Make Clay Miniatures with DIY Jr Mod @DaphneDuck

What can I use if I don't have air-dry clay, a rolling pin, or child-safe acrylic paints?

Substitute air-dry clay with homemade salt-dough, use a clean bottle or marker as a rolling pin, and paint finished miniatures with washable tempera instead of child-safe acrylics.

What if my miniature cracks while air-drying or small details fall off?

Press cracks closed and smooth with a water-dampened finger as in the 'smooth any rough edges' step, reattach small parts by scoring with the plastic sculpting tool or toothpick and blending with a little water before following the clay package drying instructions.

How can I change the activity for younger or older kids?

For younger kids simplify by using larger clay pieces and blunt tools like a butter knife and helping with kneading and rolling, while older kids can add fine toothpick details, more complex characters, and use a palette to mix acrylics as in the painting step.

How can we personalize or extend the finished miniatures beyond just painting?

After the paint dries on the paper plate, seal miniatures with a clear craft varnish, glue on tiny magnets or pin backs, create a painted clay base, and then take a photo to share on DIY.org as the final step.