Baking Soda Clay

In this instructable will show you how to make clay from three simple ingredients. This is a fun, cheap, and easy project that everyone will do. Enjoy!

Step 1: Gather Supplies

For this easy to do clay, you will need the following:

1. Saucepan

2. 2 cups of baking soda

3. 1 cup of cornstarch

4. 1 1/4 cups of cold water

5. *Optional* food coloring

To Make a half batch:

1. Saucepan

2. 1 cup of baking soda

3. 1/2 cup of cornstarch

4. 5/8 cup of cold water- 1/2 cup and 1/2 of a 1/4 cup. If you don't have precise measurements that is okay but try to get as close as you possibly can.

5. *Optional* foo

Step 2: Making the Clay

You will need to first put the baking soda into your saucepan then mix in the cornstarch. make sure both are really mixed before adding the water. Pour the water into the saucepan then consistently mix over medium heat until it is the consistency of mashed potatoes.

Step 3: After Cooked

After you have achieved your mashed potato consistency, turn off the heat and place a damp hand towel over the saucepan. Wait until your clay is cooled. You'll have to wait about 15-20 minutes. If you want to reach this step faster, you may place the dough in a separate bowl and place in the refrigerator.

Step 4: Rolling the Clay

Once your clay is cool to the touch, take out and roll until smooth. If you chose you put in food coloring now would be the time to roll it into your clay. Once you have your clay make as many colors as you want by repeating this process or breaking apart the clay into smaller parts and giving each part a different color. have fun and make sure not to eat the clay as it is clay and not a food.

Step 5: Drying Out

To prevent your clay from drying out, make sure to store it in a closed baggie or container for future use.

Comments

[seanthesheep.moggychicken]

I made it but didn't want to post images, as I am on the computer. Is the clay meant to be abnormally sticky for a while?
Thanks!

[Morning Hernandez]

wow, this is a wonderful and simple project!

I wonder how it will be when dried, could it hold water? I would like to make a small flower pot so it will likely spend most of its life getting wet.

If I get to make it before I receive an answer I will share what I have learned!

[Penolopy Bulnick]

I love that this only takes a few ingredients to make! I am also curious what it is like when you leave it out to dry?

[mobust]

It dries very hard with a bit of a gritty feel (like the unfinished back of a porcelain piece). Smaller pieces tend to be more successful.

You can paint or mod podge completely dry pieces.

[mrsmerwin]

I am looking for a simple cheap clay that dries really hard without cracking. So far, this seems pretty simple. The ingredients are readily available and cheap. How does it dry? Hard? Crumbly? Does it crack?

[mobust]

smaller pieces are less likely to crack

[HorseMadGirl10]

Is this the type of clay you can play with? If so I will make it!

[Emma_Blaisdell13]

Yes, this clay is great for playing with. Make sure to seal once you finish playing with it so it doesn't dry out. If you leave it out it drys out and become great hardness so you can create hard clay figures

[Emma_Blaisdell13]

When you leave this one out it becomes a hard mass. This clay is a really good one because you can use it as a soft clay to mold and make things and also create something great and have it dry. The clay dried is very storng and hard to break.

[mrsmerwin]

Thanks. I will try it.