What Is Cold Porcelain?

Cold porcelain is a material used in crafting. As a type of clay, it can be molded into various shapes, making it a versatile material for different types of craft projects. Crafters use cold porcelain to create party favors, handmade jewelry pieces, pottery and more.

This material is soft and pliable enough to mold and shape into the crafter's artistic vision. The creation automatically dries by sitting in the air and does not require any special glazing or firing in a kiln, as other types of ceramic and porcelain crafts do.

Generally, porcelain clay is a material reserved for smaller craft projects. While a small pill-shaped box could be molded out of the material and allowed to air dry, crafters would not necessarily use the material to make a large pot for a plant.

In addition to being an easy type of clay to work with for craft projects, cold porcelain is highly moldable. Even after a creation has dried, if the item is placed in a warm room or setting, it softens the clay slightly, bent pieces can be straightened out or pieces that have moved can be put back in place.

Porcelain clay originates from Argentina, but crafters can easily whip up their own batch of the clay, using common household products. Glue, water, cold cream, glycerin and cornstarch are all of the ingredients needed to whip up a batch of cold porcelain clay.

While it is not edible, cold porcelain clay is also not toxic. This makes it safe for both adults and children to make creations out of the cold porcelain clay. The clay can be molded into creations by hand and without the use of any special machinery or tools. In this respect, it is similar to that of the squishy-textured dough made for children to play with in the classroom.

For more complex creations, crafters can choose to use molds that are created specifically for use with porcelain clay. The molds allow the crafters to shape the clay around or inside of the mold. After the creation is allowed to air dry, the clay can then be popped off or out of the mold.

Cold porcelain embellishments can be added to the creation prior to it drying completely, so that glue or other adhesives are not required. For adding dried cold porcelain embellishments to other cold porcelain creations or another material, adhesives or attachments may be required.