Cornstarch Clay Air Dry Sculpture

Cornstarch (1 cup)

Baking soda (2 cups)

Cold water (1.25 cups)

A saucepan

A damp cloth

Paint and paintbrush

Clear varnish (optional)

Combine cornstarch, baking soda, and cold water in a saucepan. Stir until smooth.

Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly. The mixture will thicken quickly.

When it forms a ball and pulls away from the pan, it's done. Remove from heat.

Turn onto a surface and cover with a damp cloth until cool enough to touch.

Knead for a minute. The texture is extraordinary — silky smooth and bright white.

Sculpt anything: ornaments, beads (poke holes with a straw), figurines, leaf imprints.

Air-dry 24-48 hours, then paint and optionally seal with varnish.

This clay dries brilliantly white — much whiter than commercial air-dry clay. It looks almost like porcelain.

The cooked texture is incredibly smooth and satisfying to work with. Many kids (and adults) just want to keep kneading it.

Roll flat and use cookie cutters for ornaments. Poke a hole at the top for a ribbon.

The drying can cause slight cracking. To minimize this, keep pieces thin (under 1/4 inch) and dry slowly.

Paint with watercolors for a translucent effect or acrylics for bold color. Both look fantastic on this white base.