Introduction: How to Make Clay

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Have you ever wanted to make your own clay and not buy the expensive clay at the hobby store?
Well, heres the instructable, How to make clay!

This instructable will be explaining how to make a type of clay is made from not rocky stuff, but food. The clay is easy to make and you can easily get the ingredients from most food stores. You can keep this type of clay for a very long time if stored in a air-tight container in a cool dark place. It also has another advantage, instead of most types of clay that needs to be baked to solidify, it can be air-dried to solidified, so that clay is a bit 'green' too, you don't have to waste electric or gas just to solidify clay models.

And one more thing... This type of clay is great for all ages!

Step 1: Time to Go Shopping!

It is time to go shopping or dig into your cupboard to get the ingredients! Get the things as listed...
  • 3 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup of salt
  • 1 tablespoon of cream of tarter
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons of oil
  • 2 cups of water,
Of course, you can divide or add more ingredients.

And the tools...
  • Anything that can boil water
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Wooden spoon
  • Cookie sheet

All of this stuff are optional, used to decorate your work pieces...
  • food coloring
  • Paint
  • Carving tools
  • Cookie cutter
  • Large needle
  • Or what ever you think it is the best!

Step 2: Boil the Water

Okay, you got all of the stuff you need (hopefully) and lets start making clay!

Add water into anything that can boil water, preferably a pot. Start boiling the water and if you are going to make colored clay, add a few drops of food coloring now. (Note to kids: you will need your parents supervision to boil water.)

Step 3: Add Stuff Into the Bowl

While you are waiting for the water to boil, put all the dry ingredients into the large mixing bowl and mix it all up!

Step 4: Mix in the Oil

After the water is boiling, remove it from heat and then add in the oil and mix it together.

Step 5: Mix Together!

Slowly pour the hot oiled water into the large bowl with the dry ingredients and mix it together thoroughly using the wooden spoon. After you have mixed it thoroughly, let the mixture sit somewhere cool to cool down the warm mixture.

If you like, you can add a little vanilla extract to the mixture to make aromatic clay!

Step 6: Knead the Mixture

After the mixture in the bowl cooled, take it all out of the bowl and put it down on the cookie sheet and begin kneading the mixture until it becomes pliable consistency like that of store-bought clay.

Step 7: Play With It!

Done!
You now made the clay that is cheap to make compared to the expensive store-bought clay!

Now you can hand it over to your little kids to play with. And after they have done playing with it, store the clay in an air-tight containers to retain its moisture so it can be used again!

Or...

Make models out of clay and let it dry out in air (never bake this type of clay, it will ruin it) and then paint it!

Or...

Make pottery out of that clay, carve it with your carving tools or something like that, then air-dry it, and paint it!

I hope you enjoyed this instructable!
If you have any questions, or need help, or found an error, or anything, make a comment! I like comments!

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