We’ve all seen those super cute, viral Valentine’s Day air dry clay envelopes taking over our Instagram. But how about giving this trendy craft a meaningful Ramadan twist? Here’s my DIY air dry clay Ramadan envelope: the viral craft with a twist!
I have a confession though, air dry clay is one of my least favorite crafts. When I first saw these popping up everywhere, I immediately thought, “I can do this!”– completely forgetting my love-hate relationship with clay! But I decided to brave the mess and give it a go anyway, and honestly? It turned out so much nicer than I expected.
It’s actually a really sweet concept, and this year, we’re going to use our clay envelope to collect little notes of things we’re grateful for throughout Ramadan.
If you fancy giving it a go, I’ve posted a tutorial below and there’s a video on my Instagram too. You can also grab my free template to make things even easier (just subscribe to my blog)!
Just a heads-up: some links in this post are affiliate links, which means if you click and buy, I might earn a little commission– but don’t worry, it doesn’t cost you anything extra. And as always, I only share my genuine opinion.
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What You’ll Need
You don’t need much to bring this Ramadan craft to life:
- Air Dry Clay (I used the DAS brand)
- Rolling Pin
- A Paper Envelope (opened up) OR my Free Printable Template
- Craft Knife/Clay tools (or a butter knife to cut the clay)
- Scrap Paper or Bubble Wrap (for padding)
- Acrylic Paint & Paint Brushes
- Posca Paint Pens (for the details)
- Craft Stamps (optional, for lettering)
- Varnish (High-gloss spray varnish or Mod Podge)
- A small bowl of water/sponge to smooth things down
- Sandpaper (optional)
You can find a list of products on my ShopMy
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Roll Out Your Clay
First, roll out your air dry clay. Thickness is key here: the thicker it is, the easier it is to handle, but if it’s too thick, it will collapse in on itself under its own weight.
Pro Tip: Aim for something in the middle. Rolling your clay out to the thickness of a £1 coin should do it.
2. Cut the Envelope Shape
You can carefully open up a standard paper envelope to use as a stencil, or print and cut out the free template I’ve provided. Lay your template flat over your rolled-out clay and carefully cut around the shape. Once cut, gently fold the sides inwards to create your classic envelope shape.
3. Score and Seal
Wherever there is a join in your clay, you need to seal it. Don’t just press the clay together!
- Score the clay: Make little cross-hatch scratches on the two edges that will meet.
- Create a slurry: Mix a little bit of water and clay together to act as a “glue.” Apply this to your scored edges and gently press them together.
4. Pad and Decorate
To ensure your envelope stays open and doesn’t droop while drying, you need to pad the inside. Gently stuff the pocket with some scrunched-up scrap paper or bubble wrap so it holds its 3D shape.
Now for the Ramadan touch… I cut out a small crescent moon and a star from the leftover clay. Remember to score the back of your shapes and the envelope, and use your water-clay slurry to stick them on securely. Smooth off any rough edges with your wet sponge.
5. Let It Dry
Patience is required here! Air dry clay needs time to dry. I popped mine where the underfloor heating is hottest but it needs to be turned over a few times to make sure it dries through.
6. Paint and Varnish
Once your envelope is completely dry and hard, it’s time to bring it to life! You can sand down any edges if they’re rough- but make sure you wear a mask/goggles and do this with good ventilation. I’m lazy and embraced the rough edges!
I used standard acrylic paint for the base colors. For the details, Posca paint pens worked really well.
I also used some little craft stamps (using the Posca pens as my ‘ink) to press the message onto the front.
Once your paint is completely dry, seal your work. I used a high-gloss spray varnish to give it a beautiful shine, but next time I’ll use Mod Podge in gloss because it’s less of a faff and to be honest, I got a headache from the spray (even wearing a mask and doing it outside!)
The Perfect Ramadan Gratitude Craft
And you’re done! It’s a fun craft to get the kids involved with. I made two so my daughter painted her own alongside me. We can’t wait to fill ours with gratitude notes this month and hopefully for years to come.
Let me know in the comments if you decide to give it a go! As much as I love with how it turned out, but I’m not sure if I’ll be diving back into the air dry clay anytime soon!
love,
