The right way to Make Paint Palettes with Air Dry Clay

These DIY paint palettes are enjoyable to make and should encourage youngsters (and adults) to interrupt out the paints extra usually. 

My son is massive on crafting and particularly loves something associated to portray. So, I made a handful of clay paint palettes which might be simply his measurement. They’re product of air dry clay, so there isn’t any firing required. And it solely takes a couple of supplies (most of which you probably have already got at house).

With summer season break, this seems like the right mission to deal with with youngsters (or a artistic grownup). And after every little thing is finished and dry, it could even encourage them to color extra often. Click on by way of for the tutorial.

Ultimately, I’ll make some fancier paint palettes that require firing, versus simply air drying. However for now, these are cute and practical. And ideal for youths, particularly! 

Except for being enjoyable to make and in addition a practical piece once they’re accomplished, they’re reasonably priced! You may make a couple of of your individual for lower than ten {dollars} price of supplies. Talking of which…

Supplies

• air dry clay (I like this one bc its tremendous reasonably priced and is available in a reusable container)
• wood skewer or popsicle stick*
• rolling pin – an affordable one that you simply use just for crafting
• sandpaper
• cup of water
• sealer (like acrylic sealer, clear polyurethane varnish, or clear nail polish)
• previous cookie rack, display, or one thing related for air circulate whereas clay is drying

*You should utilize fancier carving instruments if you would like, however I wished to make this mission as accessible as attainable. And I really used a wood skewer for many of the clay paint palettes I made.

The above photograph was taken earlier than/through the smoothing stage of the method.

The right way to Make a Paint Palette

1. Roll clay into ball after which roll it out with a rolling pin.

Begin by rolling a palm measurement quantity of clay right into a ball after which roll it out with a rolling pin. Try to hold the thickness to a couple of 1/2 inch or thinner.

2. Carve out the outer paint palette form.

Subsequent, use a popsicle stick, wood skewer, or clay carving software to chop the rolled out clay into the specified paint palette form (rectangle, sq., circle, summary form, and so forth). You may also use a big cookie cutter should you don’t wish to freehand it. There are many cool shapes on Etsy and normal shapes (circles and rectangles) on Amazon.

3. Easy the floor.

Dip your fingers into somewhat water and rub the perimeters of your form to do away with any jaggedness.

4. Carve out the paint wells.

Then, carve the inside paint nicely shapes (you should use your fingers, a carving software, or the identical wood skewer or popsicle stick from earlier. One other thought can be to make use of a plastic spoon to create oval formed paint wells, by urgent the spoon into the clay.

Upon getting them roughly carved, dip your fingers in a tiny little bit of water and begin smoothing the paint wells and the complete floor of the paint palette.

5. Carving, smoothing, and drying.

Trip with carving and smoothing till you’re proud of it. Then sit it apart and let it dry in keeping with the packaging. In a single day or 24-48 hours relying on the thickness is an effective rule of thumb.

You wish to be sure that all sides are drying evenly / on the similar time. So utilizing one thing like a cookie rack to create air circulate whereas drying is really helpful.

6. Easy any areas which might be nonetheless tough with sandpaper.

Use sandpaper to easy out any areas that want it – like the perimeters for instance. Wipe away any particles with a rag.

Observe: Watch out through the sanding course of. I received somewhat too tough with a paint palette, whereas sanding, and it broke in half. Photograph above.

7. Seal the palette to make it waterproof.

The final step is sealing the paint palette. It’s worthwhile to seal the ENTIRE paint palette – prime, sides, and again. A number of instances. In order that while you wash the paint off, after every use, the air dry clay is protected against water. This can assist it last more, assist stop cracking / breaking, and hold the paint from absorbing into the palette floor.

For sealing, you should use an acrylic sealer, clear polyurethane varnish, or my most well-liked technique: which is 2-3 coats of clear nail polish (like a transparent prime coat). Surprisingly, I discovered that the palettes I used clear nail polish on (as an alternative of the opposite 2 options) had been those that the paint washed off of the most effective, with out staining the palette.

In case you determine to make use of a transparent prime coat nail polish, you should use the nail polish brush OR an precise paint brush. Simply be sure you do at the least 2 coats (no matter what sealant you employ) AND you cowl the complete floor with every coat (prime, sides, and backside).

After the sealant layers are dry, its prepared to make use of!

How a lot clay do I have to create a paint palette? 

It is dependent upon the dimensions you need your paint palette to be. However a superb rule of thumb is to begin with a ball of air dry clay that could be a little greater than your fist and roll it out. If the dimensions isn’t giant sufficient, ball it again up and add some extra earlier than rolling it out once more.

How can I pace up the drying time for air dry clay?

Usually, I wouldn’t suggest that you simply attempt rushing up the drying time as a result of it may result in breakage or cracking. I’ve seen some options for utilizing a fan, like a ceiling fan or field fan. However I haven’t tried that.

You wish to get probably the most air circulate attainable, across the clay. So elevating items which might be drying off of the bottom, on little risers (cookie racks work nice for this) will assist to let the clay dry sooner naturally. And likewise, will assist hold it flat. Generally air dry clay with curl because it dries if there isn’t any air circulate beneath.

Can I exploit polymer clay to make a paint palette like this as an alternative?

Sure! You should utilize polymer clay / oven bake clay as an alternative of air dry clay. However the course of might be totally different. For instance, you can not use water on polymer clay to easy it or make it extra pliable. In case your polymer clay is difficult, you may add the hardened clay to a plastic bag, seal it, after which dip the bag in sizzling water. However don’t let water contact the clay itself.

As soon as formed, it could be baked in keeping with the bundle directions. After which you may seal it with a number of coats of one thing that can waterproof it, like resin or varnish. Dishwasher protected Mod Podge may fit as nicely, however I haven’t tried it. So I don’t know for certain.

How do you clear these paint palettes?

I like to recommend cleansing palettes instantly after you’re completed utilizing them. So the paints don’t have time to actually dry totally or leach in. I often simply activate the tap in our utility sink (within the storage) and wipe the paint out with my fingers. for extra cussed paint, you may attempt gentle cleaning soap with water.

Towel dry they usually’re prepared for subsequent time.

My paint palette has paint stains that received’t come off. Now what?

If the palette is stained and the paint received’t come off, I’d paint over it with a 2-3 coats of white paint after which reseal. Good as new.

Hoping this DIY paint palette will encourage you to create one thing particular together with your toddler. I like tasks like this, that might be used for months and possibly even years to come back.