I have a fun holiday craft idea to share – how to make pretty, swirly polymer clay bowls. We made them several years ago and gifted them to the grandmas, aunties, and friends. I find crafting can be a good alternative to baking.
Isn’t it nice to be able to do most of the gift shopping online these days? We’ve always encouraged hand-made creations in our family. This runs deep in my blood having been raised by an artist mother and a father that only wanted hand-made gifts or cards for gifts.
So are you ready to get your hands dirty?
Don’t worry, this craft is super simple – you really can’t mess it up.
The girls and I stayed up last night making these beautiful bowls. I’m looking at them right now and can hardly believe we made them ourselves. We wanted to make something for the grandmas, aunts, and cousins we’ll be seeing here on Christmas. They turned out so pretty I’m keeping a couple.
All you need for this project is a few colors of oven bake clay a.k.a. Sculpey, a work area, a sharp knife, some oven safe bowls, and metallic gold paint or a gold paint pen. You can order the Sculpey online or find it from a craft store. Michael’s craft store carries many colors.
What I love most about this project is the less perfect you are in crafting these bowls, the prettier they turn out. We had a lot of fun coming up with seashell looking versions in varying sizes by trial and error.
It’s a great way to bond with your kids while making gifts for others. Last year for our holiday craft we made silly, fun emoji ornaments with this same polymer clay/Sculpey and paint pens.
What do you think about these pretty bowls? They are the perfect size to have at your bedside table to store earrings and other small treasures. Would you like to make one? Would you like to have one? Do you know someone who would appreciate getting one as a gift? Let me know in the comments – I would love to hear from you!
Holiday Gift Craft Swirly Polymer Clay Bowls
How to make pretty, swirly polymer clay bowls for fun and for gifts
Materials
- a few blocks of Sculpey polymer oven bake clay in bright colors
- Sculpey in white and either gray or black
- metallic gold paint or gold paint pen
Tools
- a sharp knife
- oven safe bowls
- paint brush
- metallic gold paint or gold paint pen
Instructions
- Preheat Oven to 275 degrees Farenhiet
- Cut small pieces of 2 two 3 colors of clay and roll into a ball about ½ big with a sharp knife
- Roll the ball into logs
- Do the same with 2 pieces of white clay
- Add one last piece of either gray or black
- Lay the rolls next to each other and twist in opposite directions from the ends
- Bring the ends together and do the twisting again
- Do this whole process one more time
- Smoosh into a ball
- Flatten the ball
- Roll out with a rolling pin
- Cut around the edge of a glass or bowl
- Gently place in an oven safe bowl and press down lightly to form a bowl shape
- Bake in oven for 15 minutes
- Let cool 5 minutes
- Remove from baking bowl
- Let cool completely
- Paint rim of bowl with gold
They are so beautiful. I want one. Hint!
Rena, we’d love to make you one! miss seeing you at book club. This would be a fun project do with your daughter or the girls scouts!
I’ll make some samples, and our 10-year-old Virtues class will make them as a symbol of the beauty of unity with diversity. I’m a little confused about the directions. For step-2 you wrote: “Cut small pieces of 2 two 3 colors of clay and roll into a ball about ½ big with a sharp knife.” Do you mean “Cut small (1/2 inch pieces) of 2 or 3 colors of clay with a sharp knife, and roll into a ball.”?
Wonderful! I’ve corrected the instructions – hope they are easier to follow. I will try to do a video demonstration when time permits – it’s much easier to describe visually! In the meanwhile, I would suggest you check Youtube for a how-to video to follow. Good luck and I hope you have good results with your class.
We made them yesterday. Success! The girls were thrilled. I baked them last night, and next week they will paint on the metallic trim.
These are so pretty, and sound like a lot of fun to make. When finished, are they washable?
Hi Lee, great question. I have had my pretty bowls for rings and small jewelry for years now. They do get dusty so I will occasionally rinse them off. I would not recommend putting food items in them or washing them in the dishwasher. My guess is that the dishwasher would sort of melt them. They are more for decorative purposes. Yes, they are so pretty! I hope you are inspired to make some! Thanks for your comment. – Bita
Hi Bita,
I am currently in isolation due to coronavirus but planning for the happy day when I will see my grandchildren again.
These will be a delight for us to make together in polymer clay (which is my interest).
I’m even thinking of Christmas colours but hope we will be together before then!
Thank you for this inspiration.
Hi Christine, we are also currently in the shelter in place ordinance (Bay Area, California). It’s high time to be extra flexible and creative for sure! These polymer bowls are so much fun. I have made them several times over the years with our girls. We’ve made them as mother’s day gifts and for aunties. We’ve also done them around the holidays for gifts. They turn out so pretty and are perfect for little ring and jewelry catchers. I have a couple of special ones that I still use this way (now our girls are 17 and 19!). They are pretty and they last a long time. I hope you are able to do this fun craft with your grandchildren soon Christine. Hopefully sooner than later – and send me a picture when you do!
Stay well!
I’ve made small bowls before, and had some trouble getting the clay out of the oven proof bowl. Any suggestions?
Since the whole world is in isolation, I’d like to try and make a bigger bowl, maybe on the outside of the oven- safe bowl. Should I treat the oven- safe with anything!
Thanks!
Hmmm, Lynne good questions. To be totally honest I haven’t made these in awhile. I would say check on them often, try lifting (with a mitt on!) and let us know how it goes! Sounds like a fun project for these indoor days – good luck! The bigger bowls sound nice.
Hi
Very nice pices of art but could you please post a photo of the steps it would be clear to follow
Thanks
Hi Ghada, thank you for your comment. This is a post from several years back when our daughters were much younger – they are in college now! Perhaps I can make these Pretty bowls with my nieces in the near future. I will surely take some process photos to make it easier to understand. I am a visual learner myself so I understand the need for more graphics. Thank you and I appreciate the feedback.
They turn out really pretty! Have fun with it 🙂