I Love You Hand Clay Project

clayhands

I Love You Hand Clay Project

Refer to Clay Guide lines

Printable PDF Hand project

Supplies:

• wooden skewer

• small bowl of water (sponge optional)

• heart cookie cutter

• letter stamps

• straw (for punching hole)

• circle template (7 inches)

• clay mat

Prep:

• Roll clay to 1/4 inch thick the using clay roller.

• Using a wooden skewer and 7 inch circle template, cut out one circle per student.

• This can be done with the students individually as well.

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With Students:

• Pull one student per parent volunteer (4-5 volunteers is helpful to speed up process, perhaps the other students can be reading with teacher).

• Place circle slab of clay on top of clay mat.

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• Place student's hand on top of clay.

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• Trace each child's hand using the wooden skewer, pressing through to the clay mat.

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• Reserve bottom of palm for when the child has removed their hand.

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• Carefully separate the hand from the surrounding clay and carve the student's name lightly into the back of the hand.

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• Remove clay crumblies with tip of skewer or fingers.

• Use wet finger or damp sponge to smooth edges of hand. (option: this can be done with student)

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• Carefully fold middle two fingers down to palm of clay hand, leaving space under them for hanging later with ribbon.

• Using scoring technique, make small hatch marks with skewer onto palm where the fingers will touch.

• Place a small amount of water over hatch marks (which creates 'slip') and slightly wiggle fingers onto palm until they feel secure.

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• Note: the “knuckles” may have slight cracks in clay so smooth this using a wet finger or damp sponge.

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• Using wet finger or damp sponge smooth edge of negative hand shape.

• Student can help add initial stamps.

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• Punch hole at top of circle using straw.

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• Heart Option: Using extra 1/4 inch pre-rolled clay, cut out heart.

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• Place heart on palm of hand using the same scoring technique as with fingers.

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Hanging Option: hang from string tied through space under fingers or punch hole with straw through finger.

Glazing: 

• White, clear and red glazes are popular choices for this project.

• Solid colors are easiest for this younger age group.

• Students can be given clear glaze for hands and later, the parent volunteer can paint the heart red.

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As pictured above, top left is clear, top right is red, bottom left is clear with red heart, bottom right is white with red heart.