10 Steps Easy DIY Clay Succulent for Kids Tutorial

Many people love succulents because their fat leaves always make them feel relaxed. Did you know that you can DIY succulents using air dry clay and it’s so easy that even kids can do it? Now, follow our step-by-step tutorial to make clay succulents!

Prepare Materials

4 colors of air dry clay: white, brown, yellow, cyan
1 small flower pot

If you can’t find the props for a small flower pot, you can make one out of paper or a disposable plastic cup. Be careful not to make it too big or you will need a lot of air dry clay.

Making clay succulents is not difficult, it just requires some care and patience. OK, let’s get started!

DIY Clay Succulents Tutorial

We have put together 10 steps for kids to make cute succulents using air dry clay.

Step 1: Prepare a brown air dry clay and small flower pot

Take a piece of brown air dry clay, about the same size as a flower pot. You don’t have to measure the clay exactly. We can adjust it at any time in subsequent operations.

Air dry clay may be a little dry and hard when it’s just taken out of the plastic bag or box. You can spray some water to make it softer.

Step 2: Knead the brown air dry clay into a ball shape

Knead the air dry clay with both hands to form a ball shape. The ball doesn’t need to be perfectly round, you can even roll it into an oval.

Step 3: Stuff the brown air dry clay into the small flower pot

Stuff the kneaded air dry clay into the flower pot. You can press it with your thumb to make it flush with the edge of the pot.

If the air dry clay is not enough, you can pour it out, add more clay and press it into the flower pot. Excess air dry clay can be scraped off with a plastic utility knife.

Step 4: Mix yellow and cyan air dry clay to form green color

Mix cyan and yellow air dry clay to get the green color of succulents.

During the mixing process, you need to keep stretching and kneading the clay until it forms a uniform color.

If the final green is not the color you want, you can add cyan or yellow air dry clay again to adjust. This process helps children understand colors and how they mix.

Step 5: Knead the green air dry clay into a drop shape

Take out a little green air dry clay. You can roll it into the shape of water droplets in the palm with your fingers.

These drop-shaped pieces of air dry clay are the leaf parts of succulent plants. You need to keep their size smaller than the flower pots.

Step 6: Stick the drop-shaped air dry clay on the flower pot

After making 6 to 7 drop-shaped leaves, you can stick them on the flower pot like petals.

You need to press the pointed end of the drop into the center of the pot. Be careful not to flatten the entire leaf when pressing.

Step 7: Push the drop-shaped leaves together with your fingers

Once you’ve sticked the leaves to the pot, use your fingers to push them toward the center. This can make the leaves of the succulent more compact.

Please note that the succulent leaves should not be too thin. Otherwise they look as if they are sick. So push them with your fingers to make them fuller and cuter!

Step 8: Mix green and white air dry clay to form a light green drop shape

Take a little bit of white and green air dry clay and mix it, this will create a lighter green color.

Note that you don’t use too much white. Since that would bias the result toward a cream color rather than the green color of the leaves.

Likewise, you need to stretch and knead the two colors of air dry clay to mix them evenly. Then follow the steps above to make 5 to 6 more drop-shaped leaves.

Step 9: Stick the light green air dry clay on the previous green leaves

Next, stick the light green leaves on the previous flower pot. Note that these light-colored leaves need to stick to the gaps between the dark leaves.

If you feel crowded when sticking the leaves, you can stand the leaves upright. It’s like those real succulents, full of life.

Step 10: Adjust details with a detail needle

You can adjust the details of your clay succulents with the help of a detail pin or other small tool.

The finished DIY clay succulents can be kept in a cool, ventilated place. Normally, it will dry and harden within 24 hours.

DIY Clay Succulents FAQs

When making DIY clay succulents, you may be interested in the following frequently asked questions. We have the answers:

What is air dry clay?

Air dry clay is a children’s toy that is popular with teachers and parents around the world. This is because it entertains and teaches at the same time.

Compared with traditional plasticine, air dry clay is lighter in weight and richer in color. Some people also call it light clay. You can stretch and knead air dry clay like noodles and it won’t break.

Do air dry clay succulents need to be baked?

Succulents made from air dry clay can dry out under natural conditions. You don’t need to bake it.

If you want it to dry faster, place it in a ventilated place. Wind can speed up the surface drying of air dry clay.

Does heat crack air dry clay?

Generally speaking, air dry clay will not crack if heated evenly.

Air dry clay contains water, and drying is the process of evaporation of water. Therefore, if you heat a certain part of the air dry clay process vigorously, cracking is likely to occur.

How do you store DIY clay succulents?

The storage requirements of air dry clay are not high. You just need to put it in a cool and ventilated place to keep air dry clay crafts for a long time.

Waterproofing, moisture-proofing and protection from UV rays are the key to storing air dry clay. As long as you remember these three points, you can protect air dry clay.

Are air dry clay succulents waterproof?

Thoroughly dried air dry clay succulent crafts are waterproof. But you still can’t leave it in water for long periods of time.

Air dry clay will still absorb moisture after it dries and hardens. So when you want to make hardened clay soft again, just soak it in water.

Air dry clay crafts that dry and harden are waterproof in a short time.

Conclusion of DIY Clay Succulent

Clay succulents are cute, not difficult to make. You’ll find that you don’t need a lot of air dry clay to create such a lovely clay craft.

So if you are interested in clay art, go ahead and create more DIY clay succulents. Of course, you can also make some cute clay animals. They will decorate your desktop and windowsill and make your life full of life.

In addition, air dry clay can also be used to make other creative crafts. You are welcome to continue reading our other tutorials: