[Adult Craft] Ideas for Relaxing Home Decor and Accessories Made with Paper Clay
How about taking the time, now that you’re an adult, to leisurely enjoy the paper-clay crafts you loved as a child? You can make lots of wonderful pieces that work as interior decor or practical items—cute dessert toppers, haniwa figures, smartphone stands, and more.
Even if it looks difficult, it’s surprisingly easy when you carefully follow each step.
In the moments between work or house chores, try creating your own original pieces.
In this article, we’ll share fun paper-clay craft ideas, from simple projects to slightly more elaborate ones.
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[Adult Crafting] Ideas for Calming Interior Decor and Accessories Made with Paper Clay (11–20)
teddy bear
Looks so fluffy! Here’s a teddy bear craft idea.
Many people might think a teddy bear made from paper clay would have a smooth, glossy texture.
Let’s try making a paper-clay teddy bear that looks soft and fluffy, just like a real one, by using a few clever techniques.
You’ll need lightweight paper clay, paints, a scrubbing brush, toothpicks, a spatula, a toothbrush, glue, and some bags.
By using a variety of tools, you can create a texture that makes the teddy bear look fluffy.
Fishing toy
Let’s try making toys with paper clay! Here’s an idea for a fishing toy.
When you think of paper clay, you might imagine molding motifs, letting them dry, and displaying them.
But how about making a toy with paper clay and playing with it this time? You’ll need paper clay, metal pieces, disposable chopsticks, string, paint, magnets, and a clay roller.
It seems easier to work with lightweight paper clay! If you have children around, it would be great to make and play together.
Baskin-Robbins-style ice cream
Baskin-Robbins ice cream is hugely popular with adults too, isn’t it? Of course the classic flavors are beloved, and I bet many people look forward to the seasonal newcomers as well.
Here’s an idea to try making various Baskin-Robbins ice creams out of clay.
Basically, you roll the clay into scoops and finish by sprinkling on things like chocolate chips, but the most important part of this craft is using a bamboo skewer or a toothbrush to give the ice cream a realistic texture.
It’s a bit of a painstaking process, so take your time and work bit by bit.
Once you’ve made one, make a mold of it and go ahead and duplicate the rest!
Good-luck Daruma
Let’s make a “Lucky Daruma,” which is also popular as a New Year’s decoration, out of clay.
Divide the paper clay into eight equal parts and use one of them.
First, roll it into a ball, then insert a marble near the bottom to act as a weight.
With the marble side facing down, shape the outside, and press in a shallow dent with your finger where the daruma’s face will be.
Once it’s dry, paint it and add the daruma’s face and patterns.
You can use paints, or if painting is tricky, a thick marker like a Posca works well too.
Pumpkin lantern tower
Perfect for Halloween! How about making a pumpkin lantern tower? Stacked pumpkins of different sizes look super cute.
First, roll the clay into a ball and make a hole in the center.
Thread a stick or similar tool through the hole and flatten the clay thinly.
Press the stick against the surface to create pumpkin ridges and let it harden.
Once the clay is dry, cut out the eyes, nose, and mouth, attach the stem, and you’re done! Make four of these in different sizes and stack them from largest to smallest.
If you place a light inside, the glow through the cutouts looks beautiful.
piggy bank
Let’s try making a piggy bank using an empty Chip Star can.
Punch a coin slot in the lid, then cut the can to adjust the length and put the lid on.
Attach lightweight clay around the outside.
After that, decorate it and let it dry, and you’re done! For decoration, you can embed seashells or translucent beads, or make parts with colored clay and stick them on.
If you keep the color palette minimal, it might blend well with a more sophisticated interior.
Give it a try with your own unique ideas!
black cat
Let me share an idea for a cute, round-shaped cat.
It’s small in size, so it’s perfect as a decorative figurine.
First, let’s make the body of the cat.
Cut the left and right sides of a rectangle that will be the body to form the legs.
After making the tail, insert a toothpick-like stick into it and attach it to the body.
Roll clay into a ball to make the head, attach the eye and nose pieces, then fix the head to the body with a toothpick-like stick just as you did with the tail, and you’re done.
Paper clay comes in a variety of colors, so try making a cat in your favorite color.
Photo frame
Here’s an idea for making a photo frame using lightweight paper clay.
First, use the lightweight paper clay to create a frame sized to fit the photo you want to insert.
Next, use colored clay to make flowers.
To make the flowers, roll a small piece of clay into a ball, shape it into a teardrop, then cut slits with scissors.
Make five slits, then open them out from the center to form petals.
Trim any excess, attach the flowers to the frame, and finally stick a clear file sheet on the back and add a stand.
It’s done!
Frappuccino-style cup dessert
Perfect for home decor! Here’s how to make a Frappuccino-style cup dessert.
Fill a paper cup with clay and newspaper, then cap it with air-dry clay.
Next, stand a cone-shaped base on top and wrap clay “whipped cream” around it.
Make the clay whipped cream by mixing clay, water, and glue.
Finish with a sauce made from tinted glue, a Pocky stick coated with tinted glue on a bamboo skewer, and garnish with mint leaves or chips.
You’re done! Try decorating the paper cup, too, by wrapping a ribbon around it.
Maritozzo
Maritozzo is a dessert born in Italy.
Simply put, it’s a bun filled with cream, but it’s packed so full the cream looks like it might spill out—an irresistible treat for cream lovers.
Let’s try making a maritozzo out of clay! Roll the clay to form the bun, add texture, then paint it.
For texture, use crumpled aluminum foil; for painting, a makeup puff works well.
Soften some clay to make the whipped cream, sandwich it in the bun, trim off any cream that sticks out, add a strawberry for decoration, and you’re done!