Here is a super easy no-bake clay sorting hat.

Step 1: Materials

You will need:

Pottery clay
Sculpting tools
Brown paint
Clear varnish
Gold and red ribbon
Round wooden box
Red and Yellow M&M's
Quick drying epoxy

Step 2: The Banner

You will need your gold and red ribbon. Cut a "V" shape out of the bottom of the gold ribbon. Place the red ribbon on top of the gold ribbon and trace the "V" shape and cut it out. Once you have the "V" shape cut out of both ribbons, glue the red ribbon onto the gold ribbon. Now the banner is complete.

Step 3: The Box

Paint your box with brown paint. This will probably take several coats. Add a coat or two of clear varnish once the paint has dried.

Step 4: Sorting Hat: Step One

I used pottery clay because it is cheap and I find it really easy to sculpt. I used cake decorating tools for sculpting as they were what I had on hand and they work very well with this clay.

Make a rough a circle that is just a tad bit smaller than the lid of your box.

Sculpt the hat.

Step 5: Sorting Hat: Step Two

Put a little bit of water on the base of the hat and stick the two pieces together. Make sure you don't press too hard when putting it together because you don't want to squish them.

Leave the hat out in a safe place to dry for 1-2 days.

Step 6: Sorting Hat: Step Three

Once the hat has dried for a couple of days, coat the whole thing even the bottom in two layers of varnish. Let the varnish dry completely between coats.

Step 7: Sorting Hat: Step Four

Paint the hat with several layers of brown paint. Next, take a darker shade of brown paint and go over all the creases and the eyes and mouth. Once this is dry add 1-2 layers of the clear varnish.