These disco snails are delightfully weird, wonderfully shiny, and exactly the kind of kitschy craft we can’t resist. Made with air dry clay and mini disco balls, each snail has a colourful little body, a sparkly mirrored shell, and just the right amount of retro party snail energy.
This air dry clay craft is simple to shape, fun to paint, and easy to customize with your choice of colour, a patterned belly, and different sizes of disco balls. Make one tiny disco snail or a whole groovy snail crew — they’re quirky, cheerful, and ready to bring a little sparkle wherever they go.
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How to Make Clay Disco Snails
Watch the step-by-step video tutorial:
Instructions:
Step 1: Find what you need
- Gather your supplies and materials.
Step 2: Shape the snail
- Condition a piece of air dry clay by squishing it and rolling it into a ball.Then roll it into a thick coil or “snake”. We rolled this one to about 3-1/2 inches long and about 1/2 inch thick, but you can make whatever size of snail you’d like.
- Pinch one end of the coil to make it a bit more pointed. This will be the tail.Dip your fingers in water if you need to smooth out any cracks or creases.
- Then, on the opposite end of the coil, pinch 2 little triangles. These will be the tentacles on the top of the snail’s head (where their eyes are!).
- Even out the triangle shapes and ensure there’s a rounded dip between them.
- Smooth out the head area and the tentacles so there aren’t any creases or cracks.We found it helpful to use a silicone brush for precision, but you can also use your fingertips and a bit of water.
- Now bend the snail so it’s sitting upright. Place the disco ball on the snail temporarily to get the perfect angle for the shell.Then brace the snail against the side of a bowl to keep it in the proper position.Allow to dry 24 hours. Then flip over so the bottom can dry and wait another 24 hours.
Step 3: Paint and seal the snail
- Once the clay is completely dry, brush on a coat of acrylic paint.You’ll probably want to do this in 2 stages — painting the top first and allowing to dry before painting the bottom.
- If necessary, add a second coat of paint all over the snail. (Again, doing it in stages.)
- For the front of the snail we recommend mixing a small amount of your snail colour of paint (purple, for us) into some white paint.This tints the white paint just enough to remove the starkness and helps it match the snail better.
- Paint the front and most of the bottom of the snail with this colour.Make the painted area rounded at the top, going up to about 1/4 inch below the tentacles.Again, allow to dry, and add a second coat, if needed.
- Once the base paint is dry, choose a complementary colour of paint.Use a dotting tool (or several sizes of dotting tools) to add a design to the front (where the light paint was just added).Allow to dry completely.
- Optional: Seal the clay by brushing on a thin coat of glossy Mod Podge.Allow to dry.
Step 4: Attach the disco ball shell
- Choose a size of disco ball that will fit on your snail. We’re using a 1-1/2 inch ball here.Keep reading below the tutorial for more info on where to get mini disco balls.
- Add hot glue or tacky glue to the bottom of the disco ball.
- Attach the disco ball as the snail’s shell, placing it by the curve.
- Your disco snail is complete!
- Have fun making a whole group of colourful snails in different sizes!You can use soothing pastel colours for more demure snails, or embrace the party and use bright rainbow shades — it’s all up to you.
Helpful Tips:
- Make sure the clay is completely dry before painting, and then let the paint dry fully before adding Mod Podge or another sealer. If the clay is still damp inside, the sealer can trap moisture and the finish may end up sticky.
- Pay attention to the shape of your snail so it can stand up on its own once the disco ball is added. The base and tail should be long enough to support the weight, and the body should stand mostly upright. This helps give the snail better balance and keeps it from tipping over.
What type of clay is best for making disco snails?
We used air dry clay to make our disco snails, then painted them after the clay dried. Air dry clay is easy to shape, simple to use, and works really well for this craft.
You can also use colourful polymer clay to make the snail body. Polymer clay needs to be baked in the oven according to the package directions. Once its cooled, attach the disco ball shell with super glue or another strong craft adhesive.
Where can I buy disco balls for this snail craft?
We bought mini disco balls in a variety of sizes online. Search for “mini disco balls”, “mirror ball cake decorations”, or “disco ball ornaments” to find small sizes that work well for this craft.
You may also be able to find small disco balls at craft stores, party supply stores, dollar stores, or in the Christmas ornament section during the holidays. If you use disco ball ornaments, simply remove the hanger and glue that side down against the clay.
If you can’t find mini disco balls, try covering a small Styrofoam ball with mirror tile stickers for a similar sparkly look.
What size of disco ball do I need for my clay snail shell?
The size of disco ball will depend on the size of your clay snail. The disco ball should be large enough to look like a shell, but not so heavy or oversized that it makes the snail tip over.
Here are some of the disco ball sizes we used compared to the size of the snail:
- 3/4 inch disco ball for a 1-1/2 inch tall snail
- 1 inch disco ball for a 1-3/4 inch tall snail
- 1-1/4 inch disco ball for a 2 inch tall snail
These sizes don’t need to be exact, but they’re a helpful starting point. Before gluing the disco ball in place, test it on the snail’s back to make sure the body stays balanced and the shell looks proportional.
Do I have to seal my clay disco snail?
No, you don’t have to seal the disco snail, but it does give the painted clay a shiny, finished look. We brushed on a coat of Mod Podge, which adds a nice glossy finish and helps protect the paint.
You can also use an acrylic spray sealer, polyurethane, or resin. Just make sure the clay and paint are completely dry before sealing, and follow the directions on your sealer for the best results.
These disco snails are a little weird, super sparkly, and way too fun not to display. Set them on a shelf, desk, windowsill, or craft table where their little mirror ball shells can catch the light and sparkle like they’re slowly making their way to the dance floor.
Make one disco snail as a quirky little decoration, or create a whole colourful crew in different sizes and paint colours. Line them up, group them together, and let them have the tiniest, slowest, most fabulous dance party ever.
Here’s even more fun craft ideas:
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