Since I started The Violet Hours, my most linked-to post has been the air-dry-clay rock placecards that I made for my wedding. After many requests for a tutorial, here it is!
What you’ll need: white air dry clay, a sponge, cooking oil, small letter stamps, paper towel, q-tip, glossy varnish, sponge brush, parchment paper, rapidograph pen
- Form clay into an organic rock shape, about 3″ long x 2″ wide x 1″ tall. Smooth with wet sponge and let dry for ten minutes.
- Dip your finger in olive oil and smear across the surface of the clay. Stamp letters into the clay to spell names (the oil allows for a clean release). Blot oil off with a paper towel, and smooth any dings or divots with a wet q-tip.
- Let rocks dry completely on parchment paper, which may take a few days due to density of the clay.
- Using a sponge brush, coat dry rocks with varnish just over the name. This will dry in less than an hour.
- Using a rapidograph ink pen (the tip is very fine and almost functions like a syringe dispensing ink), fill in the letters with dark ink.
- Let ink dry and coat entire rock surface with a final coat of varnish.
