I don't normally do product reviews on this blog but I just felt like expressing my opinions on the Crayola Air Dry Clay!
My friend Veronica told me about this air dry clay and I thought it would be fun to try it out!
As you know, I mainly work with polymer clay, which can get pricey if using large amounts. I wanted to try out a cheaper clay so I could make bigger projects if I wanted to.
I have tried Daiso air dry clay, but the finished texture was squishy and light, not what I was looking for.
So I finally went to Michaels and got myself a tub of the Crayola air dry clay in WHITE. This product also comes in terracotta.
This is what the packaging looks like (minus the plastic wrap, more about that later). It is a huge tub, 1.13 kg (~2.5 lbs), for $9. I used a coupon at Michaels and got it for $6.
For comparison, a 57-gram block of polymer clay usually costs $3-$4.
So I tore off the bottom sealing tab and when I opened it, I must have used too much strength and the lid cracked (in two places!).
Well, that was just the start. How am I going to keep a tub of air dry clay from drying out with a broken lid? That explains the plastic wrap you saw in the earlier picture.
I was already disappointed and worried.
The clay itself is a greyish colour, somewhat resembling concrete. I pulled off a nub and it was wet to the touch.
I didn't expect to write a review so there are no pictures of me actually (trying to) work with it.
Here's a wordy account of the process (skip to the TL;DR part if you like):
First, I tried to press it in a silicone cupcake mold, and it worked pretty well. I managed to pop it out with no problem.
Then I tried to press it into a polypropylene mold and it got stuck like crazy. I tried to pop it out but the piece became misshapen and half the clay remained in the mold.
I tried dusting the mold with cornstarch before pressing in the clay and it sort of worked. But it still came out deformed when I tried unmolding it.
I also tried to add colour to it by adding a drop of acrylic paint but it did nothing to colour the clay, which remained a sad, grey colour.
I tried to roll it flat to make a sheet to use cookie cutters on. It cracked easily (maybe because it was drying out).
I dabbed on some water to rehydrate the clay and it got sticky all over my hands, almost like mud. I continued working with it, drying to make a donut next.
The donut took shape as I pressed a tool in the centre to make the hole, but I had trouble pulling the tool out without destroying the donut.
As I tried again and again, it was either too dry or too wet to work with.
All this time, the wet clay had left my hands and everything I touched full of mud, including my molds, tools and work mat.
Thank goodness it was easy to clean off with water.
TL;DR version: a Pros vs. Cons list:
Pros
- Inexpensive (compared to polymer clay)
- Easy clean up with water
- Easy to work with for younger children
- Works well with silicone molds
- Easily softens with water
Cons
- Difficult to make detailed pieces
- Does not work well with non-silicone molds
- Either too dry or too wet to work with
- Leaves messy residue on hands, tools and work area
- Cracks easily
- Short working time
- Does not colour by mixing in paint
- Packaging issues (lid breaks easily)
Over all, I think this product lives up to its targeted audience: KIDS.
It may be good for making larger, not-so-detailed projects with children, but it did not work for me since I usually make miniature pieces with more details.
This was an honest review and it's too bad it didn't work for me. It would have been a nice alternative to polymer clay if I wanted to mass produce some charms :)
Hope this review was somewhat helpful!
Nikki :)
