Bowled over

Make stunning sets of trinket trays with a nod to the traditional craft of basket-making simply using clay and Resene shades of green.

Clay trinket trays
Table is painted in Resene Bismark

You will need

Materials

Resene Concrete Clear gloss
Resene art brush set
Baking clay
Rolling pin
Craft or butter knife
Woven mat or basket for textural imprint
Paper towels
Range of shallow bake-safe bowls or tins

For each bowl or tray, knead your clay to a nice, pliable consistency, then roll it out, ensuring it is large enough and has an even thickness (about 7mm).

Dimpled bowl

Two-tone basket weave bowl

Large crosshatch tray

Resene Grey Olive
Resene El Paso

Step by step instructions

How to make a two-tone basket weave bowl

Roll out the clay, leaving it slightly thicker to allow for the indentation. Place some woven matting halfway across, then press firmly with a rolling pin to indent. It will now be the right thickness (A) - (B).
Carefully transfer the rolled-out pattern to a bowl. Try to let it sag naturally but without forcing it or making unnecessary fingerprints and folds. Using a knife, cut remove excess clay from the top edge. Smooth the edge with your finger (C).
Bake for 15 minutes at 130°C or as directed on the packet instructions.
Once it’s cool and hardened, paint the textured side in Resene Olive Green. Use a paper towel or clean rag to rub off excess paint, allowing a lighter top finish with darker grooves. Leave to dry before painting the other half in Resene Green Spring (D) - (E).
When both sides are dry, dip your larger art brush in Resene El Paso and use your finger to flick the paint onto the non-textured side. This speckled effect creates a realistic ceramic look (F).

How to make a large crosshatch tray

Roll out eight long strips of clay, then cut to the same width, about 2cm (G).
Lay four strips vertically for the base with about a 2cm gap between each. Then lay another four strips on top, horizontally weaving over and under and again leaving a space between. Press each overlap gently to secure, then trim the ends to make an even square. Place into a shallow bowl and bake as above (H) - (I).
Once it's cool and hardened, paint the entire tray in Resene Grey Olive, then once dry, use the same flicking technique to make splatters with Resene El Paso (J).

How to make a dimpled bowl

Roll out the clay, then lay in a small oval baking dish. Use the end of your Resene art brush to make indentations. Start from the centre and work your way out in a circular pattern (K). Bake as instructed above or as directed on the clay packet instructions.
Once it's cool and hardened, paint the entire vessel in Resene Conch. Once it's dry, use the rag-rubbing technique to push Resene Thor into the indentations, wiping enough away to show the lighter Resene shade (L). It's that simple!

Photo (A)

Photo (B)

Photo (C)

Photo (D)

Photo (E)

Photo (F)

Photo (G)

Photo (H)

Photo (I)

Photo (J)

Photo (K)

Photo (L)

Resene tip

Complete all your trays and bowls with two coats of Resene Concrete Clear gloss. This will not only protect your pieces but also give them a glaze that will make them look like authentic ceramic masterpieces!