Is cheap clay okay to use?

Im making pottery but i have no idea what clay to use (without kiln) 10 points?

• im making a box out of clay for my gf for valentines day (7days!!!!!!!!!) and i dont have a kiln or wheel. first of all im fine with out having a wheel because there's different methods but i dont know what clay to get. i think i need an air dry clay cuz i dont know were to get a kiln. i called pottery places and they said only members could use there stuff so.....ya.....what i need to know is can i make a box out of air dry clay without it cracking. and more importantly is *air dry clay* like "play dough" and stuff kids play with or is it real clay that artist use to do pottery.

• Answer:

  Properly labeled air dry clay is earth clay (like for pottery) with chemicals (binders) added so when it dries it does not dust and had more strength than the brittle weak nature of dry earth clays. It can be painted and used for ornamental stuff but can't hold water as it will soften, at least on the surface. So a box, slab built, should be okay. Playdough is air drying or can be baked to dry but has flour in it (usually) and thus is organic in terms of spoilage/mold/etc.