Crafty Fun With Clay! - Thomasina Smith

This book features 25 brilliant ideas, from pretty pots to scary monsters. It includes fabulous models to make yourself, from a space rocket to a secret treasure chest. All the techniques are fully explained - how to coil a snake pot, build a skyscraper or fix an elephant's trunk. It features step-by-step photographs that show you what to do. The projects use a range of different types of clay: non-hardening plastic material, clay that you bake in the oven, and material that dries on its own. It is ideal for 7- to 12-year-olds, with simple models to start off with and more sophisticated projects for older kids. Astound your friends with these weird and wonderful models! There are loads of ideas to try out, including people, animals, plants, ghosts, strange creatures and even a birthday cake. Some of the models use drying material, which hardens in about 24 hours without baking. Others use baking material, which is finished in an oven. Many of the projects use simple plastic material, which does not harden and can be reused. This is the best kind of clay for beginners. Use this to perfect your model-making skills, before moving on to more complex projects.After making a few of the models in this book, why not design some of your own?You could even write a story or a play using the characters and objects you have made. Be creative and you are bound to have lots of crafty fun with clay!