30 Mar 2022Mont Marte
Craft DIY Sculpting and Modelling

Make a handmade clay bangle with air dry clay

If you’re looking for a fun clay craft project, but also looking for a chance to get the paint brushes out, try this air-dry clay bracelet idea! It’s easy to create and makes for a nifty present to gift to a friend, family member or someone special.

Extra material you'll need: 

  • Scissors
  • String 
  • Paint brush 
  • Gloves

Begin by pulling off a slab of clay to work with and roll the clay into six balls.

Hand rolling the air dry clay into six balls.

Grab your favourite acrylic paint colours and squeeze the paint into the clay ball.

A hand squeezing yellow acrylic colour paint into the air dry clay ball.

Knead the clay until it absorbs all of the paint.

Hand kneading the yellow acrylic colour into a clay ball

Keep kneading and add more paint if needed. This can sometimes get messy so slip on a pair of gloves to keep things clean.

Hand wearing blue gloves squeezing blue acrylic paint colour into a ball of air dry clay

Continue adding in different colours to each ball of clay using the same process. Add another colour or stick to the one colour, the choice is yours.

Purple gloves squeezing purple acrylic paint colour into air dry clay

Pull apart one of the large balls and roll this into a smaller ball to create your beads.

Hand pulling apart one of the clay large balls and rolling this into a smaller ball to create an air dry clay bead.

Continue rolling until you have enough to work with.

Hand rolling the yellow acrylic clay into a larger bead.

Grab a pencil or the end of a paint brush and poke a hole through each bead. Dip the end of the pencil or brush into water to remove any excess clay and to make it easier to thread a hole through.

Paint brush putting a hole through the ball of red coloured clay to create a bead.

 Allow the clay to dry, this can take a few hours.

Progress shot of coloured beads

When the beads are dry, grab some string and measure loosely to your wrist size, then cut off the excess. Having the string a little longer is better than it being too tight.

Hand cutting off excess string using a pair of blue scissors

Begin threading your beads onto the string. Keep your work flat so the beads don’t roll away.

Hand threading coloured beads onto a long string to create a necklace

Keep threading until you’ve used enough beads: Keep your paint brush or pencil handy in case you need to re-poke any holes (these things happen!)

Hand poking a hole through the green painted air dry clay ball with a paint brush to create a hole

Pull the ends of the string together and tie it in a knot at the top to secure the loop.

Hand tightening the string of a brightly coloured air dry clay bracelet

Trim the excess string.

Hand holding scissors trimming off the excess string to create an air dry clay bracelet

Your creation is ready to wear!

Three brightly coloured air dry clay bracelets laying together on a white table

Material List

  • Air Hardening Modelling Clay Premium - White 500gms
  • Acrylic Colour Paint Set Signature 6pc x 75ml (2.5 US fl.oz)

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