Kids & Crafts

African Mask carved in Balsa-Foam from Lesson Plan 31.

We have been ‘Modeling Imagination Since 1919′ when we made the first American modeling clay!

If you have ever taken art in school anytime since WWII, then you have probably used AMACO products! Look no farther than here for modeling clay for home use or group craft projects. Our inexpensive air dry clays (also available at Michael’s stores with a yellow school bus label) make group projects easy and affordable. Magic Mud is fun for children of all ages, and comes with its own tool kit! But for long lasting clay projects (like gifts for Mom and Dad), you need our more durable self hardening clays.

Our Balsa-Foam is another great product for group projects, it is economical, carves like butter, and is easy to paint! We have three Lesson Plans utilizing Balsa Foam, check them out!

Our Cloud Clay™ is light as air, non-toxic, comes in 10 colors, and is perfect for ages 3 and up. This soft, puffy, and pliable modeling material is fun to squeeze and model. More ‘stretch’ than other brands so fibers won’t break apart when pulled. Dries overnight and decorates easily. Available in 4 oz. packages or class packs. Learn how to make a Crazy Creature by clicking here.

If you want to make puppets, pinatas, paper mache projects, then try Claycrete (see Lesson Plan 26) for Day of the Dead popsicle stick figures, or Sculptamold. Sculptamold is so hard and durable that you can carve it or sand it as well as apply it to armature for figures. Sculptamold is also the principal product in our U-Build-the-Mountain Deluxe Kit for dioramas and trainsets.

Another very inexpensive craft idea is to make cookie cutter shapes out of Friendly Plastic. The metallic foil strips are backed in plastic which softens easily when heated. A safe way to work with kids is to lay the sticks down on a non-stick griddle or cookie sheet, heat, then press cookie cutters in. Wait to cool or dip in cold water to pop out pieces. Leftover pieces can be reused! Learn how to make designs in Friendly Plastic with the cookie cutter technique.

Check out our Products for Kids’ Craft Projects:

Youth Art Month Celebrates 50 Years!
Youth Art Month is an annual observance each March to emphasize the value of art education for all children and to encourage support for quality school art programs. Youth Art Month provides a forum for acknowledging skills that are fostered through experience in the visual arts that are not possible in other subjects offered in the curriculum.