How to Make an Air Dry Clay Incense Holder

It's useful to knead the clay to loosen it up before you roll or shape it.

Having a small pot of water nearby can help join clay pieces and smooth down any rough edges. You can stir small lumps of clay into the water to create slip, which helps act as a glue when you join pieces together.

To help achieve the right thickness when rolling sheets of clay, tape stacks of lolly sticks together to the height you want. When rolling out the clay, place the stacks at either side of the clay slab to roll a flat, even surface

Roll out a ball of clay until it's an even thickness. Use a cutter or knife to cut out a circle.

Use water or slip to smooth and round off any rough edges.

Using any excess clay, cut a moon shape using a knife or cutter. You can use the cutter twice to change the shape of the moon!

Score and slip the back of the moon shape in order to attach it to the circular base.

Roll out a small ball of clay that will act as the main support for your incense stick.

Score and slip the base of the ball and stick it next to your moon shape on the circular base.

You can use an incense stick or another pointed object to poke a hole into the ball shape (just remember the clay will shrink slightly when dry so make the hole a little wider than your incense). Don't poke a hole all the way through the clay at this point - just enough so that the stick can be held upright!

To raise the edges of the base, cover the bottom of a small bowl or other rounded object with cling film.

Place your clay base into the bowl and depress the middle so that it sits lower than the edges.

Leave it to dry like this for a few hours until it can retain its shape, then remove it by loosening the cling film and gently pulling the base away. Let it dry on its own for 24-48 hours.

Once the incense holder is completely dry, you can lightly sand down any rough edges with sandpaper.

Shake off any dust and your napkin holder is complete!