Natural Earth Paint packet surrounded by painted air dry clay hearts

Valentine’s Day Hearts with Eco-Friendly Air Dry Clay

Just in time for Valentine's Day, we've cooked up an extra-special eco-friendly clay tutorial featuring our Natural Earth Paint Kit! It's perfect for kids of all ages looking for a hands-on crafting activity for the holiday. 

Natural Earth Paint packet surrounded by painted air dry clay hearts

Ingredients:

  • 1 Cup of Baking Soda 
  • 1/2 Cup of Corn Starch 
  • 3/4 Cup of Water
  • 1 Non-Stick Skillet or Pot 
  • Natural Earth Paint

Step 1: Measure your baking soda, corn starch and water and add these three ingredients into your non-stick pan.

metal pan on a stove with baking soda, corn starch and water

Step 2: Turn your stove to medium heat and stir the mixture together. At first it will be clumpy but keep stirring until you reach a smooth consistency.

Metal pan with spoon stirring together baking soda, corn starch and water

Step 3: After your mixture reaches a smooth consistency, keep stirring and your mixture will begin to thicken. You want the mixture too thicken to the point where it clumps together and is no longer sticky.

Mixture of baking soda, corn starch and water being stirred with spoon and starting to thicken after heat

Step 4: Your clay will be hot so set it to the side to cool down before using.

clay mixture has been removed from hot pan and placed to the side in a bowl to cool

Step 5: When your clay has cooled down you are ready to begin working with it. Before making your hearts you want to knead your clay to soften it and get the air bubbles out.

two hands beginning to work and knead the clay mixture

Step 6: If your clay crumbles and feels like it is drying out, add a little bit of water to the center of your clay and fold the clay inward. Repeat this process until the clay is soft again.

hand holding a section of the clay mixture with the rest of the mixture in a bowl in the background

Step 7: Create!

Hands shown shaping the clay mixture into a heart shape

Step 8: When you are finished creating, set your hearts onto a non stick surface such as wood or ceramic to dry. If it is drying on a ceramic plate, make sure to flip the pieces every few hours that way the water on the underneath can evaporate. It can take up to 24 hours for your clay to dry.

hand placing a clay shaped heart into a bowl containing other hearts that have been made

Step 9: Mix your Natural Earth Paints! You can do while waiting for your hearts to dry and then store it away until they are ready. You can also wait to mix your paints until you are ready to paint. Try to mix as much as you will need for one painting session. Scoop your Natural Earth Paint into your mixing container.

Bag of red Natural Earth Paint powder being scooped with a spoon into a smaller glass container

Step 10: Add the same amount of water scoops to your container that you did for your paint.

hand holding a spoon that is dipping into a container of water

Step 11: Mix your Natural Earth Paint and water and you’re ready to paint!

person testing the paint they made on paper by painting a red heart with a paintbrush

Step 12: When your hearts are done drying you’re ready to paint them with Natural Earth Paint!

Bowl full of white, dry, shaped clay hearts waiting to be painted

Step 13: You’ll need a paint brush, some water, and Natural Earth Paint at your station.

Bowl of white, shaped clay heart with 3 containers of mixed up Natural Earth Paint

Step 14: Paint away!

Hand holding paint brush painting air dry clay heart with red and yellow paint

Step 15: If you have a permanent marker you can also draw designs on your hearts once the Natural Earth Paint has dried.

Hand holding a sharpie and drawing designs on the painted air dry clay heart after the paint is dry

More of a visual learner? Watch the video version of this tutorial here!

Interested in more crafts featuring Natural Earth Paint products? Visit our Nature Crafts DIY page!
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