I’ve come to realize, and I must confess – I’m a litterer. One ring litterers, that is. Ever since I started wearing circleThey are scattered all over my house.
I thought it might be a good idea if you keep a few plates in the house, and what is an easy and cheap way to make a ring plate? Of course from clay!
Here’s a quick video tutorial to make your own marbled clay ring discs, or keep scrolling for text and photo instructions:
Munition:
– baked clay (white, grey, black and color of your choice)
* a few ounces of colored clay and 1.75 pound white clay will make some dishes!
–x-acto . knife or flexible clay knife
– small bowl or grilled ramekin (make sure they are oven safe)
–yellow paint and small paintbrush
–silicone handle or large round jar
– large cans or jars to keep an eye on
–Ice cream on the cake to seal the dish (optional)
1. Roll each piece of colored clay you want to use into a snake shape (about 5 ″ long). I usually make two larger rolls of white, one medium gray, one small in whatever color I’m using, and then add a small black one.
Basically, you want enough total clay to roll out a 6-inch circle, but don’t worry about getting the exact amount of one color or another. Even if you use the same recipe every time, each dish will look different.
2. Combine the smaller rolls into one large roll and twist them together.
3. Roll the large twist into a snake (about twice as long as the original length) to combine the colors. Twist the ends in the opposite direction after every few movements so that the color looks more like a candy cane.
When it is twice its length, fold the snake in half and twist the ends together, as shown above. Repeat the process of rolling, folding, twisting and rewinding 2-3 times.
4. Whip all the clay into a ball. You want to see most of your colors on the surface of the ball, so drag the ball in half and hit it together if you can’t.
5. Use a silicone handle or a glass jar to roll out your marbles. I like to use a glass jar so I can see what’s going on as I roll harder or softer on certain colors.
The colors should blend together and create a marbled pattern as you roll over it. Try rolling in different directions, from the edge, from the center, etc., to push the clay from different angles. Roll to 1/4″ thick.
6. Use a round item about 6 inches wide as a template and cut out your dish circles with an X-Acto knife or a clay knife.
7. Gently place your circle in an oven safe bowl or ramekin slightly smaller than your circle so it will sag slightly in the center and give you a more dish shape. Bake the bowl to the temperature on the clay package (mine was 15 minutes at 275°F).
Remove the bowl from the oven and let the clay cool before turning the larger bowl upside down and gently tapping until the clay plate falls off.
8. When the clay is completely cool, use a small brush to draw the edges of the plate and let the paint dry. Cover the plate with a yeast if you so desire.
The glaze won’t make the item food-safe or completely waterproof, but it will give you a glossy finish if that’s what you love!
Since you’re working with oven-baked clay, the dish will still be a bit pliable as it cools and feel more like hard rubber than porcelain, but that’s okay!
It will still stay in perfect shape and hold your rings like a champ.
While the color combinations are endless, my favorites are made with white, gray, black and two bright colors that make a third color that is quite nice when mixed.
I would definitely recommend using a baked clay like Sculpey that was soft to begin with. It will save you a lot of time and finger strength.
If you don’t feel like a do-it-yourselfer, you can still catch up handmade ring plateBut these bowls are even better than I hoped!
And you can see that I’ve been able to make quite a few of them, so I’ll be sure to give a few as gifts. How sweet would one of these be as a gift with a cute ring was in there? so so. Laura
PS Click here to see more of us love DIY projects using clay!
Marble clay disc
How to use oven-baked clay to create marble rings
-
3+
baked clay
white, black and color of your choice -
paint and brush gilding liquid gold
optional -
yeast to seal the dish
optional
-
Roll each piece of colored clay you want to use into a snake shape about 5 ″ long. I usually make two larger rolls of white, one medium gray, one small in whatever color I’m using, and then add a small black one.
I don’t have an exact clay measurement for you (and most people don’t have scales to accurately weigh clay quantities), so just use the photo as a guide.
Basically, you want enough total clay to roll out a 6-inch circle, but don’t worry about getting the exact amount of one color or another. Even if you use the same recipe every time, each dish will look different.
-
Combine the smaller rolls into one large roll and twist them together.
-
Roll the large twist into a snake twice its length to combine the colors. Twist the ends in the opposite direction after every few movements so that the color looks more like a candy cane.
When it is twice its length, fold the snake in half and twist the ends together, as shown above. Repeat the process of rolling, folding, twisting and rewinding 2-3 times.
-
Melt all the clay into a ball. You want to see most of your colors on the surface of the ball, so drag the ball in half and hit it together if you can’t.
-
Use a roller or glass jar to roll your marbles out. I like to use a glass jar so I can see what’s going on as I roll harder or softer on certain colors.
The colors should blend together and create a marbled pattern as you roll over it. Try rolling in different directions, from the edge, from the center, etc., to push the clay from different angles. Roll to 1/4″ thick.
-
Use a circular item about 6 inches wide as a template and cut out your dish circles with an X-Acto knife or a clay knife.
-
Gently place your circle in an oven-safe bowl or ramekin a bit smaller than your circle so the circle will sag a bit in the center and give you a more dish shape. Bake the bowl to the temperature on the clay package (mine was 15 minutes at 275°F).
Remove the bowl from the oven and let the clay cool before turning the larger bowl upside down and gently tapping until the clay plate falls off.
-
After the clay has cooled completely, use a small brush to draw the edges of the disc and let the paint dry.
Seal the plate with a layer of enamel if you wish. The glaze won’t make the item food safe or completely waterproof, but it will give you a glossy finish. This is only an optional step.
PS Check out more cute jewelry and home decor on our wish list and shopping page!
Credit // Author: Laura Gummerman. Photography: Laura Gummerman and Sarah Rhodes.
