Crayola Air-Dry Clay, Part 2: Finishing the Crayon-Shaped Wall Pocket

The Crayola Air-Dry Clay wall pocket is officially finished, and I have to say: this project did not go exactly the way I imagined.

But I still love it. 🖍️✨

In Part 1, I used Crayola Air-Dry Clay and makeshift molds to create one large crayon-shaped wall pocket. Part 2 was all about the finishing process: sanding, painting, glazing, and seeing whether this oversized clay crayon could become actual wall decor.

Spoiler: it did.

But it took a few detours to get there.

The Supplies I Used

For this project, I used:

• Crayola Air-Dry Clay: https://amzn.to/4hcDQJc

• Clay Shaping Tools: https://amzn.to/4wg198X

• Sandpaper Blocks: https://amzn.to/4fI7S6x

• Green Crayola Tempora Paint: https://amzn.to/4qeXbvT

• Dremel Tool: https://amzn.to/4xzEfdw

• Clay Glaze: https://amzn.to/4i6mAWj

Affiliate note: Some links in this post may be Amazon affiliate links. If you buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only share products I’ve tested, used, or genuinely think fit the Crayolona world.

The Clay Needed More Help Than Expected

One thing I learned very quickly with this project: I underestimated how much clay I would need.

By the time the wall pocket started taking shape, it was clear that my original supply was not enough. I had to buy additional Crayola Air-Dry Clay to finish building the form and make sure the piece had enough structure.

That was not really a product flaw. It was more of a “this project is bigger than my original math” situation. A classic craft adventure, honestly.

Sanding and Smoothing

Once the clay was dry, I used sandpaper blocks to clean up the rough edges and smooth out the surface. This part made a big difference. Air-dry clay can dry with little bumps, fingerprints, seams, and uneven spots, especially when you are working with makeshift molds. Sanding helped the piece feel more finished and less like “a science experiment that may or may not survive.”

It still looked handmade, but in a good way.

And for a giant crayon-shaped wall pocket made in my craft space? I will take it.

Painting the Crayon

For the paint, I used Crayola green tempera paint.

I did end up needing more paint than expected, probably because the piece was large and the air-dry clay absorbed the first coat more than I anticipated. Once the paint built up, though, the color started looking much more like the oversized crayon decor I had in my head.

The green was cheerful, bold, and very Crayolona.

The Glaze Made a Huge Difference

One of the biggest finishing touches was adding glaze.

I wanted the piece to have a shinier finish, because real crayons have that waxy look. Plain painted clay can look a little flat or chalky, so the glaze helped bring the surface closer to the feeling of crayon wax.

That was the moment when the project started to feel more complete.

The glaze did not magically turn it into a factory-made object, of course. It still looked handmade. But it gave the piece a polished finish and helped the color pop.

The Paper-Tear Detail Did Not Work

Here is where the project changed.

Originally, I wanted the crayon to look like the paper wrapper had torn open in a certain way. I had a very specific idea in my head.

Unfortunately, I just could not get the paper-tear detail to work correctly.

Rather than keep fighting it, I changed the plan and improvised with a hole in the crayon instead. It was not what I originally envisioned, but it gave the piece personality — and honestly, I think it works.

Sometimes a craft project tells you what it wants to be. Rude, but helpful.

The Finished Wall Pocket

Once everything was painted and glazed, I tried the finished piece both on the wall and on a shelf.

And that is when I finally felt like the project came together.

It is big, colorful, handmade, imperfect, and very much in the spirit of Crayolona. The wall-pocket function gives it a purpose, while the crayon shape makes it feel playful and personal.

This is not a sleek, minimalist decor piece.

Obviously.

It is a giant clay crayon wall pocket, and that is exactly why I love it.

Watch the Video

Final Thoughts

Crayola Air-Dry Clay was a really interesting product to test across this two-part project.

It started out sticky, became much easier to work with after kneading, dried into a workable form, and could be sanded, painted, and glazed into a finished decorative piece. The project required more clay, more paint, and more patience than I expected, but the end result feels worth it.

Was it exactly what I pictured? No.

Did I have to improvise? Absolutely.

Do I love the finished crayon-shaped wall pocket anyway? Completely.

That feels like a pretty honest summary of creative testing. Sometimes the final project is not about getting everything perfect. Sometimes it is about figuring out what still works, making a few adjustments, and ending up with something charming that did not exist before.

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