How to Make a Clay Leaf Bowl
Celebrate the changing leaves of fall with a clay leaf bowl. This easy autumn clay craft will preserve nature's beauty for years to come!
Equipment
- Small bowl (to give the leaf bowl its shape)
- Sand paper (or nail file)
Materials
- Leaf (freshly fallen)
- Air dry modeling clay
- Acrylic paint (base colour and a metallic shade)
Instructions
Step 1: Find what you need
- Gather your supplies and materials.
Step 2: Roll out the clay
- Break off an orange sized ball of clay. Place it on a cutting board between 2 pieces of plastic wrap.Be sure the plastic wrap is large enough to cover the clay once it's rolled out.
- Roll out the clay until it's about 1/4 inch thick.
Step 3: Create the leaf impression and shape
- Remove the top layer of plastic cling wrap and place your leaf onto the clay. Set it right side up, so the more textured bottom side is touching the clay.
- Press the leaf into the clay gently using your rolling pin. You want to stamp the leaf into the clay, rather than rolling it out further.
- Use a craft knife to cut out around the outside of the leaf.
- Cut the clay leaf's stem wider than the actual stem, and make it shorter if the stem is too long.
- Carefully peel the leaf off the clay, and then remove the excess clay from around the leaf shape.
Step 4: Allow the clay to dry
- Grab the edges of the plastic wrap to pick up the clay leaf. Place the leaf (with the plastic wrap still on the bottom) in a bowl, smoothing it down to create the dish's shape.
- Allow the clay to air dry about 72 hours total.After 24 hours you can remove the clay leaf from the bowl and set it upside-down. This will allow the bottom of the leaf dish to dry properly.
- Once the clay is completely dry, use sandpaper or a nail file to remove any rough or sharp edges.
Step 5: Paint the clay leaf
- Paint a coat of acrylic paint onto the inside of the bowl.
- Gently wipe some of the paint off with a paper towel. This will give the dish an antique, textured look.
- Paint the side and back of the dish with the same colour. Allow the paint to dry completely.
- Choose a metallic shade of paint to complement the base colour (we used gold). Brush a light coat of this colour onto the bowl, so you can still see the base colour underneath.Cover the sides and back with this paint as well.
- Allow the paint to dry completely before handling.
- Your clay leaf bowl is complete!
Video
Notes
Looking for more leaf themed crafts? Here's a few of our favourites:
DIY Leaf Bowl
Fall Leaf Chalk Art
Fall Leaf People