How to Make a Clay House

If you ever want your dream house to become a reality, all you need to do is make it out of clay. Easy and fun for both kids and adults, you can make a clay house that is as grand as a mansion or as simple as a shoe box. Making a clay house is a great rainy day activity. If the rain keeps up for days, you can even make a whole neighborhood.

Pick your clay. Several different types of clay are available at craft stores. They range from self-hardening to those that require oven baking. Pick one that best suits your needs. You will need a cookie sheet and oven for the baking variety of clay.

Set the stage. Lay a large piece of waxed paper on a flat surface. Place a small dish of water nearby. Have rags, a paint scraper and a rolling pin handy.

Build the foundation. Take four medium-sized balls of clay and flatten them with your hand or rolling pin. Trim the sides of the flattened balls so they are four squares or rectangles. All should be the same height. All can be the same length, or you can have two different lengths, as long as you end up with two sets of identical walls. Prop them together to form an open box. Flatten two smaller balls of clay to create triangles, with the base the same width as the length of two of the end walls. Pinch the base of the triangles to the top of the sides they were fashioned for. Smooth the walls with water dipped gently on your fingers. Pinch all closures together securely. Smooth any bumps with the paint scraper.

Fashion the roof. Take two medium-sized balls of clay and fashion them into squares or rectangles large enough to cover the open box. Secure one piece each along the sides of the triangle and wall to which it connects.

Add any extras. Use small balls of clay flattened and trimmed to create windows, doors, a four-sided chimney or other details. You may need to roughen up the underlying clay a bit with the paint scraper so the extras sick properly. Carefully push into place with a cotton swab or your finger. Allow your house to air dry or place it in the oven following the clay's directions.

Paint and adorn. Once your house is fully dry, feel free to paint it with acrylic paints. Paint base colors before the trim. Use a cotton swab or small brushes for best coverage. Use old jewelry pieces, miniature hangings or other interesting finds to decorate the house to your fancy.

Read about how to make air dry clay waterproof