How to Make a Clay Model of a Trinket Tray

11 Apr How to Make a Clay Model of a Trinket Tray

Posted at 06:00h in Charlotte Mason, Craft Projects, Happy Handicrafts, Homeschool by Joanna 0 Comments

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It’s time for another homeschool handicraft! Today we going to be making a clay model of a trinket tray, which is model #35 from the book, A Manual of Clay-Modelling by Hermione Unwin. The trinket tray does not require a model, so this week we get a break from our usual crazy search for random objects!

Materials Needed

The book, A Manual of Clay Modelling by Hermione Unwin (or free online HERE)
Modeling Clay (the book suggests red terra cotta clay)
Clay modeling tools (this kit includes many tools, along with a sponge and wire to cut the clay)
An modelling board with an armature – hopefully you’ve made this with us already
A bowl of water
An apron or paint shirt to protect your clothing
Newspaper, or plastic covering to protect your table
Optional: Acrylic paints

Happy Handicrafts Video: How to Make a Clay Model of a Trinket Tray

The Process

The shape of our trinket tray is based on the form of an elongated cockle-shell.

We started this project by making an oval shape with an estimated size of 2″ x 1″. Flatten this shape 3/4″ in thickness. Then hollow it out with the tips of the thumbs, making it 1/8″ thick all over, which ensuring that the shape is maintained at all times. Next slope up the sides gently and gradually so that they have a graceful curve. Smooth it all with a wet finger or thumb. To complete the clay model, mark off even distances on each side of the center of the wider end of the tray, and crinkle the edge evenly on each side, so that the corresponding curves match each other.

When we finish each of our clay models, we typically throw them back into the bag of clay, pour a little water in the bag to keep the clay soft and fresh, and tie it up tightly until the next use. With this model, however, we decided that we’d like to keep the tray.

After 3 days of drying our clay model of a trinket tray seemed thoroughly dry and ready for some paint. This, of course, is optional, but fun and rewarding. I painted the base coat a bright, cheery yellow, then using what I’ve learned in our Brushwork series, I painted brush forms in the shape of leaves, filling in spaces with dots of gold, and then finishing things off with a gold contour around the edge.