Air Plant Pineapples!

Ann M
by Ann M
3 Materials

I can't take credit for these cute little guys as I first saw them in a magazine but I did make a few changes. These are fun to make!

10 little air plant pineapples

Purchased Sculpey clay in white from Walmart for $6.00.

Sculpey oven bake clay

This pkg contained 5 sheets of clay. I cut each in half giving me clay to make 10 pineapples.

I then took a section kneading it for a few minutes until it became pliable.


Oval shape

I formed each section into an oval and into a pineapple shaped base making the bottom flat.

Cut center of pineapple out leaving a shell.

Taking a knife, or with a child they could possible use a plastic knife, I cut out the insides leaving only a shell. This makes the baking faster plus these could be used to hold toothpicks or bobby pins, etc. You can leave them solid but the baking time increases quite a bit. It tells you on the back of the box how long to bake depending on thickness. By cutting out the insides of these I was able to make 2 more pineapples using those remnants.

Hollowed out

This is what it looks like when it's hollowed out

Push the top together to form a little pot. I purchased a set of 10 air plants from Amazon. I sized up my pot opening so the air plants fit just inside. They vary quite a bit in size.

They are called Tillandsia lonantha Guatemala sold by Hinterland Trading for $15.28

Trying to look like a pineapple!

At this point I used a toothpick making x's and dots making it look like pineapple markings. Ready to bake according to pkg directions. These took 20 minutes.

Out of the oven cooling

Once cooled, they're ready to paint.

Martha Stewart gold metallic

Starting with the inside I painted them with gold metallic paint

Martha Stewart Vanilla Bean

Once dry I used a brown satin all over , then quickly removing it. This leaves the detailed markings more visible.

10 air plant pineapples

Place an air plant into each opening. All ready to give to friends and family!

At only a little more than $2.00 each, these make adorable gifts that won't break the bank!

Resources for this project:
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Frequently asked questions
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3 of 13 questions
  • Bruce Bruce on Sep 15, 2021

    How long before they outgrow the pot in which they are now kept?

  • Thomas Contino Thomas Contino on Jan 03, 2022

    How about after you blow up the balloon you dip it in plaster of Paris a couple of times until you have a good coating. Just another idea 💡

  • Trouble OHara Trouble OHara on Jan 03, 2022

    Is the pot washable or can mist the air plant without killing the pot?

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3 of 115 comments
  • Jud8850600 Jud8850600 on Jan 03, 2022

    Rather than scooping out the inside I would make a pinch pot as they do in making pottery . It would save time and be less messy . Also would be less costly .

  • Kathy A Kathy A on Jan 03, 2022

    So cute! I use polymer clay for dollhouse accessories but haven't used it like this--yet!

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