Baker's Clay is an inexpensive and extremely versatile crafting medium. Made from three simple ingredients: flour, water and salt, this clay offers exciting possibilities to crafters and fine artists alike.

Baker's Clay, also known as Bread Dough clay, can be molded to form endless varieties of shapes. It yields itself beautifully to the demands of being pressed into molds or wrapped around chicken wire, and yet it can be rolled into strands and braided, or thinned to the consistency of a feather. Wire can be added to it to form jewelry, and when a piece is completed, it can be finished with polyurethane to ensure permanency. In short, if you can imagine a shape, Baker's Clay can probably adapt itself to it.

As it's name suggests, this clay is made of ingredients which are predominately used in baking. However, baking finished pieces isn't necessary, and many non-edible products can be added to the clay to increase either its versatility or strength. For instance, cement or glue, caulking or paints of all colors can be mixed into the flour, water and salt mixture. Obviously, as an artistic medium, these pieces would not be edible. Yet this clay could indeed be formed into edible masterpieces by eliminating any non-edible substances and simply adding a few basic baking ingredients to the original recipe such as food coloring, sugar, eggs and other flavorings.

And so not only does Baker's Clay offer much in the way of being an affordable outlet for visual artists, it can serve as a means of artistic fulfillment for culinary artists as well.

Children especially enjoy the texture and feel of Baker's Clay. Craft books for children are filled with ideas for Baker's Clay projects, especially ideas which are tailored to the holidays. Even birthday parties have been known to become smash hits when crafts like Baker's Clay can be enjoyed by little ones.

Whether you're a crafter, a fine artist, a culinary artist or are simply in need of simplicity when it comes to offering craft opportunities to children, Baker's Clay is a medium which will always be worth your exploration.

Learn more about this author, Goje Tomihehomi.
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