Turtle pinch pot with air dry clay

Step 1: Shaping clay

-     Set aside two smaller pieces of clay for the flippers

-     Use the rest to shape an oval body with a pinched head

-     Gently press into the middle to create a shallow bowl shape

-     Don’t forget to pinch a small tail at the back

Step 2: Make the flippers

-     Flatten the smaller clay pieces into two flipper shapes (not too thin)

-     Gently lift the turtle body and press it down onto the flippers

-     Adjust and refine the flippers if needed

Step 3: Smoothing air dry clay

-     Dip your fingers in water and gently smooth out the surface

-     Don’t use too much water—just enough to help your fingers glide

-     Let any extra moisture dry off before continuing

Step 4: Clay face

-     Carve a little smile using the edge of a palette knife

-     Roll two small balls of leftover clay for eyes and press them into place

-     Once set a little, carve eye slits using a fine sculpting tool or toothpick

Step 5: Clay turtle shell

-     Roll leftover clay into a dome shape that fits over the turtle’s back

-     Smooth it out and check the fit

-     Fix cracks using a tiny bit of water and your palette knife

-     Add shell patterns using a fine point sculpting tool (draw a circle edge, cross lines, and shell shapes)

Step 6: Let it dry

-     Leave the turtle and shell to dry completely – this may take 1–2 days

-     You can stop here and enjoy the raw clay look or move on to painting

Step 7: How to paint clay

-     Paint the inside and bottom of the dish using Lamp Black

-     Mix Titanium White, a touch of Sap Green, and Raw Sienna to create a pale green for the turtle body

-     Paint the top of the shell using the same pale green with a bit more Raw Sienna

Step 8: Add shell details

-     Mix Burnt Umber and Lamp Black for a rich brown

-     Use a fine liner brush (from any Brush Set) to paint the bottom half of each shell segment

-     Add circular patterns on the flippers and head—practise on paper if needed

Step 9: Final touches

-     Paint the eyes white, then add a touch of Brilliant Blue to the centre

-     Let everything dry fully and admire your cute little turtle tray!

That’s it—your turtle trinket tray is done! 🐢 What will you keep safe in it?