Make a Witch Hat Ring Holder With Air Dry Clay
I don’t want to be dramatic but… IT’S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR! It is no secret that I am a big fan of all things autumn and Halloween. And so I have been planning and working on a ton of content for this season, and I can’t wait to show you some fun spooky season DIY projects that I have coming out soon.
So I’m kicking off the Halloween content today with a super easy & fun air dry clay project — a witch hat ring holder! Check out how I made this fun jewelry storage piece below!
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MAKE A WITCH HAT RING HOLDER WITH AIR DRY CLAY
Supplies:
Wax paper (optional)
Paint sticks (optional)
Jar lid
Clay tools or knife (not necessary, but it is helpful to have a set of tools like this if you are going to be crafting more with air dry clay)
Sand paper (I used 220-grit)
Black acrylic paint
Paint brushes
STEP 1: Begin by rolling out a flat piece of air dry clay. I like to use a piece of wax paper on my work surface to keep dust off the clay and make clean up easier. Pull out a handful of air-dry clay from your tub and knead the piece with your hands until it is soft.
Lay it on your work surface and use your rolling pin to evenly flatten the piece to roughly about 1/8 in thick. To make sure you get a consistent surface, you can use two wood paint sticks, one on either side of your clay, and roll your rolling pin along the sticks.
STEP 2: Using the lid of a jar (I used the insert of a Mason Jar lid), trace a circle shape out of your clay with a knife. Remove excess clay from around the edges and roll this up into a ball.
STEP 3: Using your extra ball of clay (or more clay from your tub), roll a small ball shape and then try to form this into a cone shape with your hands or by rocking it back and forth on your work surface with your palm.
STEP 4: Next, create a ruffle along the edges of your flat clay piece with your fingers. At this point, you will also want to start smoothing out the surface of the air dry clay. Fill a small cup of water and dip your fingers into the water to smooth out any cracks or imprints in the clay shapes.
STEP 5: You are going to attach your cone shape to the middle of your round clay shape. Use your knife or even a sharp pencil to create a round grid in the middle of your clay circle and on the flat bottom of your cone. This gives each surface a texture to adhere to. Dab your finger in some water and smooth over these textured areas. Then push the cone into the center of your circle to make the witch hat shape.
To be sure that these two pieces of clay stay together, roll a thin snake of extra clay and place it around the base of the cone. Use your wet fingers and/or a sculpting tool to smooth out this area of clay until the cone shape seamlessly merges into the circle base shape. Smooth out any bumps or cracks in the clay with your finger and some water.
You should be left with a shape that looks like a witch’s hat! Set your project aside and allow the clay to fully dry for about 72 hours.
STEP 6: Once your clay is fully dry, you can go in with a fine grit sand paper to smooth out any more bumps or rough spots on your clay. I like to smooth along the edges too for a more polished look. Be sure to wipe away all dust before painting.
STEP 7: Paint about two coats of black acrylic paint on all sides of your clay hat. Allow the paint to fully dry for a few hours.
STEP 8: It is important to seal your project if you want to keep it safe and also to give is that glossy finish to look ceramic. Use a paint brush to paint on a thick coat of triple thick gloss glaze on all surfaces of the project, including the bottom. This glaze will need to dry for 24 hours.
And your clay witch hat ring holder is complete!
I’m not a professional ceramicist by any means, so these are definitely not perfect. But I kind of love the handmade look about them! And I love that they are not only a cute little Halloween decor piece for your room, but also a functional ring holder to store your most precious jewelry.
This would also make the cutest gift for a Halloween-enthusiast in your life. It kind of makes me want to make some other shapes — maybe a black cat with a tail sticking up? Or even a pumpkin with a long stem? The possibilities are endless.
Air dry clay can get a bad rap for not lasting long and kind of fall apart with time. I can’t vouch for the longevity of this project. But it definitely makes for a fun crafternoon, an easy creative project, and a fun mini piece of seasonal decor. Will it become a family heirloom I pass on for generations? Probably not. But until then, I will enjoy it in all it’s cuteness.
Let me know what you’re crafting with air dry clay this spooky season!
xo Rachael
