More Air Dry Clay Ideas – Textured Hearts

Here are more air-dry clay ideas if you’re looking for a creative and therapeutic project that results in stunning, personalized decor.

I recently made a set of these textured hearts to match my blush and taupe winter palette, and I couldn’t be happier with how they turned out. They’re not only beautiful but also versatile—they can be used as ornaments, table decorations, gift tags, or even as part of a garland.

Red-orange clay hearts with textured swirls and floral patterns are scattered on a light wood surface.
A bright, airy kitchen with white cabinets, wooden dining table, and wicker chairs. Sunlight streams in through large windows, highlighting yellow flowers on the table and counter.
You Made that?

DIY Textured Air Dry Clay Hearts: A Beautiful Handmade Project

Pink heart-shaped cookies on a white pedestal plate, with a vase of pink flowers and a distressed white box in the background.

How to Make Textured Air Dry Clay Hearts

A wooden table decorated with pink heart shapes, crystal candle holders, a glass with gold rim, and woven placemats.

Here is the step-by-step DIY of how I created these clay hearts, with an added technique for creating intricate textures using clay paste and stencils. The process is simple, relaxing, and incredibly rewarding.

Materials You’ll Need

A collection of metal heart-shaped cookie cutters in various sizes on a light wood surface.

Here’s what you’ll need to make these textured clay hearts:


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Heart-shaped cookie cutters

Mod Podge
Waterbase Sealer

Cookie Cutter Set

The white UV LED nail lamp, perfect for drying air dry clay creations, features a digital display showing "30" and the brand name "LADYMISTY" on top. A gentle blue light glows from within, ensuring efficient curing.

UV LED Lamp

A package of DAS modeling clay, red and white with a photo of clay being rolled and shaped into a flower.

DAS Air-Hardening Modeling Clay

A wooden dowel rod with two thicker cylindrical ends, laying horizontally on a white background.

Maple Wood Rolling Pin – 1/4″

Three bottles of clear UV resin with floral design labels, labeled as fast curing, low odor, no mixing, and measuring.

300g UV Resin Clear

Person rolling dough with a rolling pin on a silicone baking mat with measurement guides. Six dough pieces are lined up beside the mat on a wooden surface.

Silicone Baking Mat with Measurements

CONDA Palette Knife

Assorted paint brushes

18 Assorted Acrylic Paint Colors, 2oz each

Decorative stencil with intricate rose pattern design, packaged with branding from Stampers Anonymous and Tim Holtz Collection.
Heart Stencil

Step 1: Roll Out the Clay

Wooden rolling pin on a gray non-stick baking mat with red measurement circles, flattening dough.

Start by placing a wax paper or a non-stick mat on your work surface to prevent the clay from sticking. Take a portion of air dry clay and roll it out evenly with a rolling pin. Aim for a thickness of about 1/8 inch—thin enough to look delicate but sturdy enough to hold its shape.

Step 2: Cut Out Heart Shapes

Three white, textured heart-shaped clay pieces on a brown paper surface.

Use heart-shaped cookie cutters to cut out hearts in various sizes. Gently lift each heart and smooth the edges with your fingers. If any edges feel rough, don’t worry—you can refine them later once the clay has dried.

Step 3: Prepare the Clay Paste

Bowl containing thick, white batter or paste with a spoon on a wooden surface.

To create the textured design, you’ll need a clay paste. Here’s how to make it:

  1. Mix a small portion of air dry clay with a few drops of water in a bowl.
  2. Stir until it forms a thick, smooth paste. The consistency should be similar to frosting—not too runny but easy to spread.

Of course, after I went to the trouble making the clay paste I found some hidden in my craft room! I recommend buying the clay paste, as mixing it was a bit of a pain!

A jar of opaque matte texture paste, 3.9 fl oz (116 ml). Used for building dimensional textures with stencils; acid-free, non-toxic.
Clay Paste
A jar of "3D Stencil Fiber Paste," 16.9 fl oz (500 ml), by ReDesign. White container with a gray and white label.
Stencil Paste
Set of three texture paste jars labeled as transparent gloss, transparent matte, and opaque matte, with five red plastic palette knives underneath.
Clay Paste Set

Step 4: Add Texture Using a Stencil

A plastic stencil with a rose pattern design is placed on a textured surface. The stencil has some areas marked with orange ink.
A textured white heart shape with swirling patterns on transparent paper, laid on a flat surface.
A clay butterfly sculpture with floral patterns, resting on parchment paper covered in white residue.

Place a stencil over one of the clay hearts. Using a palette knife or spatula, apply a thin layer of clay paste over the stencil, spreading it evenly across the surface. Carefully lift the stencil to reveal the design underneath. Repeat this process for each heart, experimenting with different patterns if you have multiple stencils.

Tip: Rinse the stencil after every use to prevent the clay paste from drying.

Step 5: Let the Hearts Dry

Various heart-shaped clay pieces with textured patterns lie on a textured surface, arranged in no particular order.

Once you’ve added texture to all your hearts, let them dry completely. Air-dry clay typically takes 24–48 hours to dry, depending on the thickness. Turn the hearts occasionally to ensure even drying.

You can speed up the process by placing in a 200 degree oven for 10 – 15 minutes.

If needed, use sandpaper or a nail file to smooth the edges for a polished finish.

Step 6: Seal with Mod Podge

A brush applies glue to heart-shaped clay pieces with patterns.

To achieve a kiln-dried look, I applied a layer of Mod Podge to each heart. This seals the clay so the paint can’t absorb into the clay. Allow the Mod Podge to dry thoroughly before moving on to painting.

Step 7: Apply Watered-Down Acrylic Paint

Two transparent square dishes containing swirled paint in shades of pink, peach, and brown on a marble surface.
Heart-shaped clay pieces with embossed patterns being painted. Some are white, others are coral. A paintbrush is visible, along with a splatter and a tray of paint.
Heart-shaped cookies with rose-patterned designs are arranged on a parchment-lined surface, featuring variations in size and a textured appearance.

For a soft, natural look, I mixed acrylic paint with water to create a wash. Using a paintbrush, I applied the watered-down blush and taupe paints to the hearts, allowing the paint to seep into the textured designs. This technique highlights the stencil patterns while maintaining a subtle, handmade feel. If you want more intensity, layer the paint until you achieve your desired look.

Painted clay hearts of varying sizes in reddish tones scattered on paper; a paintbrush applies finishing touches.

Once the front was dry, I painted the back of the hearts, too.

Step 8: Add a Glossy Finish with UV Resin

Hand applying resin to textured pink clay hearts under a UV lamp.

I applied UV resin to the surface to give the hearts a polished, professional finish.

Here’s how:

  1. Use the tip of the resin or a small brush to spread a thin layer of UV resin evenly over each heart.
  2. Place the hearts under a UV light for 5 – 6 minutes to cure the resin.

The resin adds a beautiful shine and enhances the depth of the textured designs, making the hearts look even more special.

A white pedestal bowl filled with heart-shaped pink ceramic pieces with an embossed floral pattern.

Ideas for Using Textured Clay Hearts in Your Decor

A dining table is set with floral-patterned plates, gold-rimmed glasses, beige woven placemats, pink napkins, and decorative pink heart ornaments.

Now that you’ve created your stunning clay hearts, it’s time to put them to use! Here are some ideas for incorporating them into your decor:

  1. Table Settings:
    Use the hearts as decorative accents on your dining table. Place one on each plate or scatter them along the center of the table for a charming touch.
  2. Garlands:
    Thread the hearts onto twine or ribbon to create a garland. Hang it across a mantel, above a window, or along a shelf.
  3. Ornaments:
    Add a small hole to the top of each heart before the clay dries, then thread a ribbon through for hanging. They make beautiful winter or Valentine’s Day ornaments.
  4. Gift Tags:
    Tie a clay heart onto a wrapped present for a personal, handmade touch. You can even write on them with a permanent marker to customize each tag.
  5. Decorative Bowls:
    Display the hearts in a decorative bowl on your coffee table, entryway console, or kitchen counter.
  6. Wall Art:
    Arrange the hearts in a shadow box or mount them on wood for a unique piece of wall art.
Framed display with a "Hello!" card surrounded by dried white, red, and orange flowers and greenery.
8” x 10” Natural Oak Wooden Shadow Box
A white ceramic bowl with a ribbed design on a conical base, shown against a plain background.

Ceramic Fruit Bowl

Round wooden tray with a shallow, smooth finish.

17″ Wood Hand Carved Tray

A spool of white and gold twine tightly wound around a cardboard core.

Gold Twine String

Square Copper Tray

A spool of pink and white twisted twine, wound tightly in a cylindrical shape.

Wrapables Cotton Baker’s Twine

Why I Love This Project

Creating these textured air-dry clay hearts has been one of my favorite DIY projects. The process is relaxing and allows for creativity, from choosing stencils to experimenting with paint colors. I love how the hearts tie into my blush and taupe winter palette, adding a soft, handmade element to my decor.

The best part? These hearts are incredibly versatile and can be used year-round. They’re an excellent way to bring a personal, artistic touch to your home or to give as heartfelt gifts to loved ones.

Whether you’re styling your home for winter, preparing for Valentine’s Day, or simply looking for a creative outlet, this project is a perfect choice. Give it a try, and let me know how your hearts turn out—I’d love to see your creations!

Here are all of the DIY clay hearts I have made.

Air Dry Clay Hearts

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DIY Clay Valentine Conversation Hearts

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I have always loved Valentine Conversation Hearts candies. I made some out of clay that are personalized and will last forever. Remember the red and white sweetheart box filled with conversation hearts that we would all get for Valentine’s Day? These hearts were a staple from my childhood. They were pastel-colored and each stamped with…

Valentine’s Hearts DIY

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I wanted to make some copper hearts for a Valentine’s hearts DIY. It was so much fun that I ended up making three different types! I made Valentine’s hearts from air-dried clay and mixed the clay with metal leaf copper foil. I cut them out with heart-shaped cookie cutters, and they look fantastic. Next, I…

Fabulous Valentine’s Day Decor

Valentine's themed decor including heart candles, glassware, plates, flowers, and pink accessories displayed in a collage with the text "Amazon Home Valentine's Decor" at the top.
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Various red-orange textured heart shapes made from air dry clay arranged on a wooden surface.

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