Boundless, curious and sometimes silly, children’s creativity should be fostered and protected. Little ones learn about the world, express themselves and build confidence by playing and creating. Joining in on your kids’ imaginative process brings you closer together and helps put you in touch with your own creativity—something we may rarely make time for, but always benefit from. Alina Rubio, a sculptor and owner of Naples-based fine arts and crafts studio Masterpeace—where weekly classes range from girls-night-out art activities to mommy-and-me workshops—offers a step-by-step botanical pottery craft that is engaging and approachable for ages 5 and up. Kids craft a catch-all tray perfect for small toys, markers or jewelry (air dry clay is porous, so it isn’t water or food safe) while learning about the plants growing around them.
MATERIALS NEEDED
- Hardy flora
- Air dry clay
- Clay tools like a rolling pin and wood molding tool (Alina says a plastic knife works great in a pinch!)
- Water cup
Duration: 1.5 to 2.5 hours
FOLLOW THESE STEPS
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Gather Your Botanicals: Enjoy a nature walk with your little one, identifying colors and plants along the way as you forage for your materials. Focus on cuttings with sturdy stems and leaves, like black-eyed Susans or wild rosemary; softer-petaled blooms may lose their shape when pressed into the clay.
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Prepping clay
Prep Your Clay: Knead the clay like bread dough, folding and turning it over until it’s pliable and you don’t see any air bubbles. Evenly roll it into an 1-inch-thick sheet (don’t go any thinner or your piece will be too fragile).
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Scoring in clay tray
Cutting and Scoring: Trace a perfect circle using a dinner plate or print a stencil, and cut out your tray shape. If you want to attach a lip around the edge or tack on a mini sculpture, use a toothpick, plastic knife or clay tool to score the junctions with shallow cross-hatch marks for better adhesion.
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Making clay tray
Mix Your Clay Slip: Add a small piece of air-dry clay to warm water in a dish until it has the consistency of melted ice cream. Paint the mixture—called a ‘clay slip’—along your scored surfaces. Think of the slip like sticky glue; you want to keep it nice and moist until you’re ready to assemble.
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Making clay tray
Connect the Pieces: Carefully line your scored pieces and press with enough pressure to hold the pieces together, but not so much that you mash your pretty designs. Pro Tip: For extra stability, roll out a thin coil of clay and press it into the inside of the joint between your tray and lip.
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Clay tray with botanical impressions
Smooth and Stamp: Use your fingers or tools to smooth out points of connection. Next, place your clean, dry botanicals on the damp clay surface and use your fingers to press them into the clay to your desired depth. Carefully remove the plants with tweezers to avoid smudging.
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Clay tray with botanical impressions
Wait for the Magic: Set your new creation to dry on a flat, indoor surface, away from fans or air vents (blowing air can cause cracking), for at least 48 hours. Once dry, add paint or keep it rustic for a natural look!
Photography by Christina Bankson