Craft Night but Make it Chic
The project that brought 3k+ new IG followers
We finally hosted the girls craft night I told you about a few weeks ago, and I’m back with the real, lived-in version of the Coastal Clay Tray tutorial. The cocktails flowed, the shells got pressed into clay by hands that had definitely had a marg already, and somehow it still turned out beautifully. Here’s a quick recap with some lessons learned:
Supplies
One pack of air-dry clay was enough for the four of us to each make a couple small pieces. If your group tends to get excited or you want extra to experiment with shapes, grab a second pack as backup. Better to have too much than to stop mid-flow. I share all of the supplies at the bottom of this article. Including the clay, shells, and coating we used.
#1 Tip: The Edges Are Everything
Wet your fingers or grab a small brush and smooth the edges once you’ve shaped your piece. Do not skip this part. The trays that came out looking like something I’d actually leave sitting on a dresser were the ones we spent an extra minute on. And if you wreck it, roll the clay back into a ball and roll it out again. Nobody has to know.
On Sealing: Resin vs. Mod Podge
I was genuinely surprised by how much I loved using resin as a coating, especially on the small shells. It gave them the prettiest glazed look. For comparison, in the video I’m putting the resin ones into the bowl, the plane ones are on the tray. But you’ll need a UV nail light to cure if you use resin. Also, resin is messy and it does not come off your hands easily, so keep paper towels or gloves nearby. Cure one side of the shell at a time too, otherwise it sticks to the UV light base. If you don’t want to buy another gadget for the night, matte or gloss Mod Podge both work fine and you don’t need anything extra. I used Mod Podge for some that I wanted a more organic look on.
Shaping and Designs
This craft night started with the intention to make trays but it was fun to see what the everyone made once the drinks were poured and we got busy chatting. We used whatever bowls and plates I had on hand to give the trays their shape, and we also used the shells themselves as little molds for tiny ring dishes. The ring dishes ended up being my favorite. The video below I am sharing the clay and shell pressed together making the small ring dishes. I could see a bunch of these in a bowl as decor too.
You can add your shell design while the clay is still flat and then set it into the mold, or shape it in the mold first and add the design once it’s holding its curve.
Both work, it really just depends on the mold or shape you’re going for. Then smooth the edges and set it back in the vessel to hold that shape a bit longer. Just don’t leave it sitting in or on anything too long or the clay sticks and you’ll fight it coming off.
Have Fun With It
Your first one probably won’t be perfect. Mine wasn’t. Air-dry clay is cheap enough that you’ll keep pulling it back out, especially if you have kids and want to make ornaments around the holidays. So even if the first tray comes out a little lopsided, you’ll use what you learned again.
Supplies & Instructions, Recapped
Here is everything again in one place so you don’t have to flip back to my planning post.
Supplies
Shells (Use them as a mold or press them into the clay to create the pattern.)
Rolling pin (I only have one, so a smooth drinking glass works just as well.)
Parchment paper (to work on top of so clay doesn’t stick)
Small bowl of water (for smoothing the edges)
Fine-grit sandpaper (220–400 grit)
If you do Resin, this is the UV nail light I used
Instructions (for a tray)
Roll the air-dry clay to about ¼-inch thick on a sheet of parchment paper.
Press a large scallop shell into the clay, hard, so you actually get the texture. If the edges look messy, trim around the shell with a craft knife.
Lift the clay gently and smooth the edges with your fingers. I like to pinch and ruffle them a bit so it looks handmade.
Set the tray over an upside-down bowl, or nestle it inside a shallow one, so it dries with a curve.
Let dry for 24–48 hours, flip it halfway if your clay package says to.
When it’s completely dry, sand down any rough edges.
You can leave it natural or paint it. Either way, seal it with 2–3 thin coats of Gloss Mod Podge or another clear sealer.
The original post has the rest of it, the styling and what we ate and drank: An Elevated Girls Craft Night
The Playlist
You need the right soundtrack. I made a Spotify playlist for the evening, 100 songs and about 5 hours of it, so nothing repeats while everyone is talking over it. It sounds like the kitchen scene in a Nancy Meyers movie, if that means anything to you.
My last article shared my vision (below), i’ll link these items here.
