Hanging in There: DIY Hanging Clay Planters

I’ve tried DIY hanging planters before, and while I was overall pretty happy with the results last time, my choice in materials wasn’t for everyone. SO, I’m giving it another shot, this time with air dry clay instead. Want to make your own?

It’s SUPER easy. You’ll just need to harken back to those elementary school clay making days for the coil technique we used to complete these little guys. Or just follow along below for the step by step instructions.

Materials

– air dry clay (which you can find on Amazon)
– toothpicks or wooden skewer
– strong string, thin rope, or cording
– water
– knife or clay cutting tool (optional)
– rolling pin (optional)

Instructions

1. Start by rolling with a ball of air dry clay and roll it out or pat it down with your hand until it’s flat and about 1/3 of an inch thick. Then cut a circle from the slab that is roughly 2 inches in diameter. We used a wooden skewer to cut the shape, but you could also use a knife or clay cutting tool, if you prefer.

2. Form the remains leftover clay back into a ball. Then, roll it out with your hands to create a long coil that is a consistent thickness.

3. Now, place one end of the coil on top of the circle slab you created in step 1 and begin wrapping the coil around and around to form the shape of your container/pot.

4. Once thats complete, begin pinching the coils together to create a strong bond and get your finger tips wet with a little bit of water to smooth the surface inside and out.

5. Once that is complete, you can manipulate the shape a little bit to create a more organic shape, with wavy edges (if you like that look). Or use a wooden skewer or toothpick to create a textured design on the outside.

6. Use a wooden skewer to poke four holes, equally spaced, toward the top of the container. Then, set aside and let it air dry for 24 hours. *You may need to flip the container over after the first 24 hours to let the bottom fully dry for another 10-12 hours.

7. Lastly, once the container is fully dry, string thin rope through the holes and ties off. Then it’s ready to hang.

FYI – This method is a bit more simplified than the traditional coil method. Instead of wrapping the coils individually and attaching them with a pinch, as you go, we attached everything at once and added water and the pinching technique at the end. Our condensed version works just as well, but creates a slightly more rustic look. Just in case you’re curious.

Assisted by Linda Jednaszewski
Photography and styling by Brittni Mehlhoff

Think you’ll give this DIY a try? Have you ever worked with air dry clay before?