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Polymer Clay Creatures

From "Carol Duvall Show"
episode CDS-1517F

Slim the Slug, Lightening the Lizard and Trundle the Turtle

Projects designed and demonstrated by Maureen Carlson.

Materials

FIMO Soft polymer clay
- tropical green
- emerald green
- black
- white
neon yellow Fun Wire
round toothpick
knife or cutting tool
wire cutters or scissors
oven
baking pan or ceramic tile
2 index cards
paperclip

Before you begin, condition all clay by warming and kneading in hands. Amount needed for each character:

Slim the Slug - 1/4 block tropical green
Lightening the Lizard - 2/3 block tropical green
Trundle the Turtle - 3/4 block tropical green, 1/4 block emerald green.

Figure A

Figure B

Figure C

Figure D

Figure E

Figure F

To make Slim the Slug

1. Using a quarter of the package of tropical green clay, roll a 1-1/8-inch ball. Roll with some pressure against one side of ball to create an egg shape.

2. To make the head: Place the small end of the egg between your two index fingers, with the tip of the egg about 1/2 inch above fingers, and roll gently between fingers. This will create a neck and a head. Note: Maureen calls this shape, where you have a bulge and then a skinny part, the "drumstick roll" (figure A). If the head is too big or too small, just roll the clay back into a ball and start again.

3. To create a long tail, place clay body on table. With tilted hand, roll large end of egg to create a long tail (figure B).

4. Bend body at neck and middle of tail to make him curve. Roll up an index card and hold in place with paper clip. Prop head on rolled index card (figure C).

5. Using knife edge, cut a mouth. Use toothpick to indent corners of mouth (figure D).

6. For eyes: Roll two small white clay balls and two tiny black balls. For eyelids, roll two tiny football shapes from green clay. Flatten footballs slightly and bend into a curve. Try eyes on Slim to see if they are too big, just right or too small. Adjust as necessary. Add pieces in this order: white balls, black balls, eyelids (figure E).

7. Cut two pieces of wire each approximately 3/4-inch long. Bend ends into spiral. Poke holes in head with toothpick and push in wires (figure F).

8. Preheat oven and bake, according to directions on clay package, keeping head propped on index card. Cool.

Figure G

To make Lightening The Lizard

1. Repeat steps 1 through 7 for Slim the Slug.

2. For each leg, roll a 3/4-inch green clay ball. Roll each ball into an egg shape.

3. Do a "drumstick roll" on the small end of each egg to create feet.

4. Bend legs at ankle and knee. Press legs in place (figure G).

5. Bake as for Slim the Slug.

Figure H

Figure I

Figure J

To make Trundle the Turtle

1. Repeat steps 1 and 2 for Lightening the Lizard, except make the tail very short (figure H).

2. For the turtle shell, condition a quarter of a package of emerald green clay. Roll into a ball.

3. Flatten into a shell shape, indenting one side to fit around neck (figure I).

4. Press shell in place (figure J).

5. Press body on top of legs.

6. Bake as for Slim the Slug.

RESOURCES :
Clay Characters for Kids
by Maureen Carlson
North Light, 2003
Order this title from Amazon.com.
F & W Publications Inc.
Cincinnati, OH 45236
Phone: 513-531-2690
Website: www.fwpublications.com

GUESTS :
Maureen Carlson
Crafter, Wee Folk Creations
Website: www.weefolk.com
or
Maureen Carlson's Center for Creative Arts
Website: www.maureencarlson.com