Rosh Hashanah · Craft No. 03

Clay Honey Dish

Shape a ring of air-dry clay around a small dish, press in beads, bees and charms, then seal it once it's dry — a honey dish that starts as craft time and ends up on the table.

A quick shape•Ages 5+•No kiln needed

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Let’s make one!

What you need

Clay, beads, and a dish built for honey.

What you need

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5 Oz Plastic Dessert Dish

This clear 5-ounce plastic dessert dish makes a lightweight form for puddings, snacks or small craft projects.

Stainless Steel Espresso Spoons

These 18 compact 5.1-inch espresso spoons are made from durable, rust-resistant stainless steel.

Air Dry Clay

This resealable bucket contains five pounds of natural-white Crayola modeling clay that dries without a kiln.

Resin Craft Bees

These tiny resin bee embellishments add lightweight honeybee detail to clay, scrapbooking and mixed-media crafts.

Apple Beads

These colorful resin fruit charms include apple shapes for bracelets, necklaces, earrings and holiday craft accents.

Pomegranate Seed Beads

These faceted red teardrop beads catch the light beautifully in jewelry, hanging details and handmade decorations.

Pomegranate Pendant Charms

These four compact 3D resin pomegranate charms have smooth edges for earrings, necklaces, bracelets and crafts.

Mod Podge

Mod Podge is a kid-friendly, non-toxic sealant to keep water and honey drips from ruining the dish.

Acrylic Paint Markers

These 24 water-based acrylic markers combine dot and fine tips for bright, fade-resistant work on clay, wood, glass and fabric.

5 Oz Plastic Dessert Dish

Lightweight dish form

Stainless Steel Espresso Spoons

18 mini spoons

Air Dry Clay

5 lbs, no kiln

Resin Craft Bees

Tiny bee details

Apple Beads

Resin apple charms

Pomegranate Seed Beads

Faceted red beads

Pomegranate Pendant Charms

3D pomegranate charms

Mod Podge

Seals & protects

Acrylic Paint Markers

24 acrylic colors

Instructions

Nine steps, one honey dish.

Shape the dish first, then the spoon rest, then let it all dry fully before you paint or seal — painting wet clay just smears.

Take a nice chunk of clay.

Press it firmly all around the sides of the serving dish.

Gently push any desired beads deep into the clay.

Roll a cylinder of clay as long as the spoon handle.

Press the spoon handle into the clay and wrap the clay carefully around it.

Gently push any desired beads onto the clay.

Wait 24-48 hours for the clay to dry completely.

"Paint" the clay using the acrylic paint pens.

Coat the entire outside with Mod Podge as a sealant.

How to make it

Take a nice chunk of clay.

Press it firmly all around the sides of the serving dish.

Gently push any desired beads deep into the clay.

Roll a cylinder of clay as long as the spoon handle.

Press the spoon handle into the clay and wrap the clay carefully around it.

Gently push any desired beads onto the clay.

Wait 24-48 hours for the clay to dry completely.

"Paint" the clay using the acrylic paint pens.

Coat the entire outside with Mod Podge as a sealant.

Grown-up guide

The practical bits

How long does air-dry clay take to dry?

Around 24 to 72 hours depending on thickness and how humid the room is. Thick bases take longest and crack if rushed, so keep the walls even and leave it somewhere with air moving rather than on a radiator, which dries the outside before the inside.

Ages

Rolling and shaping suits five and up; the beads, charms and paint markers are what younger hands love most.

Time

24-72 hrs

Keep the walls even and give it room to breathe — rushing it cracks the clay.

Is air-dry clay safe for honey to touch?

No — air-dry clay is porous and is not food safe, which is exactly why this project is built around a small plastic dessert dish. The clay forms the decorative outer dish and the honey stays in the insert. Do not skip that part.

What age can do this craft?

Rolling and shaping the clay suits about five and up. The beads, charms and paint markers are the part younger children enjoy most and can do with help. The one adult job is checking the walls are thick enough to survive drying.

How do you finish and care for it?

Paint once it is bone dry, then seal it — sealing is what stops the clay absorbing moisture. Wash the plastic insert rather than the clay dish, and keep the finished piece out of water entirely. On that basis it lasts for years.

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Put your dish in the place of honor on your Rosh Hashanah table.

More crafts→

✦

Put your dish in the place of honor on your Rosh Hashanah table.

More crafts

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