This month at our workbench, we’ve been having so much fun creating beautiful plant saucers from air-dry clay. If you’ve ever wanted to make something practical and lovely for your plants, join us as we walk through the entire process—from gathering supplies to placing a finished saucer beneath your favorite pot.

Gathering Our Supplies

We start by collecting everything we need on our workbench. First, there’s the air-dry clay itself—we keep a fresh package ready for projects like this. We also grab a smooth clean work surface. A bowl of water sits nearby; we use it to dampen our fingertips as we work, helping to smooth and blend the clay. Finally, we gather some basic tools: a rolling pin or smooth object to flatten the clay, and perhaps a butter knife and sculpting tool for detail work. Having everything in one place makes the creative process so much smoother.

Shaping the Clay

We break off a chunk of clay—how much depends on the size of the saucer we’re aiming for—and knead it like dough. This makes it more pliable and easier to work with and helps eliminate cracking later on. Next, we shape it into a rough disk by hand or place it on our work surface and gently flatten it with a rolling pin. We aim for an even thickness all the way across. We use two rulers or boards on either side of the clay that the rolling pin will roll across to keep it an even thickness. During this time we also use our patterned rolling pins to imprint patterns in the clay.

Forming the Shallow Saucer and Rim

We can use other saucer shaped items as molds to shape and form the clay. We get clay molds available on Amazon or any craft store. This is the easiest way when first starting out with clay. Another option is to work the clay and shape it with our hands. We press our fingers into the center of the disk, creating a shallow depression that will cradle the pot. We work slowly and carefully, pushing the clay from the center outward, letting it naturally curve upward at the edges.

Smoothing Imperfections

We dampen our fingers slightly and gently smooth out any rough spots in the clay. We use our sculpting tools or dip our finger into the water and blend any seams. We can also use stamps to imprint any final patterns on the clay at this time as well.

Letting It Dry

We find a safe, level spot to let our saucer cure. Air-dry clay needs time and patience. We avoid moving it while it’s drying and keep it away from direct heat sources. Depending on the thickness, this may take a few days. We like to cover ours with a breathable vented cloth to allow airflow but not let it dry too quickly or be subjected to temperature changes. This helps avoid cracking.

Painting or Decorating (Optional)

Once the clay is completely dry, we can paint or decorate it if we wish. We might brush on soft watercolors, use acrylic paint for more vivid colors, or simply leave it in its natural earthy tone. Some of us add hand-painted details—maybe a delicate border, a simple pattern, or even our initials. There’s no right or wrong way. If we do paint, we let that dry completely too before moving forward.

Sealing for Protection

To protect our creation—whether painted or plain—we apply a seal. There are many options available, and we choose based on our preference and how we’ll use the saucer. A clear sealant gives the piece a subtle sheen and adds a layer of durability. We have experimented with several different types of sealants, but so far, we have found outdoor mod podge to hold up to water better than any others we have tried. We follow the product instructions carefully, apply it as directed, and allow it to cure fully. This step is important and helps our handmade piece withstand the moisture from watering plants over time.

Putting It to Work

There’s something wonderfully satisfying about knowing we made this practical, beautiful piece ourselves. Every time we water the plant and see the saucer catch the drips, we smile—remembering the morning we spent at our workbench, shaping clay.

We hope you’ll join us for this rewarding project. Air-dry clay plant saucers are a joy to make, kind to our wallets, and a perfect gift for anyone who loves plants and handmade things. Until next month, happy creating!