A day of clay...

Today, Eben and I decided to open a package of clay that I had gotten in Vermont.  We have played around with other types, modeling clay specifically...but today we ventured into the world of DAS clay. We covered the table with a contractor garbage bag and went crazy making little figures and shapes to go on all of our window sills in anticipation of Christmas.

I don't really know what this stuff is made of, but I'm pretty sure that it has some sort of paper in it.   It reminded me a LOT of that paper pulp that I did the plantable paper with.  When I cut out shapes with it, there was a rough edge that I had to smooth down with a sponge. But all in all, it is pretty easy to use and very pliable.  It is non toxic and air-drying, which I appreciate....seeing how I don't own a kiln.  It is much cheaper than Sculpey, which is oven dry, and it IS paintable.  A big brick of it was only $6. 

Eben took the task of making snowman personally and made each ball of the body VERY seriously. And he assembled them with even more precision. 

While he did that, I was working on my own project.  You see, I found these ridiculously precious clay houses, called petitehouses on etsy by Jessica Jane.  Each one is just so sweet and..... well, as you can guess, I became pretty well obsessed with figuring out how they were made.

The first one was pretty much a big lump with lines drawn in for the layers.  I did too much smoothing of the clay as I attached the petals and they all lumped together.

My second attempt went much better and I was able to place each layer without smooshing them together. Granted, it did not turn put anywhere near as perfectly as the one I was modeling it after, but in the end I was pretty happy with how close that I came to the one in my mind's eye.

I ended up making 2 more different types of trees and another snowman with a hat, as well as finishing the trunk of the tree for my own little petitehouse.

They are all drying overnight and I can't wait to paint them tomorrow.  I forgot what fun it is to play with clay.  I will certainly share how they turn out once I paint them.

I hope that you are all having a great weekend.

XO, Julia