How Do You Make Newspaper Clay?

Newspaper clay is a fun, easy to make craft material that is created by recycling old newspapers. It is an air-drying clay made by shredding newspaper, soaking it in water, blending it into a pulp, and adding starch-based adhesives like flour or glue to act as a binder. The end result is a lightweight, papier-mâché-like clay that can be hand molded into shapes, decorative objects, crafts, masks and more.

The basic process for making newspaper clay is to first shred or tear up newspaper into small pieces. This paper is then soaked in water, squeezed out, and blended into a mushy pulp. Glue or flour is added as an adhesive and the pulp is kneaded together into a smooth clay. Once shaped, the newspaper clay sculptures are left to dry fully before being decorated and sealed. With just some newspaper, flour and water, it’s possible to make creative homemade clay crafts for all kinds of fun projects.

Gather Materials

To make newspaper clay, you will need just a few simple ingredients that can likely be found around the house:

• Newspaper – The main ingredient! Aim for at least 2-3 pages worth of newspaper. Newspapers contain lignin and cellulose which act as a natural binder.

• Flour – All-purpose white flour acts as an adhesive. You’ll need around 1/4 to 1/2 cup.

• Water – Lukewarm water activates the gluten in the flour to turn it into a paste. Use around 1 cup.

• Acrylic paint, markers, glitter, or other decorations (optional) – To decorate the finished clay shapes.

Newspapers and flour can likely be found at home already. If not, they are very inexpensive and can be purchased at any grocery store.

Prepare the Paper

The first step in preparing the paper is to tear or cut newspaper into strips. The width of the strips will depend on how thick you want the clay to be. Thinner 1-2 inch strips will result in a thinner clay while wider 2-3 inch strips will create a thicker clay.

Once the newspaper strips are cut, place them in a large bowl or tub and cover completely with water. Allow the paper to soak for at least 10 minutes so it softens. The paper will become saturated with water and mushy which allows it to be blended into a clay consistency.

Soaking the newspaper strips in water is a crucial step in making newspaper clay. It allows the paper fibers to break down and bind together when mixed with the flour paste. Fully soaked newspaper results in a smooth, pliable clay.

Make the Paste

To make the paste for your newspaper clay, you’ll need just a few simple ingredients that you likely have on hand. In a large bowl, combine:

• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (like canola or corn oil)

Use a spoon or a hand mixer to mix the ingredients together thoroughly until a smooth paste forms without any lumps. You want the consistency to be like a smooth, thick glue. If it seems too thin, add a bit more flour. If it’s too thick, add drops of water until reaching the desired consistency.

Knead the Clay

Once you’ve mixed the paste and shredded paper together in a large bowl or bin, it’s time to knead it all into a nice clay material. Make sure to drain any excess water from the paper before you start kneading. You don’t want the clay to be too wet or it won’t hold its shape properly.

Knead the paste and paper together for several minutes, until it forms a smooth, cohesive ball of clay. Fold it over itself and press down firmly as you knead. This helps distribute the moisture evenly and binds the paper fibers together. Add small amounts of water or flour if needed to reach the perfect clay consistency.

Kneading newspaper clay takes some elbow grease but is an important step. Keep at it until the clay is a uniform texture throughout and all the shredded paper is well incorporated. Now your homemade clay is ready for sculpting!

Shape the Clay

Once the newspaper clay has reached the desired consistency and is no longer sticky, it is ready to be shaped into whatever you’d like to create. The clay can be sculpted and molded just like any other clay. Take a portion of the clay and use your hands to form basic shapes like balls, coils, teardrops, cubes, etc. Or press the clay into cookie cutters or molds to create detailed shapes.

Get creative and sculpt figures, animals, imaginary creatures, letters, numbers or abstract art. Add details and texture by pressing items into the clay to imprint patterns. Use clay shaping tools like rollers, loop tools or stamps if desired. Thinner pieces may need extra time to firm up enough to hold their shape without tearing.

Let the newspaper clay air dry completely before continuing to decorate or seal the sculpture. The drying time allows it to harden while retaining its molded shape. Be patient and allow even large pieces to dry for at least 24 hours before handling.

Dry the Clay

Once you have shaped the newspaper clay into the desired form, it needs to dry thoroughly before you can paint or decorate it. There are a couple options for ensuring your newspaper clay dries properly:

Air dry thoroughly – Allow the clay to air dry for 24-48 hours. Place it in a dry spot at room temperature out of direct sunlight. Turn the clay periodically so it dries evenly. Test for dryness by pressing gently – the clay should feel hard and not leave fingerprints.

Use fan or dehydrator – For faster drying, you can place the clay next to a fan to circulate air around it. Or use a food dehydrator if you have one – place the clay pieces on the racks and run the dehydrator for 2-4 hours, checking periodically until hardened.

Proper drying helps the clay keep its shape and becomes more durable. If sealed properly after decorating, air dried newspaper clay can even hold up outdoors.

Decorate

After the newspaper clay has dried completely, the fun part comes – decorating! There are endless possibilities for decorating newspaper clay. The easiest option is to simply paint it. Acrylic paint works best on newspaper clay. Apply a base coat of acrylic paint in your desired color and let it dry fully. Then you can add additional coats and even detail work with acrylic paint pens.

Another method is to stain or varnish the newspaper clay. This allows the natural texture of the paper to show through while adding color. Use water-based wood stains, applying multiple coats to get the depth of color you want. For a glossy finish, brush or spray on a clear varnish.

You can also decoupage paper, fabric or other materials onto the surface of the newspaper clay for a collage effect. Use decoupage medium to adhere cutouts and prevent lifting or curling. Add several coats to seal.

The options for decorating dried newspaper clay are only limited by your creativity. Make patterns with markers or paint pens, add glitter, attach buttons or beads, or brush on metallic rub-ons. Have fun designing unique decorations to make your newspaper clay creations truly one-of-a-kind.

Seal

Once your newspaper clay art is completely dry, you’ll want to seal it with a protective coating. This helps lock in the color and gives the clay more durability and resistance to moisture. Most crafters recommend using an acrylic varnish or polyurethane as the sealant.

Carefully read the manufacturer’s instructions on the sealant container. In general, you’ll want to apply 2-3 thin, even coats of varnish or polyurethane, allowing each coat to fully dry before adding the next one. Work in a well-ventilated area and use a foam brush to gently brush on the sealant without creating drips.

Sealing newspaper clay helps add shine and definition to the finished piece. Take your time with the sealant for best results. Once fully sealed, your newspaper clay creation will have a finished look and be ready to display and enjoy!

Enjoy Your Newspaper Clay Creations

The fun doesn’t stop once your newspaper clay artwork is complete. Here are some ways to enjoy your newspaper clay creations:

Display your artwork proudly. Newspaper clay makes for unique art pieces that deserve to be shown off. Place your sculptures or wall hangings in prominent areas of your home or office to highlight your creative skills.

Give newspaper clay creations as gifts. These handmade goods make thoughtful gifts for friends and family. Tailor pieces to the recipient’s interests or make matching sets for children. DIY gifts show how much time and care you put into the present.

Sell your newspaper clay art. If you want to try and earn some extra cash from this hobby, consider selling your artwork online or at local craft fairs. With practice, you can make professional-looking pieces that art lovers will clamor for.

Host a newspaper clay party. Make an event of this craft by gathering friends for a newspaper clay making party. Provide materials and refreshments then unleash everyone’s creativity. Vote on the best creations or swap artwork at the end.

Reuse extra newspaper clay. Leftover clay can be reconstituted by adding more water and kneading again. Reshaping clay is an eco-friendly way to reduce waste and save money on supplies for future projects.