Cold Porcelain Clay Project

The optional craft we will be working on together is an idea that developed after seeing the little porcelain tea light villages on Instagram. The ones I love were mostly from artists in Russia or Ukraine so ordering a set for myself was out of the question. The Instagram algorithm knew one thing - I really like them.

Crate & Barrel sells a set of 5 for over $150. Nope! I don’t have the money for that right now. So, I found another way to enjoy these adorable little houses by making them myself! (Which is what Dan & Sarah Makers do best!) The best part is, I can give them my own character. Follow the link to the Tealight House Instructions to finish this project.

Today we will focus on the clay. You can use this clay for many holiday crafts - not just a Tealight House. I like it because it stays pliable for a very long time so it is very forgiving when it comes to cutting out shapes, shaping, or sculpting your projects.

The recipe I finally found to mimic porcelain but still remain pliable for a longer open time, without cracking and breaking is derived from a Cold Porcelain Clay recipe inspired by the clay used in porcelain flowers sold in the Middle East. I have converted the ingredients list from Sangeeta Shah’s post to reflect the more commonly used ingredient names found in the US.

The Ingredients List for the “Porcelain” Clay

• 1 - 16 oz. container Argo Corn Starch

• 2 cups Elmer’s School Glue

• 1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice or 1 teaspoon citric acid (if you just happen to have that lying around - good for you!)

• 2 Tablespoons baby oil (you can substitute this ingredient with Vaseline Petroleum Jelly, or mineral oil)

• 1 Tablespoon white liquid tempera paint

• Optional 1-2 Drops of essential oil can be added for a nice scent

• 1 Tablespoon Gold-Bond lotion or Nivea Creme - the basic stuff without lanoline or silicone. If you are not sure if a brand you have will work, just make sure it does not include lanoline or silicone and you should be good. Reserve this for the end when you kneed the clay. It sounds funny, but actually, measure out one tablespoon full and have it sitting next to the area you will use to knead the clay.

I was able to find all these ingredients at Walmart, but you could probably also find these ingredients at a combination of Fred Meyer and Michaels, or WinCo and Michaels, or even JoAnn Fabrics.

Tool List for Making the “Porcelain” Clay

• A wooden spoon or 2

• A large glass bowl that is microwave safe - It needs to hold about 6 cups (1.5 quarts)

• A rolling pin

• 2 paint stir sticks as rolling pin spacers but 2 rulers or large popsicle sticks might work as well.

• Paper Towels, Parchment Paper, or Wax Paper

• 2 cookie sheets or a flat counter surface that can be used for a drying surface for at least 24 hours

• Measuring Cups

• Exacto Knife or very thin sharp paring knife

• Pastry/Dough Scraper or a putty knife, or a large flat and thin metal BBQ spatula

Instructions for making the “Porcelain” Clay

Put all ingredients in a large microwave-safe bowl (EXCEPT reserve the 1 Tablespoon Gold-Bond Lotion for kneading).

Slowly mix the ingredients for about 30 seconds on low with a hand-held mixer until the ingredients are no longer poofing cornstarch all of your kitchens! Increase the speed of your mixer and continue to mix the clay until it forms a smooth glossy and thick consistency. This stuff is STICKY!!! Take the beater whisks out of the clay and place the bowl of clay in the microwave for 1 minute.

INTERMISSION: At this point, you might start wondering if Sarah has completely gone off the deep end. Well, yes, that happened a few years ago, but I promise I have successfully completed this recipe a few times and I’m still here to say it really does work.

I would recommend filling your sink with warm sudsy water to place all your utensils in as you finish using them. Go ahead and put your beaters in there now.

After one minute in the microwave, stir the clay with your wooden spoon. Put it back in the microwave for another minute.

Remove from the microwave and stir the clay a second time. You might start noticing big globules start to form that are not the same texture. This is okay, just stir it with the spoon as best you can and put it back in the microwave for 30 seconds.

Remove and stir again. Put it back in the microwave for a final 30 seconds.

When you remove the clay after a total of 3 minutes in the microwave, you will have a lumpy and very hot clay mass. If no obvious lumpy masses have formed your microwave may be cooking at lower power, in which case, you may need to cook it for up to 3 additional minutes in 30-second to 1-minute increments.

Do your very best to dump the big globby mess on a countertop, then thoroughly coat your hands in about 1 third of the lotion that you have been reserving for this step. Have your pastry scraper or spatula ready. Carefully start to knead the clay. Be careful not to burn your hands. The first time I made this clay I thought I had completely ruined it for about 2 minutes. This is a good time to ask somebody to come to help scrape all the globby glue and cornstarch off the counter with the spatula.

If it doesn’t get hot enough, it will not turn to clay. It just stays like tar. But if it was cooked correctly…all of a sudden it just turns into this absolutely gorgeous, smooth …CLAY!

Magical!

Keep kneading the clay until it has a consistent texture all the way through. The more you knead it the better it will behave for crafting.

If your kitchen is a disaster, just remember things sometimes have to get really bad before they get better. It’s worth it. Just put all the utensils you used in the soapy water and make your most annoying child (or husband) clean the kitchen for you. (If you are one of the blessed humans that have neither an annoying child or a husband, find some fun Holiday music and jam out while cleaning.)

If you are making this clay ahead of time put the clay in a zip lock bag or wrap it up with several layers of clingwrap then place it in the fridge for at least 24 hours. If you are not making it ahead of time, let the clay cool as you knead it. Once it cools to room temperature, it is ready for your projects.

Suggested Project for this Clay: Tealight House