Your phone lives on your desk all day. It slides around, faces down, gets lost under papers. A stand fixes that. And a stand you made yourself is the one you will actually keep. Here is how to make a clay phone stand at home with air dry clay. No wheel. No kiln. One evening.
Why make one instead of buying one
Plastic stands look like every other desk in the UAE. A clay stand can match your room, carry your name or a pattern, and doubles as decor when the phone is not on it. It is also one of the most satisfying beginner projects because it is useful the moment it dries.
What you need
Air dry clay, a rolling tool or a smooth bottle, a knife or clay cutter, a ruler, a little water, paint, a brush and a sealer. Everything on that list is inside a Sawa Pottery Kit. The Solo Kit is AED 198 with free delivery across the UAE.
Step by step
Step 1: Roll a slab
Take a ball of clay about the size of an orange. Roll it out to about 1 cm thick. Thinner than that and the stand will be weak. Keep the slab even.
Step 2: Cut the base
Cut a rectangle roughly 10 cm by 8 cm. This is the base. Smooth the edges with a damp finger.
Step 3: Cut the back rest
Cut a second rectangle about 10 cm by 7 cm. This is the back the phone leans on.
Step 4: Score and join
Scratch small lines on the back edge of the base and the bottom edge of the back rest. Dab a little water on both. Press them together at a slight angle leaning back, around 70 degrees. Smooth a small coil of clay along the join on both sides for strength.
Step 5: Add the lip
Roll a thin coil about 1 cm thick and 10 cm long. Score, wet and press it along the front edge of the base. This stops the phone sliding off. Leave a small gap in the centre if you want to run a charging cable through.
Step 6: Test the angle
Gently rest your phone on the stand while the clay is still soft. Adjust the back rest until the screen sits at a comfortable angle. Remove the phone and wipe it.
Step 7: Decorate
Press a texture, carve a pattern or write a name into the back rest while it is soft. Keep the base plain so it sits flat.
Step 8: Dry
Leave it on a flat surface for 24 to 48 hours. Turn it once after the first day so the base dries evenly. In UAE air conditioning it usually dries well in two days.
Step 9: Paint and seal
Paint in two thin coats. Let it dry. Apply a sealer to protect the surface. Add small felt pads under the base if your desk is glass.
Tips for a strong stand
Keep the walls at least 1 cm thick. Reinforce every join with a coil. Let it dry slowly away from direct sun to avoid cracks. If a crack appears, see our guide to fixing cracks in air dry clay.
Common questions
Will air dry clay hold a phone?
Yes. A 1 cm thick stand with reinforced joins holds any phone easily. It is not for tablets.
Can I use it with a case on?
Yes. Make the lip gap and the base a little wider if your case is thick.
How long does it take?
About 45 minutes to shape. Two days to dry. Thirty minutes to paint and seal.
Does the clay come in the Sawa kit?
Yes. Clay, tools, paints, brushes and sealer are all included. The guide in the box covers slab building too.
More easy projects
Try our guides to a clay pen holder, clay bookends and how to seal air dry clay.
Make yours this weekend
Everything for this project is in one box. Order the Sawa Pottery Kit from AED 198 with free delivery across the UAE.