No-Bake Clay Recipe

Many clay recipes requires some form of baking, this does not. The clay can easily be colored or the natural color can be kept. If you choose to color the clay, it can still be painted or sealed with polish when modelled.

1 cup cornstarch
1 1/4 cups cold water
2 cups baking soda (1 pound)
Food coloring (optional)
Tempera or acrylic paints (optional)
Clear shellac, acrylic spray, or nail polish

Combine cornstarch, baking soda and water in a saucepan; stir over medium heat for about 4 minutes until mixture thickens to a moist mashed-potato consistency. (For a fun colored clay, add a few drops of food coloring to the water before it is mixed with cornstarch and baking soda.)

Then remove from heat, turn onto plate, and cover with a damp cloth until cool. When cooled, knead until smooth.

Shape as desired instantly or store in an airtight container for later use. Sculptures should be allowed to dry overnight, then paint with tempera or acrylic if desired.

To finish the sculpture, seal with shellac, acrylic spray, or nail polish.