This last year I started to take pottery lessons. I had not put my fingers in clay since art school, so it was a treat to try a different medium and get my fingers in the “dirt.” Our designer Meagan, who is quite accomplished at ceramics, has designed this beautiful clay hand drop dish that is the perfect introduction to working with clay at home as it air dries and is easy to clean up.

We’ll give you a hand

This clay hand drop dish makes a great personalized gift for your mother, a teacher, or anyone who has supported you in some way. Of course, you can also craft it for yourself and style it with some pretty paper succulents! The clay we use is non-toxic and safe for kid’s crafts, so you will see more projects coming up using our new favorite clay material.

For this project, you can use the hand templates to create your shape as well as the detailed line of the internal hand. You can leave your clay hand drop dish its natural white or paint it with water-based craft paint. A tip from Meagan: Use the least amount of water possible to make the clay not sticky; using too much water will cause the clay to wrinkle as it drys. If the surface is not as smooth as you like when fully dried, you can use a 600+ grit sandpaper to smooth it out.

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Tools

• Craft Scissors
• Detail Knife
• Spray Bottle
• Rolling Pin
• Paintbrush
• Sand Paper 600 Grit

Materials

• DAS Air-Hardening Modeling Clay — White
• Craft Paint— White
• Wax Paper

How to Make a Clay Hand Drop Dish

1. Gather your craft tools and materials. Then download the template below.
2. Tape down a sheet of wax paper over your surface; on the wax paper, use a spray bottle to spray clay and your hands while kneading the clay until it is smooth.
3. Roll out clay to 1/8th inch thick using a rolling pin or a smooth glass; spray clay as needed to prevent it from sticking to the roller.
4. Cut out the larger hand template using scissors. Lay paper hand on top of the rolled out clay, and  use the detail knife to cut clay around the hand.

Full tutorial available for members. Join here!

Explore More

Want more ideas? See our clay air plant holder, DIY trinket dishes, and cute clay ring holders. Or browse all of our clay crafts.

If you feel like sharing your DIY project with us, you can always email pictures to hello@liagriffith.com or tag them on social with #MadeWithLia. For daily DIY ideas and inspiration, join us on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram. Or browse our YouTube channel for videos on how to make paper flowers, plants, and more. We love to hear your suggestions and feedback, so please share it with us anytime!