I clearly remember making little clay bowls like this as a kid, hands dusty with flour, paint everywhere, and that proud moment when it actually looked like something. This sunflower version brings all of that back. It’s one of those projects that feels a bit magical to kids – simple ingredients, a bit of squishing and shaping, and suddenly you’ve got a bowl that looks like it belongs on the table. Your child is going to love this just as much as we did back then.
If you’re on a bit of a salt dough kick (it happens every school holidays around here), there are loads of other salt dough craft ideas worth trying too – they’re perfect for rainy afternoons and low-cost crafting.
And if salt dough isn’t your thing, or you want something a little less… crumbly, I always suggest switching to an air-dry clay. Personally, I swear by DAS white air-drying clay. I’ve been using it for over 30 years now (yes, really) and it’s one of those products that just works every single time. Smooth, reliable, and no oven required – which is always a win.
Salt Dough Recipe for a Sunflower Clay Bowl
This is the classic, no-fail salt dough recipe that’s been passed around classrooms and kitchens forever. It’s sturdy enough for small bowls and easy for little hands to work with.
What you need
1 cup salt
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup water
For decorating
Acrylic craft paint in yellow, brown, black and white
Paintbrush
Toothpick
Black craft pen or marker
Extras
Cookie sheet
Acrylic sealer (optional, but recommended if you want it to last)
Mix the salt and flour together in a bowl, then slowly add the water until you have a soft, workable dough. It should feel like playdough – not sticky, not crumbly. If it’s too wet, add a little more flour.
Shape the dough over an upside-down bowl or directly into a shallow dish shape on your cookie sheet. For the sunflower look, pinch and pull the edges to form petal shapes. Don’t worry about making it perfect – uneven petals actually make it look more handmade and charming.
Use a toothpick to add texture to the centre of the flower. Little pokes and dots give it that classic sunflower seed look.
Once dry (or baked, if you prefer that method), paint your sunflower using acrylic paints. Yellow petals, a brown centre, and a few highlights with white or black really bring it to life. A black craft pen is great for adding extra detail once the paint is dry.
If the bowl is going to be handled a lot or kept as a keepsake, seal it with an acrylic sealer for extra durability.
This sunflower salt dough bowl is one of those crafts that ticks all the boxes – nostalgic, affordable, creative, and actually useful. It’s perfect for holding little treasures, hair clips, or just sitting proudly on a shelf reminding everyone who made it.