How to Make a Valentine’s Heart-Shaped Air-Dry Clay Dish

Is Valentine’s Day just about buying a gift? It’s also an opportunity to express creativity, love, and personal connection through handmade projects. My idea for a Valentine’s craft is an easy, pretty and practical. Here is how to make a Valentine’s heart-shaped air-dry clay dish.

DIY crafts offer a unique way to celebrate relationships, allowing you to infuse personal meaning and thoughtfulness into every creation.

They also allow you to try out craft projects for special holidays or events. Valentine’s Day is a great time to stretch your creative abilities.

Among the most charming and accessible craft categories are those using air-dry clay. I have loved the projects I’ve made with air-dry clay. It’s a simple and versatile medium that requires no special equipment and welcomes crafters of all skill levels.

For Valentine’s-themed crafts, air-dry clay offers endless possibilities—from delicate jewelry dishes and romantic trinket holders to personalized ornaments (making a Valentine’s tree?) and decorative home accessories.

My heart-shaped dish project combines holiday symbolism with practical crafting, making it an ideal gift or personal keepsake.

Valentine's air-dry clay dish

Creative Crafty Blog Hop

Today is the first Creative Craft blog hop of the year. Sara of Birdz of a Feather is again our hostess.

If you are joining me from Teri of Decorating with Tip and More (She has a great Pottery Bar hack for you.), welcome to Bluesky at Home. I’m so happy that you are here to see all the interesting crafting projects we share.

Why Air-Dry Clay is a Crafter’s Dream

I discovered air-dry clay a couple of years ago. In case you not familiar with air-dry clay, it’s a material that has opened many new crafting possibilities with its incredible simplicity and accessibility. Unlike traditional ceramics, this air-dry-clay:

  • Doesn’t require a kiln or even an oven
  • Dries naturally at room temperature
  • Is affordable and widely available
  • Comes in multiple colors and textures
  • Allows for intricate detailing and shaping
  • Is perfect for decorative and functional projects, such as home decor accessories and gifts

This post contains affiliate links to products used to create this project. If you should order any item from this site, I may receive compensation, but you do not pay a penny more. Your purchase is greatly appreciated as it helps support the continued publication of this site.

Supplies for the Valentine’s Air-Dry Clay Dish

You only need a few supplies to make any air-dry clay project. The main ones are:

  • air-dry clay – there are a few different brands. The one I use is DAS, which works beautifully and didn’t dry out even though I left it outside in our garage for over a year.
  • your can free form a shape using a sharp craft or exacto knife. You can make a form using a cardboard or wood form or template, which I did for my fall leaf project. My favorite method is to use a cookie cutter in your preferred shape. For this project, I used a 3-inch heart-shaped cookie-cutter. The vision for your project determines the size of your form.
  • rolling pin or a glass bottle. I used a rolling pin for this project, but in the past, I used a water bottle.
  • fine sand paper for sanding and smoothing the clay pumpkins – optional, depending on your project. I didn’t use any for this project.
  • paint of your choice – any type of paint will work for this air-dry clay project. My favorite is this metallic acrylic paint that comes in 20 colors. I chose White Pearl and Splendid Gold to create a shiny, pearlized finish to the heart-shaped dish.
box of metallic paints

You could also make use of DIY Valentine’s stickers to add to decor or gifts.

Making the Air-Dry Class Dish

This is a super easy craft and even older kids can do.

Since we are using a rolling pin and a cookie cutter, pretend that you are rolling out dough for cookies.

Step 1 – If you are using a wood rolling pin, I recommend wrapping it tightly with plastic wrap. This will keep your rolling pin clean.

Step 2 – Open your package of air-dry clay and cut off a piece large enough for your project using a sharp craft knife.

cutting off piece of air-dry clay with a craft knife

Step 3 – Roll the clay into a ball with your hands and then flatten it with your hand.

a ball of air-dry clay

Step 4 – Use the rolling pin to roll the clay into a flat piece, about 1/8 inch think.

rolling air-dry clay flat

Step 5 – Place your template form (cookie cutter) on the clay.

Step 6 – Push down on the cookie cutter into the clay. Remove the excess clay from around the heart. Remove the cookie cutter from the clay heart.

TIP: You can reroll and reuse the clay multiple times. I place the unused clay in a zip-lock bag to keep it from drying out.

air-dry clay in ziplock bag

Step 7 – For the dish, I rolled the edges of the heart up to form a “raised lip”.

NOTE: I made a second heart (the one on the right). You’ll notice the the surface has a texture to it. This is because the plastic wrap became loose and created a wrinkled look. I decided just to leave it as is.

Step 8 – Set aside the clay dishes until the top is dry. This will take several hours or overnight. The clay will get lighter as it dries.

Once the top is dry, turn the clay over to dry on the bottom. Let the clay dry over night.

Painting the Valentine’s Air-Dry Clay Dish

Painting the clay hearts is easy.

Step 1 – Using a small brush, paint the entire surface of your heart. This paint dries quickly – 10 – 20 minutes tops. I applied two coats.

painting air-dry-clay dish with white paint

Step 2 – For the edge of the heart, I applied the gold paint with a smaller brush. Allow to dry and then add a second coat. Set the clay hearts aside to dry.

painting edges of heart-shaped air-dry clay dish with gold paint

Using Your Air-Dry Clay Dish for Valentine’s

This sweet little dish can be used in two ways. I think it would make a great jewelry dish – either on your bathroom vanity or by the kitchen sink.

gold jewelry in white and gold air-dry-clay dish

The main way I intend to use this heart-shaped air-dry-clay dish is as a candy dish during the holidays. I made a quick trip to Target and bought three kinds of Valentine’s candy.

heart-shaped air-dry clay dishes filled Hersey kisses
heart-shaped air-dry clay dishes filled Hersey kisses. M & Ms and heart candy
Valentine candy in apothecary jar, glass bowl, and air-dry clay dishes

Apothecary jars and crystal bowls act as a backdrop for my pretty pearlized white and gold Valentine’s Day dish.

heart-shaped air-dry clay dishes filled Hersey kisses. M & Ms and heart candy
heart-shaped air-dry clay dishes filled Hersey kisses. M & Ms and heart candy

Love these Valentine dishes made with air-dry clay? Here are more air-dry-clay projects.

You may want to check out more air-dry clay ideas at this Pinterest Board, and more Valentine’s Day DIY projects at Valentine’s DIY Ideas and Valentine’s Day Ideas.

Now take a look at all the Creative Craft projects on this blog hop. Begin with my fellow Texan, Cecilia of My Thrift Store Addiction and her updated winter garden sign. The complete list of participants is below.

I hope you will SAVE this air-dry clay Valentine’s project to your Pinterest boards.

pink PIN it button
Valentine's air-dry clay dish graphic
blog signature with heart graphic

Bluesky at Home – Valentine’s Heart Shaped Air Dry Clay Dish
My Thrift Store Addiction – Drab to Fab Spruced Up Winter Garden Sign
Purple Hues and Me – Cord Wrapped Wire Basket
The Painted Apron – Valentine Tree
Southern Sunflowers – Free DIY Valentine’s Day Treat Bag Toppers using Printables
Patina and Paint – Decoupage Hearts
Birdz of a Feather – DIY Charm Necklace
Patina and Paint – Lantern Floral Swag For Winter In Black and White
Apple Street Cottage – Crushed Glass Valentine-No Resin
Decorate and More with Tip – DIY Pottery Barn Vase Dupe

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18 Comments

  1. These are lovely. Simple, elegant, and easy! Featuring when my link party opens.

  2. Simple and elegant DIY, Carol, I love the gold edge. Thank you for sharing
    Creatively, Beth

  3. Donna @ Modern on Monticello says:

    Such a precious little project. Inspires me to try air clay again. Hope you had a great holiday season and I appreciate you joining the craft hop every month.

    1. Thank you, Donna. I love creating air-dry clay projects. Easy and fun. I enjoy participating in the hop.

  4. Allyson @ Southern Sunflowers says:

    Your clay heart dishes are perfectly used as a trinket tray and also look cute as a little candy dish. Thanks for the tutorial!

    1. YOu’re so welcome, Allyson. They are cute and so easy to make.

  5. Carol, your clay heart dish came out very pretty–love the gold trim! Blessings, Cecilia @ My Thrift Store Addiction

  6. What a cute idea! I love using air dry clay. So much fun. Great job Carol!!!!

    1. Isn’t air-dry clay fun to work with. Thanks for the feedback.

  7. These heart dishes are so pretty Carol! I love the gold edge. I’ve never used air dry clay, I’ve got to get some and start playing! Thank you for your thorough tutorial.

  8. sara (birdzofafeather.ca) says:

    How beautiful, Carol! The texture from the plastic wrap on the roller adds such a unique and charming touch to the air-dry clay. It gives the piece so much character and depth—truly a detail that elevates the whole look!

    1. Sweet Shark liked that one better, too – an unintended result.. I liked the smooth surface. I enjoyed this project and love the outcome.

  9. Gail@Purple hues and me says:

    Your heart shaped dishes are quite lovely, Carol! And they make the sweetest handmade gifts for any occasion, too!

  10. These cute little dishes are perfect for Valentine’s Day sweets. Very pretty, Carol!

  11. Decorate and More with Tip - Terrie says:

    Your hearts are so adorable. Very easy to follow your instructions, thanks for sharing Carol.

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