently pressed the lace onto the top of the heart. Firm enough to leave the patterned mark, but gentle enough to not distort the flat surface of the heart. 

A plastic cookie cutter in the shape of a heart is pressed into the rolled-out air dry clay.
*Cookie cutters don't have to be limited to baking cookies.
Two types of lace are draped over the top of the air dry clay heart to create a sweet pattern.
*Any pattern of lace can be created to suit your individual preference.
Cream colored lace is gently pressed into the air dry clay in order to make a pattern.
*The top of the heart has been stamped with the lace. A second layer of lace is to follow.
Vintage lace is gently pressed onto the air dry clay heart to may a lovely lace imprint.
*Stamping the lace onto the clay heart is very simple and does not require perfection.

~Finishing the Air-Dry Hearts~

These lace pattern hearts I am sharing with you are unfinished on purpose, but they will not always be. No, No- for I plan to use these in another thrifted craft project (which I will be sharing with you all later in the week). So be doubly sure to tune in to my blog space to see the finished product.

Any guesses as to how I may use these sweet, lace patterned, air-dry clay hearts? Let me know your thoughts in the comments…and I will let you know if you are correct.

The air dry clay hearts are placed on parchment paper and allowed to dry.
*How lovely the faintest details can be.
Crayola air dry clay.
*There are many air-dry clay brands avaliable. I found the Crayola brand to be perfect for this fun project.

~Until Next Time~

Well, there we have it…we find ourselves at the end of another blog post. I hope you leave this post feeling energized to create. These hanging hearts, and lace patterned air-dry clay hearts, are simple and lovely to create.

Combining thrifted items… and new items… can create a wonderful Valentine’s Day decoration on a budget. 

I would love to hear from you. Do you enjoy DIY crafting blogs?

Before you leave, don’t forget to subscribe to my blog and share with those you think may enjoy as well.

Also, check out my Facebook and Pinterest pages for more innovative inspirations and fruitful finds. In fact, you can see my “love bird air dry clay heart” in one of my earliest posts here:

I hope to see you all again very soon… Friday (or before).

Until then,

Elizabeth

Air Dry clay is a fun activity to do with children.
*Sweet figures and trinkets made by my precious children. Oh how I love spedning time with them- for they are some of my greatest blessings!

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