For this DIY you will need:
- Air-drying clay
- Cookie cutters
- Clay roller
- Modelling tools
- Acrylic colours
- Brushes
- Water
- a placeholder for a postcard (e.g. a ruler)
The materials for our postcard holders DIY
And this is how it works:
To prevent your table from getting dirty, start with preparing your work surface by covering it with newspaper, a mat or something similar. Fill a glass or mug with some tap water and have it ready - you may need the water for the finishing touches when moulding. Break off some clay and form a ball with your hands. Use the clay roller to roll the clay flat like a dough. It should be at least 1cm thick. Now take a cookie cutter and cut out the clay like a biscuit. You can put the leftovers back with the rest of the clay and use them again later.
Roll out some clay, cut out a shape and smooth it out with your fingers
Push the clay out of the cookie cutter and smooth the sides and corners with your fingertips. If this doesn't work, dip your fingers in a little water and try again. It is important that the bottom of the postcard holder is smooth. Always check its stability.
When you are happy with the shape, use a suitable modelling tool to make a cut in the top of the mould. This is where the postcard will end up. You can use a postcard to check that the cut is deep enough. To dry the clay, it is advisable to put a ruler or something else into the slit to avoid damaging the postcard. Now it's time to wait for the clay to dry - how long this takes is stated on the packaging of your clay (usually 24 hours). Of course, you can make many more postcard holders in the meantime and let them dry together!
The final touches and then it's time to let it dry!
Once all your postcard holders are dry, you can start colouring! Tip: If your figures aren't quite stable, sand the base smooth with some sandpaper. Grab some acrylic paints and brushes and paint your figures as you like. Make sure no paint gets into the slot, otherwise the card may not fit. Depending on the opacity of your paints, you may need to apply a second coat. Always allow the first coat to dry before continuing. For smaller details, such as faces, we recommend using a felt-tip pen.
Next step: painting!
Once you're happy with the result, wait for it to dry. Finally, all you have to do is insert the postcards and your personalised postcard holder is finished! Decorate your desk or shelf, or add it as a little gift together with a postcard!
Your DIY postcard holders are done!
Share your postcard holders with us on Instagram and tag us @pickmotion or #pickmotiondiy. We look forward to seeing all your beautiful creations!
