The great thing about copper is that its rich color goes with everything. In other words, it looks great with any décor, including country, modern, Mediterranean, and so on. You can make a beautiful copper bowl to use for decoration or to hold small items. That includes jewelry, spare change, bar soap, business cards, and more. The best part is that it’s not hard to make. Just follow the instructions below.
Required Supplies
For this DIY bowl, you can make it as simple or fancy as you want. For instance, you can use either copper leaf or a copper-colored metallic Sharpie to make a subtle design or get bolder by using it on the entire bowl. It all depends on the look you want to achieve.
Here are the supplies you’ll need:
- White air-dry clay (choose a long roll that resembles sausage)
- Copper leaf (if on a budget, you can use a metallic copper Sharpie instead)
- Small paintbrush
- Sizing
- Rolling pin
- Sealer
Now for the Fun Part
Now that you have the supplies needed to make this gorgeous copper bowl, the fun begins as you create it.
Step One
On a clean, flat surface, roll the clay until it’s about one inch thick. Although you can push the clay together if you get it too thin, it’s better if you take your time to get it right the first time. That way, you don’t need to worry about cracking or weak areas in the finished copper bowl.
Step Two
Next, carefully work the clay to create the shape of a bow. The goal is to use all the clay you purchased. However, if you want to make several copper bowls or one larger bowl, simply purchase additional clay and increase the other supplies accordingly.
Step Three
Now with the clay in the shape of a bowl, gently pinch and press it on the inside and the outside. The goal is to make both surfaces as smooth as possible. As you do this, try to thin the clay to roughly an eighth of an inch. For the rim, work it outward to give it a bowl-like appearance.
Step Four
This is when you can use your creativity. Instead of making the rim uniform, shape the clay so that some areas are higher than others. If you want, you can even use a toothpick to make unique designs on the outside of the bowl.
Step Five
With that step done, you’ll then apply the sizing to the inside and outside of the DIY bowl. Following that, you’ll create a gorgeous effect using either copper leaf or a metallic copper Sharpie.
It’s important to note that copper leaf is incredibly thin. So, if you go this route, carefully add it to the clay bowl. For this, you put the copper leaf around the brim, add it to different areas of the bowl’s surface, or do both.
If using a copper-colored metallic Sharpie, you’ll do the same thing. However, be careful not to press too hard. Instead, work the Sharpie slowly. That way, you create a more realistic effect.
If you want to create a more dramatic clay bowl, you can apply copper leaf on the entire surface, inside and out.
Step Six
After adding the copper leaf or using a copper-colored Sharpie, spray on a sealant. As a result, the beautiful design you created won’t rub off or fade. At the same time, a sealant makes the clay bowl a little bit stronger.
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Step Seven
Once you achieve a look you like, allow the copper bowl to dry thoroughly. The amount of time it takes depends on the quantity of clay you’re working with, as well as the brand. To determine this, look at the instructions on the package.
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