Important
information for this page
Adult
beginners + Misc. for all beginners
Books/videos
Classes,groups,kits
Tools
& supplies
Simple projects
for beginners
...(other) websites with many
proj's+basic polymer info
Projects listed by technique,
or theme:
... Sculpting
.......mixed sculpting websites
.......figures: human
figures
.......robots/monsters/Pokemon/characters, etc.
.......nodders
& bobbleheads
.......animals
and bugs
.......more
figure toys + mini-home accessories/furniture
.......outdoor
......."bas
relief" sculpting
...Cut-outs
& flat shapes
...Onlay
...Mosaics, & other inlay
...Stamping
& Molds, metallic powders
...Metallic (mica) clays...special effects
...Covering
(pens,eggs,votives,switchplates, + nightlights,lamps,etc.)
...Canes
...Faux (jade,turquoise,wood, metal,etc.)
...Jewelry
& wearables...+ zipper pulls, etc.
...Liquid
clays (& transfers)
...Other Ideas
& misc. techniques
.......musical instruments, magnets, tacks-pins
.......more
(various)
...Christmas/Winter
......Halloween,Thanksgiv,Autumn
..... Valentine & hearts, etc.
...Scenes,
dioramas
...Games ........ chess,
checkers, boards
...Other toys
......active-motion toys ....baby & toddler, etc.
MORE
re KIDS
Using kids' artwork to make clay items
Why
kids should clay + learning differences
School
projects, etc.
Teaching &
working with kids
......many project
ideas (mixed ideas, finished items by kids)
.......younger
kids
..........letters,
math/numbers, words, spelling, etc.
......older
kids
.....kids with special
needs, disabilities
.....more
math + art ideas
.....supplies, cost
.....blades
& kids
.....more info & misc.
Not
exactly polymer (but inspirational)
KIDS (by or for) + BEGINNERS
The
things on this page can be:
...made by kids themselves
...made
by adults, for kids (for kids to use such as games/toys, or perhaps
to give them as gifts)
...made by adults, for themselves
(to memorialize kids' art, or use it for jewelry, clothing.. or to give as gifts
to relatives, etc.)
see More re Kids below
for more on:
....using kids' art ...teaching & working with kids... school
projects... why kids should clay!... learning & emotional difficulties...
etc.
USING THIS PAGE ...important information
Some
of the easier kinds of things to do with clay are listed below on this
page.
....however, if you find yourself especially interested in any of those,
you can find loads more info and lessons about it on the category
page here at GlassAttic that deals with that general topic.
NOTE:
whenever you see a category name in ITALICS
in the regular text (for instance..."for
more info, see Miniatures >
Foods")
...the word in italics is the
name of another ANOTHER
category page here at Glass Attic (....the
name of the category page you are now on is called Beginners
& Kids)
......and the word that's underlined
(after the > mark) is the exact subcategory on that page being referred
to
...to go to any of the other category
pag es here at Glass Attic, simply click on its name in the alphabe
(.....category
names are alphabetized in the navigation bar by sections... such as A-B,
or D-F)
Some specific polymer topics
(categories) here at GlassAttic may be of special
interest to kids and beginners ....especially the following:
Christmas, Halloween
(holidays, etc.)
Houses-Structures (gingerbread
houses & candies)
Sculpture (figures
and animals)
Miniatures &
Buttons
Books on Polymer Clay
Covering (pens
& other items)
Stamping
Molds & Powders (metallic
& other)
Letters&Inks &
Finishes
Teaching (for working with kids...in add. to the
"Working with Kids" area below)
On
the General Info. category page
http://www.glassattic.com/polymer/info_letter.htm,
you can also see:
--an overview of all polymer techniques
--polymer groups (online and not-online, beginner and mixed)
--FAQ's & where to find much more information
--supply
sources
ADULT BEGINNERS..... + MISC. for All Beginners
Elizabeth has put many
good suggestions for beginners on her website
(for example, info
about tools, clays, colors, some beads, some fauxs, mokume gane, etc.)
http://thepolyparrot.com/greatstarts.html
(...some of her categories will require Adobe
Acrobat to view)
Kids often don't need any help to take the plunge
...
but for adult beginners it can be a little intimidating... just
not knowing what to do, how to start, etc.
......When you're
new, I think there's such a thing as getting too much input, actually...heck,
I'm not new to it, any more, but I still feel overwhelmed
with ideas for things I want to make! *g* ...
...There's so much stuff to
look at and so many techniques to try!... Might be a good idea to pick just one
area or two that you want to learn, then start with simpler
techniques in the that area and just concentrate on those for a while... the
other techniques will still be around when you've mastered those but they won't
be hanging around in your head causing distraction and making you feel overwhelmed.
...There are so many possibilities with this stuff! . . . so for example,
if you want to do millefiori, start with the easy canes and move on gradually
to the harder ones . . . .if you want to make little figures, start with
those that use simple shapes and detailing and gradually add your own touches,
experimenting all the way; or if you want to make realistic figures, start with
making small studies of heads or hands or legs or whatever using an anatomy book
for reference.. . . .if you want to do household decor items, start with
easy (like stamped-and-pearlex) light switch covers and move up to more complicated
things like boxes. Elizabeth
I'll walk you through the getting-started
process (...wish I was there to hand you a lump of already-conditioned clay; it's
much less scary)
..... Put something on your tablel ike parchment paper or
a smooth glazed ceramic tile (I get mine at Home Depot) or the glass out of an
old picture frame. Wash your hands. Pick out a package of clay. . . . . OPEN THE
PACKAGE!
... Poke the clay. Isn't it beautiful, almost glowing in its pristine
block? It feels kind of firm, doesn't it?
....Snap off a quarter block or
so (don't get hung up on measurements) and start rolling it between your hands.
Notice that the friction and the heat of your body warms the clay (just keep rollling
and bending it until it doesn't crack when a log of it is bent unto a U-shape).
... My most important instruction to you is to play with the clay!
Polymer clay has unique tactile and tensile qualities that you can only learn
through manipulating the medium. You don't have to make something right away.
Give your hands some time to build up body memory of how to make the clay move.
Pretty soon, you'll find yourself opening to the clay. There's a six-year-old
inside you who remembers playing with dough. Let her out, and she'll make sure
you make something WONDERFUL! Nance
BOOKS/VIDEOS... CLASSES ....GROUPS esp. for beginners
books & videos
See Books
& Videos page for
all polymer books... but on that page you'll also see:
...more
books than listed below which are esp. suitable for beginners
...many shorter books like from publishers like Hot Off The
Press, etc.
...many regular polymer books also have things
in them suitable for kids, especially older kids, and beginners
... many
reviews of the books and videos
for many videos/DVDs
that can be rented, see also Books &
Videos
Here are just a few full length books:
Fast
Polymer Clay: Speedy Techniques and Proje cts
for Crafters in a Hurry, by Sue Heaser (small whimsical projects), 2004?
...
(50 or more whimsical creations) ...projects can be completed in an hour
....Miniature
dollhouse accessories, Faux jade pendant,Mosaic barrette, Bookworm bookmark, Inlay
picture frame, Fridge magnets, Stamped cards, etc....step-by-step instructions,
tips and tricks for beginning and advanced clayers
... The first third of the
book shows basic techniques for working with polymer clay. The instructions are
simple and there plenty of pictures for each technique. The rest of the book is
devoted to small, quick projects... sherylnd
"Create Anything With Clay"--the 2nd Klutz Press clay
activity book -- by Sherri Haab, Laura Torres, (June 99)
... comes with 6-8
half-bars of Sculpey (usually available at kids’ educational toy
stores, craft stores, bookstores, Walmart? ...amazon.com, e-bay
All kinds
of fairly simple projects: Snow Globes. Picture Frames. Fossils. Gift
Tags. Rock Art. Itty Bitty Hardback Books. Letter Beads. Dollhouse Furniture.
Clay Pictures....also have "One Ball Buddies" --little critters made
from one small (no bigger than 1") balls of clay, with little bits added
on to make the balls into critters
-----also their 1st Klutz Press
book for kids, “The Incredible Clay Book,” by Sherry Haab & Laura Torres
Got Clay
Can Play, by Garie Sim, 2006 ... $10.99 + shipping
($5 to US)
( ...emphasis on fun, using recycled objects, "science"
& experimenting, developing a creative eye & spirit, etc... kids or
adults)
...materials, tools & "add-ons," basic shapes ....why
play with clay?
...static items ...dinosaur (using film canister armature),
pencil holder (bunny scene), porcupine with quills, ladybug paperweight, robot
(jointed arms/legs --flex.straws & clay)
...motion
items : water globe (rainbow & dog inside), mobile (with pteranodons),
flipping dog (around swing), volcano (can make it "explode"), suspended
bear "dances" at end of line, submersible submarine with magnet inside,
"framed" shallow-box aquarium (with magnetic fish, also movable on clear
suspension strings)
http://www.garieinternational.com.sg/clay/book_promo.htm
Kids' Crafts
- Polymer Clay by Irene Semanchuck Dean ... all
kinds of projects for kids and tweens
http://www.good-night-irene.com/KidsBook.html
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1579903509/ref=ase_goodnightiren-20/104-9652300-4746300
Clay
Characters for Kids, by Maureen Carlson http://tinyurl.com/6b424
...I
just got this book today and it's really terrific - I think kids are going
to love it, a lot of adults too.
Maureen creates 30 critters and creatures
that range from simple to quite complex. If sculpting is a mystery to you, this
helps you see how easily a complex figure can be broken down into shapes
that are easy to form. After you get the basic figure done, then you can take
it in your own directions. She even shows you how to accomplish different moods
with poses and facial expression..... lots of great basic info about
colors, color mixing, making shapes, combining shapes, changing expressions,
etc. ...Tons of beautiful pictures, very clearly written directions and fantastical
stories told along the way - she's amazing, she is! Elizabeth
....she
also has a color wheel made up of little sculpted fish...
http://www.pcpolyzine.com/0203march/hia.html
...this video can also be rented for one week ($5) from:
http://capg.zoovy.com/c=ktru0ccjwdGOqyBOt23za2D8G/product/VID079
(.....also
any books on figures and faces by Maureen Carlson)
Creating Fantasy Polymer Clay Characters,
(sculpting funny characters --more complicated) by Dinko Tilov (March
2004)
step by step lessons for trolls, wizards, dragons, goblin, knights,
skeletons, a Santa, a generic guy, and other weird characters
...I have
been working on a how-to book on sculpting funny characters..... will be about
12 projects in it (very detailed, I've tried not to skip anything) . . . . Dinko
http://book.dinkos.com (should be a great
book!... his people and animals definitely appeal to kids -- and grown kids--
nd he's a good teacher)
many
shorter, project books published by Hot Off The Press &
Design Originals ...... 20-pages or so, with many projects ... most
are cute characters
...http://www.craftpizazz.com/
(MUST ENTER polymer clay in the search box, then click on each book to
see the cover)
...http://www.d-originals.com/polymer.html
(or some may still be only on the "new" page: http://www.d-originals.com/newjewelry.html)
...http://www.polkadotcreations.com/books/showNOOP.html
(mostly polymer)
.....one of these shorter books shows how to "cover"
2 shapes of papier mache boxes (& lids) from the craft store with clay
, and also sculpt a figure or mini scene to sit on the lid (All Covered
Up!, by Becky Meverden) http://www.polkadotcreations.com/detail_gr9741.html
Making Miniature Villages in Polymer Clay,
by Gail Ritchey,
... "blueprints" for twelve, hand-sized projects
- from cottages to fancy manors, churches, grocery stores, and more. . . how
to landscape dwellings with trees, flowers, fences, stone paths, and other special
touches.
http://www.cottagefever.com
.....http://www.polkadotcreations.com
Don't forget books on bread dough art, Play Doh, and simple earth clay items will definitely give good ideas for polymer clay too.
Kris Richards has two 'Junior Artisan' videos now available thru Mindstorm. I just got her newest one on making boxes (“Goodie Boxes”) and ,"Sculpting Cartoon Critters” .
(may be more good beginner books and videos by now, not listed above, on the Books & Videos page)
For local classes, check local bead stores, art stores, and sometimes craft stores or community centers.
some
teachers register their classes on these pages:
http://www.npcg.org/Education/Classes/classes.html
and http://www.polymerclaycentral.com/teacherindex.html
Krafty Kreations has online beginner lessons
(a MSN site --must join group to attend to these
online classes before they are archived, but free )
http://www.msnusers.com/KRAFTYKREATIONS
Clay Class Message Board (all posts are projects) http://www.msnusers.com/kraftykreationsII/clayclass.msnw
...classes are posted on Tuesdays (beg. Jan. 2003) at 8:00 pm EST,
7:00 CST, 6:00 MST, 5:00 PST
We make all kinds of projects mainly for beginners.
We've done jewelry, holiday ornaments, techniques, dolls,
buttons, and simple clay canes.
The classes are informal and
you may do the project in class or just listen. All class project instructions
are posted after class. So come on and join us. Michele
There are quite a few polymer books and videos, which function like classes too .... plus one advantage of joining a guild is usually a lending library!).... see many above, and also on the Books & Videos page > Books suitable for Beginners)
Sculpey
brand clay now offers a number of Sculpey & Premo kits which
come with a number of bars of clay & instructions
http://www.clayfactory.net/sculpey/skits.htm
.... and .http://www.sculpey.com/Products/products_activitysets.htm
http://wwwsculpey.com/Products/products_samplers.htm
(clay
samplers only... no projects)
Most
polymer discussion groups welcome newcomers, and there are
quite a few of these groups
(see http://www.glassattic.com/polymer/groups--online2.htm
for more info on all the kinds of polymer groups)
You can also see if there is a local polymer guild near you and ask them where classes might be offered (and also join them!... cause they also have classes and you'll learn a lot... again, newbies are welcome).
One
of the online groups, however, bills itself as specifically
for beginners. (It is a free, "mailing list" group sponsored
by Yahoo; after joining, one receives the messages and responds to them
by e-mail. . . new_to_polymer_clay:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/new_to_polymer_clay/
"...we simply try to teach the basics of using polymer
clay, and we also try to direct newbies to projects which tweak their interest
and creativity..." Julie
"We have a very nice mix of clay interests
as well... (Also) each month I find a project or tutorial on the web and post
it as a monthly challenge... members may choose to interpret the challenge in
their own way and post their results in the photos section. Also 4 times a year
(quarterly) we have a swap." Whitney
"We kinda help each other,
what one doesn't know the other does...we have a really good time.."
(73 members)
Poly's Clay Castle... an area of PolymerClayCentral
for kids... it has few photos, lessons, and a message
board
http://www.polymerclaycentral.com/castle/home.html
...and http://forums.delphiforums.com/polysclaycastle/start
(msg.bd)
most info on tools recommended for beginners is on the Tools page, under Beginner Tools
You do NOT have to spend a
fortune on tools and supplies to work with polymer clay!
When
I started out with pc, I had a toothpick and a knife from the kitchen and an empty
butane can for a roller. I didn't even buy a pasta machine for over 3 years. I
still have my butane can more then 7 years later. Kellie
http://www.kelliesklay.com
First of course, buy some clay.
...Personally, I highly recommend
Premo or Kato Polyclay. I am mostly a Premo user, but I am liking the Kato clay,
too. I wouldn't use Sculpey III... while a nice clay for some projects, I found
it lacking in (strength) for jewelry making.
(FimoClassic is strong in thin
areas after baking too... FimoSoft may or may not be. DB)
Next
you'll need a few basic tools.
1) A cutting blade, sometimes a called
a tissue blade. An Exact o knife will work as a substitute in some situations,
but you can't beat a nice sharp blade.
2) A work surface to protect
your counter/table. I use a piece of 1/8" plexiglass, but glass, matt board, self
healing cutting matt, (and other things) will work too.
3) A baking surface.
I use a 4" X 6" ceramic tile. You can work right on it and put it directly into
the oven. Anything you decide to use to bake your clay on should be designated
as a clay only pan. (put a sheet of paper on it to avoid shiny spots though for
smooth tiles. DB)
4) Oven- I use a convection
oven, but toaster ovens and your home oven will do fine. ...a seperate oven thermometer
to check the real temp the oven is heating to is essential. My ovens are all off
from what the knob says. I also tent my clay loosly with aluminum foil to hold
in any residue that may would otherwise build up inside the oven (and also helps
keep them clay from darkening. DB)
5) Embellishments
are fun, but not actually required.
Also, other stuff like Pearl-Ex
and gold leaf add a lot to a simple piece of clay (also using rubber stamps, texture
sheets, molds, etc)
6) Also not required but recommended- cyanoacrylate type
glue (superglues) I use mine all the time. The gel type works best in my
opinion.
7) Yet another "not required" I couldn't live without my pasta
machine.
8) All the info you can get your hands on. :) I highly
recommend surfing the net and reading everything you can find on polymer clay.
www.glassattic.com is a fabulous place to start. I learned everything I know about
clay from the net and watching the Carol Duvall show on HGTV. Tonja
If
you already had an oven and a pasta machine, but no clay, what tools would
you buy for $100?
.... Boy that depends on what you mean to do.
. .
As for clay itself, I find I can never have too much translucent,
black, or white.
For caning, a tissue blade is awfully nice. I
got along for a long time with just carpet knife blades from the hardware store,
but they don't flex like a tissue blade does. Tissue blades run about $2 each.
If you're working with pieces that are rolled out flat for baking, especially
thin ones, a ceramic tile to use as both work surface and baking surface
very handy. I can usually find very plain glazed floor tiles for about a dollar
each at Home Depot.. .
Some sort of glossy clear finish is a good idea.
I use Future floor polish, lots of folks swear by Varathane.
If you're doing
jewelry, you'll probably want to spend some money on the relevant findings.
For sculpture, a couple of fat darning needles and finer gauge aluminum
knitting needles are invaluable. . . .For bigger sculptures, wire and aluminum
foil for armatures. . . Depending on your approach, the suggestion of books
for technique and inspiration is a great idea, too. On the other hand, with patience
and a high speed connection, you can find a lot of technique and inspiration information
on the web these days.
...So much depends on where you want to go
with it . Personally I love having a lot of materials to play with too:
.....rubber
stamps, interference, mica, & glitter powders, feathers, seed beads, telephone
wire, stuff to cover, acrylic paints for antiquing and faux effects, metal foils,
shrink plastic, metal charms, buttons, natural objects to make molds from.
. . . It might be worth getting an idea of a few techniques you specifically want
to try and basing your purchases on those, and then expand later. Ulrika
Generally,
the most expensive item for polymer clay is a pasta machine. These are
not absolutely necessary though.
...Less expensive (and less-sturdy)
ones can be purchased from Michaels, etc. ...these are made in the Far East --such
as the Amaco-- as opposed to Italy. These will work fine for beginners and most
clayers though, as long as they're taken care of properly (mostly involving not
putting in hard or large blobs of clay without thinning or softening first).
...Pasta
machines do allow one to much more quickly and easily do certain things
though like:
condition clays, mix colors, mix in inclusions, and make flat
sheets, as well as do special techniques like the "Skinner blend.
...Many
clayers who end up doing a lot of claying will often eventually purchase an Italian-made
machine, and perhaps even a motor for it though... the first machine can also
come in very handy for taking to classes, letting kids use, using only for white
or transcluent clay, etc.
Try just walking around looking at things (at your house, garage sales, stores) as though you are an alien, totally clueless as to what this stuff really is used for....and you will see potential in things you hadn't noticed before (for using with polymer clay). Sarajane Helm
FEW SIMPLE PROJECTS for beginners
If have some
cutters and a pasta machine (or roller) though, one fun first thing to begin with
when you haven't had much experience with clay is to cut out shapes
from plain or patterned clay sheets with cutters (med. or small ones).
...You can put a hole in the top (by twisting a small straw into the
raw clay) and use as a Christmas ornament, or a pinback on the back,
or an eyepin or flap of clay at the top if you want to use as a pendant,
for example.
...You can even make greeting cards by gluing these shapes
onto folded over cardstock or construction paper.
...They can be embellished
further, if you want, by onlaying all kinds of things as well, if you want
...if they are little animals, for example, a tiny eye or molded bit of clay could
be added for additional interest. (see more on all this below in "Cutters")
Another
advantage of doing this is that you can experiment with many different techniques,
then use any of them (flattened if they're not already flat), to cut the shapes
from
....(for example, marbled sheets, striped sheets, "dragged-lines"
sheets, crackled leaf sheets, mokume gane, cane slices and bits
of clay rolled into the sheets, or actual cane slice sheets, etc.,
etc.!)
Stamping is another easy and cool thing for a beginner. Just
impress the raw clay with a dry stamp (....or just any object ...maybe
a fork tip, pencil eraser, screwdriver end, old button, or something flat like
sandpaper or plastic needlepoint sheets, etc.). Then cut it out.
...or even
better "highlight" it with a metallic powder (Pearl Ex) if you have
some by running your powdered finger lightly over just the top, or bake and then
"antique" your impression with brown acrylic paint (tube types are best,
but any should work) by rubbing it all over and in the impressions, letting it
dry a bit, then wiping off just the topmost areas with a damp paper towel, etc.
Making molds from clay, and/or making clay pieces using clay or other molds, is also easy and great fun. Molds cane made from single items, parts of items, patterns from any textured item you might have around, etc., and are quite addictive! The molded clay pieces can then be used in many ways... as simple onlays onto other clay or onto other objects, pendants, etc., or they can be used to make beads, they can be highlighted, etc., as with stamped clay, and much more.
You might also want to take a look at my page on Books and Videos (there's a Beginner Books section there), and sometimes it can be good to just pick a project from a book or online and do it (even if it doesn't come out perfect) just to get familiar with some of the techniques and steps.
If made small enough, most techniques can be turned into
tiny ornaments for a tiny tree, or attached to a needleworked
image or scene
...Missy's tiny sculpted
(or molded) shapes attached to needlepoint scene (Halloween tree) ...pumpkins,
cat, witch, ghost, bat, spider made as buttons
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/miss_meme_30/detail?.dir=d8c9&.dnm=53bf.jpg
If you have a clay gun, make sure your clay is soft enough, and then perhaps try some Balinese Filigree... or just onlay some ropes next to each other onto a base sheet of clay, then cut a shape with your cutter or just cut the shape with a blade. These look great when highlighted with metallic powders too. (see Clay Guns page for more details)
other WEBSITES with lots
of projects
& basic polymer info
You
can find a large number of project lessons for polymer clay at several of the
TV, craft store, magazine or e-zine websites, as well
as collections of links at some individual clayers' websites (not all
projects may not be for beginners though).
....many of these also have
separate pages or areas for explaining basic info. about polymer
clays, etc.
sculpey.com (website for Polyform
clays --Sculpeys & Premo) ...projects & polymer info
...projects (must
use .htm) http://www.sculpey.com/projects.htm
....and http://www.sculpey.com/tutorials.htm
HGTV (Home & Garden TV channel).....hundreds of projects & polymer
info ( simple to complex)
...mostly from programs such as Carol
Duvall & That's Clever (used to be Crafters Coast to Coast), etc
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/cr_clay/0,1788,HGTV_3236,00.html
(keep clicking on "More" under each category)
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/crafting/article/0,,HGTV_3352_2000136,00.html
...or go to Advanced Search... select either Carol Duvall
Show or That's Clever, then use polymer clay as search
term
Michaels (craft store)...
projects & info
http://www.michaels.com/art/online/search?page=1&keywords=polymer+clay&type=4
http://www.michaels.com/art/online/search?page=1&keywords=polymer+clay&type=3
PCPolyzine (the free, online polymer "e-zine")...projects
(& all articles)
http://www.pcpolyzine.com/tutorials.html
...(and http://www.pcpolyzine.com )
Polymer
Clay Central ..... many projects & swaps
http://polymerclaycentral.com/masterindex.html]
http://polymerclaycentral.com/pcc/swapindex.html
Fimo's
website (by Eberhard Faber, maker of Fimo) ...many projects, but not many full
lessons
http://www.eberhardfaber.com/FIMO_copy6.EBERHARDFABER?ActiveID=17184
(3rd window has a drop-down
menu with 5-6 categories, each of which has a number of projects for jewelery,
household objects, lanterns/vases, gifts, seasonal items)
Garie Sim's website:
http://www.garieinternational.com.sg/clay
COLLECTIONS OF LINKS to PROJECTS
Garie
Sim's blog
http://www.gariesim.blogspot.com
Laurie's
links to many different projects
http://www.geocities.com/turkeymama/UPCG/tutorials.html
Kim Kennedy's links to many different projects,
etc.
http://www.beadyeyedbrat.com
Projects by technique, theme
see
much more on these pages as well
http://www.glassattic.com/polymer/Books_on_Polymer_Clay.htm
http://www.glassattic.com/polymer/sculpture.htm
http://www.glassattic.com/polymer/heads_masks.htm
http://www.glassattic.com/polymer/sculpting_body_and_tools.htm
http://www.glassattic.com/polymer/armatures_mesh_PVC.htm
http://www.glassattic.com/polymer/miniatures.htm
(for
whole scenes, see below in Scenes & Dioramas")
Sculpting with polymer clays can be very simple or very complex.. funny or elegant... in short, any way you want it!
A good place to start, particularly for making
figures, may be making shapes.... actually, everything in
life is made of those shapes.
.....some basic shapes:
balls, oval balls, cones, teardrops, cubes, short logs, long ropes, coils...etc.
. . each could be flattened too for disks, pads, etc.
....once
you've started doing these, you may very well "see" something ...like a teddy
bear made of balls and discs with a cone for a party hat.
You can also use
many other materials like wire, feathers, paper, metal, etc.,
with polymer clay sculpts...(just remember there are some things you can't
bake along with the clay,
those which can't stand at least 275 degree heat --some
plastics will melt or warp, for example.).
This is called "mixing media."
...For example, you might
want to add accessories like a hat or jewel to an item sculpted with clay,
or you might want to embed the other materials into the clay (..if they non-bakable,
simply press the item where you'll want it, then remove it to bake clay and glue
back in afterwards).
....Jeannette's "grungy snowman" with
wire, and face painted or markered on (not clay but easily
could be)
http://photos.yahoo.com/primitivedragon
(click on "Primitive")
(...see much more on incorporating
other materials, see Mixing Media)
(...see
which materials can be baked in Covering)
To
save clay so the clay you have will last longer, you can use a tightly
crumpled ball or other shape of aluminum foil as an “armature”
underneath a covering of clay (especially for larger items... or smaller
ones)... though other materials can be used under the clay too
....just press
a wad of crumpled foil to the approx. size and shape you want, and make sure it’s
well compressed (can even hit with a hammer)... then cover with
a layer of clay ...and bake, or embellish it more and bake.
...frilled-neck
lizard probably using an alum. foil armature http://www.saxarts.com/projects/html/fimo.html
DB: add my tiny wizard
edible
candy dough (make or buy) can be sculpted or molded or caned,
then eaten --see below in More (Various)
...also "gummy"
"clay" kits
For our purposes here, "sculpting" will refer to creating figures and animals, of course, but also to other things which don't need a particular additional technique (like metallic powders or transfers) .......for example making flowers or mini-foods.
mixed
websites
(most are figures)
*Dinko’s
(lesson) on funny bird
http://www.polymerclaycentral.com/castle/lesdinkobird.html
*Dinko’s crazy critters
http://www.polymerclaycentral.com/dinko1.html
Dinko’s home page
http://www.geocities.com/EnchantedForest/Cottage/2780/
*birds-with-teeth swap (based on Dinko's bird)
http://www.polymerclaycentral.com/swap_bwt1.html
buttonarcade's simple little
1 1/2" tall "monsters" (screaming with teeth,
or with backpack)
http://photobucket.com/albums/v237/buttonarcade
simple
fun & colorful amorphous figures ("monsters" with a heart"
by ultimately-his-angel
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b88/ultimately_his_angel/monsters.jpg
many simple but
creative polymer critters... all kinds
http://www.flickr.com/photos/82516008@N00/sets/72157594402099554
Domicreative's
weird little 2-ball creatures --with added metal and wire
pieces (for eyes, antennas, etc.)
http://domicreative.canalblog.com/archives/pate_polymere_objet/index.html
Kraugomi's
weird little creature heads (often w ith stIcking-out parts), created
on the end of a bolt... most of bolt visible, but nut screwed on
bottom to make a stand under head (...and one is a chicken body,
with bolt for legs and feet?)
http://monsite.wanadoo.fr/kraugomi
...for more, click on http://monsite.wanadoo.fr/kraugomi/page4.html
Blueman's
scary-funny head with many sticking-out clay rods wrapped loosely
with wire... small cone of clay on end of each wire
http://www.gibe.org/blue/menu.html
(must
click on "Galerie," under Le modelage de la pate fimo)
Jenny's
simple chunky shapes with eyes (website
gone)
Karen's
Featherbutts ...funny birds made with eggs to which clay feet, eyes and
nose attached, and real feathers stuck onto bodies (wings, tail,
and crest)
http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=4027299&uid=2076171
Garie
Sim's "currypuffs" (stuffed pastry rolls like turnovers, empanadas,
piroshki,etc) with faces (for animated TV commercial)
http://www.garieinternational.com.sg/art/animation/1a_animation.htm
Jan R's simple critters and angels for BOH (some like
crazy Mr. Potato Heads)
http://www.mindspring.com/~janruh/clay/boh.htm
Bond
Kelly Clay's lesson on making a simple face and leaves on
an eggplant shape (use polymer clay & bake)
http://www.bcsgc.com/k1002.htm
Becky's lesson on making a simple baby in blanket
http://www.hgtv.com/HGTV/project/0,1158,CRHO_project_27146,FF.html
Becky's
lesson
on making a sock monkey (Carol Duvall show)
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/cr_clay_figures/article/0,1789,HGTV_3237_1387052,00.html
Cindy's simple funny sculpted colored
heads
http://www.geocities.com/claycrazy1/original.html
Cindy's
very simple faces with onlay features and wire spiral hair
http://www.geocities.com/claycrazy1/buttons.html
Peggy O's mushroom people--- mushroom cap on sculpted
head on mushroom stem, on feet-toes sticking out at bottom
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/scadventurer2001/my_photos
(click on "Enchanted Mushrooms" in alphabetical order)
Marie
S's animals,
people, flowers,
letters,!
(first 5 Old Stuff pages?)
http://www.clayfactory.net/marie/oldstuff.htm
http://www.clayfactory.net/marie/oldstuff.htm
http://polymerclaycentral.com/marie_retro3.html
(some closer up)
http://polymerclaycentral.com/marie_retro4.html)
very simple heads
(similar to mine--and bodies) wearing simple hats and other head wear,
holding hearts, flowers or lollipops, on Jan's page
http://www.mindspring.com/~janruh/clay/b3.jpg
Ruth's
simple faces, hair, etc. at the end of large paperclips
http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=4218486&a=31279335&p=68441887
good lesson on basics of
making a "dressed" body (wouldn't
have to be a Frankenstein) (same for polymer clay)
http://www.makinsclay.com/US/eng/project_gallery/seasonal/halloween07.htm
*HelenClayArt's very cute figures (animals, etc.),
including hobby horse head ornament
http://www.homestead.com/HelensClayArt/openingpage.html
PowerPuff
Girls (simple cartoon figures)
http://www.garieinternational.com.sg/clay/power_gang.htm
Artful's
simple figure characters (head and cone body only...sometimes arms-legs,
accessories added )
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=217174.msg2335373#msg2335373
...Harry
Potter figures, simple painted faces (no mouths) http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y279/shiritsu/m3.jpg
...Capt.
Jack Sparrow http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y279/shiritsu/m5.jpg
wonderful
simple ballerinas in tutus, by Tresa (with a bit of netting added)
http://www.garieinternational.com.sg/clay/mini-fashion/ballerina.htm
Flo's
tiny simple clowns made by bending a marbled log in half
& pinching top (for body & legs), then adding arms, ruff, head and shoes
http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=297873&uid=155794
Bond
Kelly Clay's lesson on making clown (leave off pounch in front);
use polymer clay and bake
http://www.bcsgc.com/a1001.htm
Marcy's
clowns with different colors and embellishments for each component
(large teardrop shapes... 2 for "body"...1 for each arm, leg,
shoe... ruffled collar, hat)
http://www.marcysclaypen.com/clown/clown.html
Becky
M's Wizard of Oz figures on "shoe"
http://www.polymercafe.com/feat_of_clay/meverden.html
Barcy's short character people
http://www.sizewise.com/barcy.html
*JeanneCook: West, fancy & not
http://www.mdpag.org/cook.htm
*Pat-nipntuck's
tiny clothed figures, pigs, etc.) (website gone)
Calvin’s various sculptures, etc. (website
gone)
my
(mostly simple) animal and people heads (DB
add...website gone)
very small figures + figures made with wire, etc: ....... (see
many more in Sculpting Body
> Bendy, Jointed, & Abstract)
Sue Heaser's lesson
for seated tiny petal fairy (over one wire)
http://polymerclaycentral.com/pcc/suefairy.html
Shelly's
lesson on small simple angel, with fabric-clay for a dress
http://www.sculpey.com/Projects/projects_littleangel.htm
one-piece-body ....angel with wings
http://home.earthlink.net/~firstimpress/index-15.html
lesson
on simple angel figures with gifts
http://www.makinsclay.com/US/eng/project_gallery/seasonal/xmas03.htm
Michelle
R's lesson on making a small body from twisted wire (wood bead
head)... filling it out with scrap white clay... dressing with cane-slices
top (probaly disk, w/ slash to center), a textured/highlighted skirt
piece, and a belt? to gather top ... hair is loops of embroidery floss
gathered in the wire above head, trimmed at ends
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/crafting/article/0,1789,HGTV_3352_1399700,00.html
macaroni
monsters (jointed figures/animals on pipe cleaners).... tube
beads could substitute for the pasta pieces, though
http://familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts/season/feature/famf97project/famf97project22.html
lesson on figure from pipe cleaner
http://www.mcuniverse.com/Miniature_Figure.668.0.html
Garie's
lesson on making a fluffy bear with bump pipe cleaners
http://www.garieinternational.com.sg/clay/furry_stems.htm
many
more animals by Garie with pompoms, pipe cleaners, and eyes,
ears, feet, etc. attached to the the pompons
http://www.garieinternational.com.sg/clay/furry.htm
http://www.garieinternational.com.sg/clay/furry_ball.htm
Emi
Fukusima's lesson on making a figure from twigs and yarn,
then dressing it in polymer clothes
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/crafting/article/0,,HGTV_3352_2014206,00.html
Marcia
Rocha's funny sculptures using clay & wire (animals, people, things)
http://www.funnysculptures.com/sculpture.html
You can make jointed flat figures (like paper dolls or puppets)
with button-type polymer disks instead of the traditional paper
fasteners at the joints (puppets could be paper or flat polymer clay). Make two
holes in each disk, then thread a u-shaped bent wire through the holes and the
corresponding body holes of both, from front to back; twist wire in back, and
trim off ends.
......here is one template: http://www.ruthannzaroff.com/mirkwooddesigns/images/paperdoll.gif
Chris
Gluck's lesson on making funny, simple bugs (could be people) coiled
colored wires for arms/legs
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/cr_kid_crafts/article/0,1789,HGTV_3256_1385790,00.html
Julie's lesson on making jointed kid figures for pins ("Kidz
Pinz")
http://members.aol.com/wise1j/page1.html
various
sculpting lessons at Josh's website (dangles,
covering balls, figures, etc.)
http://joshclay.com/projects.html
Beth's lesson for a tiny jointed figure (fishing
snap swivels) (website gone)
Melnik’s simple small figures, some with dangles (website
gone)
Garie's
lesson on making a clothespin, wire loops, and toilet
roll holder (?) to make a small jointed puppet
http://www.garieinternational.com.sg/clay/clip2.htm
Garie's 2" bear jointed marionette
puppet, held with thin nylon filament and a T arrangement of popscicle sticks
http://www.garieinternational.com.sg/clay/bear-puppet.htm
Lynelle's jointed figures (marionnettes?)
http://members.aol.com/lynellev/catgallery.htm
Jan's bird marionette
http://www.mindspring.com/~janruh/clay/bird.jpg
Christel's lesson on making a "rabbit"
hair holder, using elastic for holding the hair and also for the
dangly feet and hands (16” total elastic)
http://www.pcpolyzine.com/0203march/rabbit.html (click on any photo to see enlargement)
http://home.online.no/~raje/Web/Rabbit/full/2002_0201_202602BB.JPG (rabbits, with clothing)
Raggedy
Ann and Andy websites for examples (not clay)
http://www.pineblossomswebpages.com/raggedyjanet/raggedylinks.shtml
....Raggedy
Ann paperdoll figure + clothes
http://www.pineblossomswebpages.com/raggedyjanet/rapaperdolls.shtml
(CHRISTMAS & WINTER)
*Adorables' dogs, cats, animals, xmas/thanksgiv/Easter/Hallow., flowers, fish,
frames, barrettes
http://www.lavendera.com/Adorables/adorables%20front%20page.htm
*Holbrook--FaLaLa,santas,snowmen,angel earring,more
http://members.tripod.com/~mmholbrook/index.html
*Tamila Darling, figures, xmas
http://members.aol.com/darlinclay/index.html
*Jan Ohio's snowpeople (for different
occasions, seasons)
http://www.jjacksondesigns.homestead.com/Snowpeople.html
Ria's
Pooh,
etc.,
gifts, on top of glass xmas balls
http://dragonmagic.nl/
(gone)
many ornaments (hobbies, etc.) bas
relief sculpting
http://www.personalizedfree.com/
Garie's glass "display globe"
baby food jar (over Pokemon and Astro figures)
http://www.garieinternational.com.sg/clay/kid%27s_globe/zt_pikachu.htm
.......see below for BUGS & other animals...........
(more on human figures
(see
most figures in Websites
just above)
Some sculpts (particularly
figure that aren't very large at the bottom stand just fine before baking, but
fall over after removing from the oven.
....generally that's because the stickiness of the raw clay holds the
bottom to the baking surface just a bit, giving it an extra helping hand... once
it's hardened on the bottom, that bit of help is gone.
...or the sculpt could
tilt because clay softens a bit when it's heated, and could lean
a little to the heaviest side while baking, then cool in that position.
To avoid those things, you can:
...be an engineer, and create
a "very" well balanced piece
...put a base on the bottom (make
sure the base is wide enough, or at least shaped to counterbalance any extending
or heavy areas of the sculpt)
...put most of the weight in the bottom half
of the sculpt ... or have it be really short
...have the sculpt
sit, hang, or lounge, etc. rather than standing
...have it hold
onto, lean against, or touch something else that's stable
...use an "armature" or strengthener --often a wire or rod
of some kind is enclosed mostly in one or both legs, then the free end is inserted
into a base of some kind, often with a little glue too
(......for more complicated
sculpts, there's usually a wire or other armature throughout the whole
figure)
To fix a baked figure that won't stand, you can:
..... add a base (use a bit of liquid clay if possible, alsowith a dab
of superglue to hold it temporarily)... once I did this with just a simple thick
oval clay sheet, embellished with a few rolled roses and leaves
near the feet.
....... can also add an armature (prob. by drilling a
hole for a wire, etc., in the foot). Diane B.
...when they decide to tumble
on me, I can either sand the bottom..... or I add more clay to make
them even (then rebake). anniep
heads
. . . for figures
There are many ways you could
go about this, I think! For example, for a head you could:
--make small,
medium, or large heads. The larger you go the more expensive it is, and the
more likely they are to crack (though there are solutions for that).
--go
from very simple features (sometimes even made from the single motion of a paintbrush
handle) to very complex.
--use molds (which you purchase, or create from
an existing sculpture or doll); the mold can also be "distorted" to
create very different faces.
--color the faces with chalks, acrylic paints
or washes, or not at all.
--make and bake eyeballs to be inserted into the
unbaked head, you can paint them, cane them, or sculpt them only.
--sculpt
hair, or add fake hair of many types, or add hats&other accessories,etc
If you have Cernit already, it has a lovely translucence which good skin tones.
If not, I suggest you buy some SuperSculpey (1 lb. green and white box, at Michaels,
etc.). It also has a nice translucence and many people use it for sculpting.
You can probably buy it even cheaper if you try mail order (see my e-mailed info
letter, under supplies).
Another thing to think about is the body.
--Do you want to sculpt the arms and legs too (then use a stuffed fabric
body), or sculpt the whole thing?
-- Do you want to hinge the body parts,
use Flexiclay which is somewhat rubbery, or make the whole thing one solid piece?
--You can also use other materials for the body like pipe cleaners (which can
be dressed--ask me about this if interested), mailing-tape tubes for fingerpuppets,
pre-purchased bodies, hand puppet bodies, flat bodies of clay for pins, etc.
Best of luck --it's a great, fun project! Diane B.
Boots and/or gloves are easier for beginners than making hands and feet; however simple hands can be made from ovals (with or without a narrowed wrist); if desired, fingers and toes can be indicated with indentions, or cut and separated
(for many kinds
of polymer hats, shoes, purses, etc., see Sculpting-Bodies
> Fabric & clothes)
....not polymer, but could be used
on polymer figures ....hats made from shrinking foam-type
cups in oven... place cup upsidedown on cookie sheet and bake in
oven at 350 for 1 to 1 1/2 min. (different baking lengths
= diff. results)
......scrunched alum foil inside the hat will keep
it larger (or in certain areas)... pill bottle filled with weight can be
placed inside for more stability
......options (before baking):
cut top band off cup, or cut with decorative scissors, cut cup in half; paint
or stamp with acrylic/water-based materials, glue on tiny baked polymer flowers,
etc.
......heads under hats: bake cup over rolled-up and taped 3x4" cylinder
of cardstock or construction paper with face drawn on it, or paint face on an
egg and do the same .. http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/cr_paper_crafts_origami/article/0,,HGTV_3293_1370963,00.html
and http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/crafting/article/0,1789,HGTV_3352_1396182,00.html
Kris
Richards' lesson on making flat "Polydollys"at
Sculpey site...(or any cut-out shape). . . she:
--creates jellyrolls
and stacks of clay (for stripes)
--cuts out a shape of solid
color clay with a cookie cutter, or paper pattern & xacto blade
--onlays variously-shaped slices of the jellyroll and stripe canes
onto the solid body (somewhat puzzle style, but some bits are 3 layers thick rather
than 2)
--adds pressed-down balls of flesh clay for head and hands,
and 2 seed beads for eyes
--her different-pattern puzzle pieces
are: shoes, pant legs, upper pants, belt, shirt, (vest), collar/buttons, arms,
& hats or hair...also cuffs at ankles, wrists, on hats
(--she makes pins
or frig magnets from them, but could be used for anything)
(--good lesson
on making jellyroll/spiral and striped canes there too)
http://www.sculpey.com/Projects/projects_PolyDollys.htm
Judy's lesson on making a toy polymer acrobat
figure from diff. baked clay pattern pieces
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/cr_clay_figures/article/0,1789,HGTV_3237_2831708,00.htm
Irene C's lesson on making jointed arms and legs
with snaps http://www.polymerclayhaven.com/lessons/joints.htm
(gone)
Dawn's Dolly Dangles . . The dolly is
built over a clothespin, the hair is SoftFlex wire, and I'm trying to decide what
kind of wings to put on, feathers or gauze? . . . The hardest part was keeping
the dress "ballooned" out; they're based on a ceramic bell ornament,
and the legs swing freely, so having a bell-shape for the dress was imperative.
I basically rolled up a tube of clay that was too large, then very carefully squashed
the top back together around the clothespin...that's why she got a big collar
- I had to cover up the fingerprints!! Dawn S. (website
gone)
family.com's worry dolls, using a round
head clothespin and 1" lengths of halved craft sticks for arms . .
. could easily use polymer clay instead of fabric, yarn, etc.
http://family.go.com/crafts/famf/worrydoll/
Marcia
B’s lesson on making a tiny wire body with head of wrapped wire, hair of
embroidery floss, and a polymer cane slice wrapped around (square orientation)
for a dress
http://www.rubberart.com/classes/class6_people.html
robots,
monsters, characters, Pokemon, critters,
Mr. Potato Head, amulets, etc.
Garie's
"DeBug" over a ping pong ball (see Covering
> Plastics >More Plastics)
http://www.garieinternational.com.sg/clay/debug.htm
slug-like
and other alien creatures
http://www.geocities.com/~uncialle/alihauntpage.html
(for
good info on making a "dressed" body and simple
but scary face that could be not-green, see
lesson on Frankenstein figure above in Sculpting > Figures
> More Websites)
(see
more in Halloween > Skulls,Aliens, etc...
and > Things in a Bottle...... and in Bugs, critters below)
for many funny little "monsters" and other "critters", see above in Mixed Websites (under Sculpting)
robots...
...many
robots from movie The Robots would be interesting to make with all clay,
or clay with other things like bolts, plastic domes, wire, etc.
....http://www.redbrick.dcu.ie/help/reference/vrml/vrml97/images/robot.jpg
(could also be done with ping pong balls)
...Garie's
Marsbot (like R2D2) http://www.garieinternational.com.sg/clay/making_mbot.htm
...Garie's
cambot ... could be mostly polymer http://www.garieinternational.com.sg/clay/cambot.htm
...see
Garie's hanging robot with spring for neck below under Nodders
...(Garie
a also has also has lesson on robot with short lengths of flexible straws as
joints in his book Got Clay Can Play (see Books above)
...fashionruler's
robot with dangling joints...joints made with 2 eyepins...head/body/legs/feet
as 4 units... arm is 3 unit but wrist is a stiff.
joint
http://harlejm.blogdrive.com/archive/11.html
Pokemon-related
things, made by Garie's students
...Pokemon characters ...and
also Pokemon play structures & scenes http://www.garieinternational.com.sg/clay/gallery.htm
...more Pokemon critters http://www.garieinternational.com.sg/clay/u_channel2.htm
http://www.garieinternational.com.sg/clay/neumon.htm
...Pokemon
creature in bas relief "picture" http://www.garieinternational.com.sg/clay/gallery8.htm
(middle of page)
...Pokeballs (ping pong balls covered with clay,
with onlaid eyes, added ears, etc.)
http://www.garieinternational.com.sg/clay/pinponballs.htm
(click on picture of yellow & blue critters)
......for
some of his round Pokemon creatures, Garie first paints ping
pong balls ...then adds baked clay for legs, arms, and onlays http://www.garieinternational.com.sg/clay/about3.htm
.....(for covering a ping pong ball with clay and baking --ball will shrink
inside-- see Covering > Plastics > Other
Plastic Items)
...Picachu under a glass baby food jar as a display
globe (...also over space figure .. Astrobottle)
http://www.garieinternational.com.sg/clay/kid%27s_globe/zt_pikachu.htm
...all Pokemon (pocket monsters) http://www.garieinternational.com.sg/clay/pokemon.htm
see also PowerPuff Girls http://www.garieinternational.com.sg/clay/power_gang.htm
various
simple figures and critters by SleepyTortuga (these are actually
painted white clay)
http://s228.photobucket.com/albums/ee312/SleepyTortuga/?action=view¤t=DSC05121.jpg
Artful's
simple figure characters (head and cone body only...sometimes arms-legs,
accessories added )
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=217174.msg2335373#msg2335373
...Harry
Potter figures, simple painted faces (no mouths) http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y279/shiritsu/m3.jpg
...Capt.
Jack Sparrow http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y279/shiritsu/m5.jpg
make interchangeable Mr. Potato
Head type pieces (eyes, nose, mouth, ears, hat, collar, or any
other accessory)... did one of the Klutz Press books do this?
...stick
each into a baked head you've made with a hole for each of the units
...or
stick them into mini-pumpkins, or any other hard squashes
...make each
unit over a small-nail head, tack, or brad
...could also use with kid to identify
emotions?
many small flattish amulet-type
figures from the Mile High Guild (based on Rosemary's "Little Babies")
http://www.mhpcg.org/clayDays/claydays01/jan2001/January2001/index.htm
nodders
& bobbleheads, etc.
items with springs
DEFINITIONS
There
are two types of figures where the head moves around somewhat freely from
the body mechanically:
“nodders”
... a little sculpture, with the head or possibly another part, free to move
around at the end of a simple vertical spring
bobbles
(or bobbleheads)...these have a bit more complicated mechanism
(...this
type also has the head on the end of a horizontal mechanism so
the head facing forward from the body,
where a nodder's head is on the end of a vertical spring and sits
on top of a body)
(though
"nodders" are often referred to as bobble heads)
...these could be human, animal, or anything at all
...the parts
that move could be things other than heads (upper bodies... antennae...
eyeballs... even entire bodies, etc.)
NODDERS:
......these are so much fun to make!
......I just buy my springs
at the hardware store. There is no name on them. They have drawers full of them.
.......... just pick springs that aren't too
stiff so you'll get a good 'nod' !
...using a thinner spring resulted in
more of a floppy head than a bobbling head.
Pohuaki
...part of the spring can be hidden in a fixed neck,
with the rest of the spring inside part of the head
..... can
create a large depression in head , or make head hollow, or sculpt the clay around
the spring
....for small nodders I make
the bottom with the spring in it, and then sculpt the head right
onto the spring
....I
used the spring from a medium-point BIC Clear Clic pen (for my small
nodder)...it's a bit larger than a couple of others I tried
......Kristy's
kangaroo nodder (baby’s head is on a spring too) DB
add
...for the larger nodders, I use a wood dowel
.......(first
I sculpt the head around the spring)
...... then I create a hole
in the body to place the spring+head into later by putting a dowel in the
body (then removing it and placing on another?) dowel nailed to a board
for baking (....if the spring doesn't fit into the body hole after backing,
you'll have to cut away at the hole some --carefully, as the spring needs to fit
snug). Kristy
this
simpler one is on a long pipe cleaner (formed into a spring?) --and
uses an upturned & papier-mached soda bottle bottom as "head", and
another bottle for body (pipe cleaner was snaked
down and then up out of the bottle, and into a Styrofoam ball --on which the bottle
bottom head rested)
http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/lessons/elem/selfport.htm
(middle of page) ...also lesson
Garie's
slightly scary nodders with visible springs
.... one is an
eyeball on a spring over bottom half of face
.... one eyeball is just
over ankles/feet... also a ghost has clay-covered spring
http://www.garieinternational.com.sg/clay/horror.htm
3 Powder
Puff girls ... each "flying" horizontally on top
of a spring
....they are located on 3 sides of another figure on a
spring ("bad guy" Mojo)... (all springs are secured in same base)
...
so the girls can be made to bang into Mojo on their springs from each side
of him
http://www.garieinternational.com.sg/clay/bashing_jojo.htm
Garie's robot figure hanging
by its head from a wire hanger (has a spring neck)
http://www.garieinternational.com.sg/clay/magastraw.htm
BOBBLES:
...lever
system (think of a seesaw with a child on one end and an adult on the other
end)... also similar to making one balanced arm of a mobile
...
often using a drinking straw (or wood dowel/chopstick or other rod)
connected to the head, which is hanging through a loop or hook
inside the neck (pipe cleaner loop, metal screw hook, key ring, etc...
...Where
is the center of gravity?.
look at 2 possibilities for making the mechanism in closeups near bottom
of this page (one uses a hook, the other a pipe cleaner loop)
http://www2.tltc.ttu.edu/thomas/NSTA/Memories/creativity_in_the_science_classr.htm
& http://tinyurl.com/5nczp
...remember
the turtles whose head and tail wiggled? (bobbled) ...seems
to me there would have to be a hook on the head (neck
end), and a loop inside the upper shell (the
hook was slipped through) for this to work.
Janey
...I have one of those turtles made out of sea shells...You're right
about the hook and the loop
...... plus there's also a heavy counter
balance weight (like a lead weight, screws, washers, AA battery) in
it so that the head can bob freely. Tere
(...can buy a cheap simple bobbing
dog at Walmart to check out e the mechanism)
nodders
or bobblers could be used to wiggle anything at all too... not just heads
for figures
Pam
A's "bobble heads" (made with paperclay and springs) ..some
visible springs, some not... some
not bobbles
http://www.ornamentalley.com/mainframe.htm
(click on Gallery..., then click on Bobbleheads
& Others)
Steve's "bobblehead figure" using a spring
placed over an upturned screw or drill bit? (out of neck) ---top
half of spring free
http://www.bissettdesignstudio.com/cashman.html
... http://www.bissettdesignstudio.com/cashman01.html
...(for more things built with the lever concept, see mobiles in Sculpting > Other Items... and Outdoor Polymer > More Outdoor Items)
birds
made with clay (instead of Model Magic), feathers and pipe cleaners
(feathers are okay in the oven; I think the pipe cleaners are too –careful until
cool—or just make holes in body and glue pipe cleaners in after baking)
http://www.saxarts.com/lessons/html/birds_of_a_feather.html
...(See
PoRRo's birds and witch in Covering below... and more funny birds
above in websites)
many figures &
whimsical owl (with 2-D layered feathers and wire legs)
http://www.pcpolyzine.com/may2001/technique.html
sunni's
lesson on making an owl with very large eyes
http://members.spree.com/sip/sunnidaze/me/tutes2/owltute02.html
chicken ...& other animal faces
...(these also have leather thong "dangly legs)
(chicken is made over
a small glass bulb to save clay, but could be an aluminum foil ball, or just be
smaller)
http://www.eberhardfaber.com/Comic_Chickens.EBERHARDFABER?ActiveID=17200
(other animals in dropdown menu)
cute red crabs and starfish with eyes (at fimoland page above with sheep)...slightly crossed eyes black dots on top of black disks
cute seal on top
of terra cotta pot "igloo" ...could be made with polymer
instead of Model Magic
.... cover pot with clay (see Covering
>Terra Cotta) or paint it... make seal from clay
http://www.michaels.com/art/online/projectsheet?pid=c00053
...penguin
family with igloo .. could make a hollow igloo by covering
half of a glass ball or lightbulb with a sheet of white clay, but cut out a U
shaped door hole in one side
......(could impress lines in raw clay
for snow "bricks," or cover with pearly or iridescent
Pearl Ex, or paint with acrylics after baking --possibly adding a bit
of glitter)
......remove clay from ball or bulb after baking cooling... make
tunnel "door" with thick strip of clay placed as an upside
down U in front of door hole
http://www.michaels.com/art/online/projectsheet?pid=20178
..more
animal figures made with clay pots .... http://familycrafts.about.com/od/claypotcrafts/index_r.ht
more
PENGUINS
Kris R's lesson on making a Santa penguin
http://www.sculpey.com/Projects/projects_SantaPenguin.htm
lesson on penguin with sign
http://pcpolyzine.com/0212dec/esteppenguin3.html
(3 pages... this is last
page, with photo)
Linda
WP's lesson on making a seated snowman and penguin sitting on clay "candy
dish"... with scarf, mittens, earmuffs,
and holly vine
http://www.michaels.com/art/online/projectsheet?pid=23141
Linda
W's penguin "note holder" (also snowman, gingerbread boy, etc.)
http://www.polymerclaycentral.com/claypen_holidaydecor.html
more penguins http://www.whimsicalclaycreations.com/Penguins.html
...http://www.whimsicalclaycreations.com/WhimsicalToo.html
(scrap clay penguin covered with cane pattern sheets --lots of translucent
used?? + inclusions)
http://mywebpage.netscape.com/dn537/images/penguin.jpg
Christel's arty whimsical xmas pins magnets (penguin, etc.)
http://home.online.no/~raje/Polymer/pins/christmas.htm
(click to enlarge)
lesson on making penguin
with all-clay egg shape (using 1/2 bar of clay, but could cover an eggshell
or scrunched aluminum foil egg instead of making solid clay)
http://www.michaels.com/art/online/projectsheet?pid=c00139
tallmouse's penguin egg (+snowman,reindeer)... onlays on a wood egg
with many materials, but egg could be covered with polymer http://www.tallmouse.com/projects/xmas/xmaseggs/index.htm
...any figures can be made by attaching only parts of them to glass or plastic
bottles, or to lightbulbs, glass balls, etc. (e.g....eyes, nose,hands/gloves,
feet/shoes, wings, scarves or other accessories... or whole heads etc.)
http://www.amazingmoms.com/htm/christmas_crafts__penguin.htm
(making a penguin from a soda bottle this way)
Laura's
lesson on dog heads --lab type (mini, but could be any size)...one
is 3/4 view
http://tutorials.theclaystore.com/beads-buttons-and-jewelry/dog-earrings-in-polymer-clay
dogs...
swap at PCC (sculpts & canes)
http://www.polymerclaycentral.com/pcc/swapdog.html
Linda
WP's lesson on making a dog on a sled
(made w/ FimoSoft's "Metallic White" clay)
http://www.chasummershow.com/productsheets/dogandbear.pdf
(... to enlarge text,
change the %
to 175 from 125, in
the pdf toolbar window )
lesson
on using aluminum foil to make "sculpt" of entire dog
(could cover with clay as well) ... at FARP
http://elfwood.lysator.liu.se/farp/theart/brukfoil/brukfoil.html
semi-realistic
dogs
http://www.clayvision.com/claypictures.htm
...http://clayvision.net/dog/dogfaqs.htm
bas relief
dog on frame (Puppy Paws Frame, at joann.com.. made with Model Magic, but
same for polymer clay)
http://tinyurl.com/69dz7
Adorables'
cats, dogs, animals, etc.
http://www.lavendera.com/Adorables/adorables%20front%20page.htm
Meowy's
many simple kitties .. all extremeties "pulled"... no joints
http://www.meowy.net/gallery/categories.php?cat_id=29
bas
relief cat on frame http://tinyurl.com/5uc8u
stick
horse toys (stick body for "riding"), ribbon halter (by Marie, Marina)
http://www.marieidraghi.it/immagini/miniature/giocattoli/IMGP1399.JPG
(see more dogs and cats --also horses--
both whimsical and realistic, in:
Sculpting>
Other Items > Animals....also in Websites on that page)
Gail's animals based on HOTP? booklets
http://members7.clubphoto.com/gail412387/435401/owner-8b69.phtml
Heather R's kids & animals
http://members.home.com/claythings/kids.htm
Vanessa's Pigmalion and Bearon
figures (and scenes) (click on both in left column)
http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/vlui255808/FimoInvasion.html
adorable
sheep (sitting) ...white balls (or black balls) placed on a flesh colored
body ball (with bellybutton)... simple heads, ears, feet, black eye beads
http://www.mnemain.com/fimoland/
(click on Galeria, then click on Celia
--then enlarge) (gone)
Naamaza's lesson on making
simple sheep (standing)
http://www.naamaza.com/site/detail/detail/detailDetail.asp?detail_id=98939
Marie
S's lesson on making a bear (...has a cup hook though instead of
legs)
http://www.sculpey.com/Projects/projects_PotHolders.htm
Crafty
Owl's ten minute teddy bear- two minutes for adults! It came
up in the kids' class discussion and several people asked me to post the instructions
(lesson).
To make a bear, make two 'sausage' shapes from clay, cut
the ends off flat and bend into U shapes with the sides just touching or a tiny
bit apart. Put them one on top of the other.These are the four paws, the bear
is sitting on his behind. Make a big ball for the head, and then a smaller ball
for the muzzle - flatten this slightly and put on the lower front of the head.
Mark a mouth on it - I use my fingernail, it a smile shape. Add a little black
ball where the muzzle meets the main head, for the nose, and two little brown
balls flattened with tiry black ones flattened in the middle of them for the eyes.
Take more of the main colour, and make another small ball, flatten it and cut
in half. Take each half, and fold the cut edge in half so that it meets, without
folding the rest of the piece much. This is an ear, place it on the bear's head.
Add a little ball for the tail, if you like. . . . Can be made to hold something,
or to have space for a cake candle. To make it a christmas bear,
use a semi-circle or so of red clay to make a cone shape for a hat, fold over
and add a white ball to the tip. Have him hold a 'wrapped package'. I also make
them very tiny for earrings - pierced right through the poor things heads
and bodys! Crafty Owl
Becky
Meverden's lesson on making a cute bunny with long ears, using blusher
powders for a little color
http://www.hgtv.com/HGTV/project/0,1158,CRHO_project_34872,00.html
artful's
lesson on making a very simple bunny (she uses a bit of wire
between each ear and the head which allows them not to have to be pressed
against the head so much... she then adds bits of paint (2 dots for eyes) or clay
eyes & accessories to make bunny characters --pirate, etc.
http://www.the-artful.net/Making_of__Bunny_by_Shiritsu.jpg
Bunny's
lesson on making a bunny and eggs to fit in a tiny basket
(polymerclayhaven... gone)
*polymerclayexpress'
lesson on sculpting a very nice small dragon
with scrap clay (over alum. foil armature)
http://www.polymerclayexpress.com/dece2001.html
..... I just made a dragon to grace one of my
pens (for the pen Swap); and to make the scales I took a regular soda (I'm
From Jersey) straw and sliced across the diameter of the mouth about an inch,
then cut off half of the slice.This left a little scoop that could be used to
slice under and lift small sections of clay. Or pressed into the clay as a half-moon
to make rows of scales. Pinching the scoop gives it a point to make scales with
a different shape.
Linda's lesson on sculpting
a simple dragon
http://www.itsjesterclay.com/littledragonlesson.htm
Cristina's
simple turtle made with cane slices bead + head-neck and feet sticking
out (key chain)
http://www.geocities.com/pastasint/ita/bigiotte/pag1.html
Georgia
Ferrell's tic tac toe turtles (two sets of colors) http://www.geocities.com/sopcg/MemberGeorgia.html
snakes can be made very simply from a long
tapered log of clay
...clay can be solid-color, Skinner blended
colors, marbled clay, striped clay, textured and/or or faux
metal, other patterns, or anything at all
...just roll into
a long tapered log... pinch to create a neck if desired
...add
eyes (and nostrils, mouth, fangs or forked tongue, if desired)
... position
on baking sheet and bake (...if head will be lifted up, prop it by laying
on a bit of polyester stuffing, a tube of paper, etc., so it won't droop)
Annie's
cobra snake... she marbles together some colors into a log, rolls into
a tapered ball, then into a tapered log (no twisting)... then pinches along the
top to create a ridge down snake's back, and makes multiple indentions
along it's body crosswise with a needle tool
...to create cobra hood,
she flattens the head-neck area, then pinches the tip end downward toward ground
slightly to formabstract head
http://www.anniesarc.com/Hatchery2.htm
and http://www.anniesarc.com/CatalogPage2.htm
Annie's
rattlesnake had diamond shapes on its back created by poking holes
in diamond pattern
snakes and
other animals can also be made with an underlying base form of
scrap clay, then covered with cane slices, etc.
...shape
your scrap into a snake or other animal ... cover it with slices from a cane (if
you bake the base shape before adding slices, use white glue or liquid
clay between the baked shape and raw slices)
....if your base shape
is a snake... dragon... fish, etc (anything
without large extremities), the cane slices can look like scales
if overlapped (or possibly teardrop shaped, all applied in the same
direction (begin with bottom row) ... then decorate with eyes, fins,
tails, etc.
Mike
Buesseler’s snakes (Jewelry Crafts, & class)
http://www.polymerclaycentral.com/mikeb/OldOddStf.html
(over a long rope of scrap clay formed into a triangle log...see Sculpture
> Misc for details)
Marie Segal's snake http://www.clayfactory.net/marie/ms46.htm
Damalias snake, snake collar necklace, and small-snake earrings
...covered with mulit-wrapped-bulleseye canes slices
http://www.flickr.com/photos/papcg/2207372029
(see also Jon Anderson's using a similar
technique to cover a snake, lizard, turtle, etc. --very fancy!
http://www.fimocreations.com
(gone?) http://shop.store.yahoo.com/robertshieldsdesign/polymerclay.html
Daniela's
2 snakes (each textured, then covered with metallic powder -- "gold"
snake and "silver" snake), intertwined to make pin(?)
http://www.marieidraghi.it/swap.htm
sea
slugs...gastropod mollusks of the subclass Opisthobranchia, and include
the familiar sea hares as well as numerous small, brightly colored
species. Because of their great diversity in form and color,
sea slugs are a particularly worthy subject for model making ..(his were painted
after baking)... Scott Rawlins, Assistant Professor,Fine Arts, Beaver College
in Glenside, PA
...http://www.seaslugforum.net/
and http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet.cfm?base=species
(many, many sea slugs)
snails ...+ nautilus
seashells are a great way to use up your 'muddy' clay-combining all the leftover
pieces & marbling/twisting them together into long tapered
rope before rolling up into a spiral. Kristy
...see also various
jellyroll cane patterns which can be used for nautilus or snail shapes
by using thick slices in Canes-Instr >
Spiral
...Annie's nautilus type sea shells in multi-striped
colors http://www.anniesarc.com/GuiltlessShells2.htm
lesson
on making a funny snail http://www.michaels.com/art/online/projectsheet?pid=e00809&categoryid=10
....DB --Add photos... and add to Scraps
Alan's
beautiful nautilus shells made from translucent and brown
http://groups.msn.com/AlanJamesV/polyclayjewellery.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=54
......
if you want a slimy snail color, coat it with Pearl Ex before baking
& then (after it bakes & cools), coat it in glossy acrylic sealer!!!
Kristy
Denise's
beautiful brown snail shell ... snail has "humanlike face"
http://www.pbase.com/joanie/image/31883037
fancy
fish & starfish, other sea stuff etc. http://www.pbase.com/joanie/seaswap
......Annie's
starfish with long & slender, waving arms,
is made simply from 5 multi-striped, ropes of clay (peachy flesh, with
reddish brown, gray, black) twisted together and smoothed), tapered to
pointy tips at one end ...larger ends of ropes joined together in the center (trimmmed
to V shapes first?)... then arms arranged in S curves (and around another sea
floor object) before baking
http://www.anniesarc.com/CatalogPage16.htm
.....(most
fish are in Canes-Instr
> Picture Canes)
Annie's octopus,
made like starfish but with 8 arms... extra clay in center pulled up to
form octopus head and eyes
http://www.anniesarc.com/CatalogPage11.htm
frogs...
Joanie's lesson on making her little froggies
http://www.pbase.com/joanie/how_to_gallery__froggies
Joyce
Fritz' frog ...solid oval clay body (covered with cane slices... bulge
for eyes, slit for mouth
... legs & toes are coils or twists
of colored wire, with tiny bead at ends for each toe
http://www.woodenstonegallery.com/images/jewelry/JFSfrog1e.jpg
Marie
S's very cool fantastical frogs (abstract, metallic), esp. lips/mouth
and eyes
http://www.clayfactory.net/marie/99ms0032.htm
...http://www.clayfactory.net/marie/99ms0027.htm
simple
abstract animal shapes can be made with chopped clay, marbled
clay, Skinner blend logs, Granitex (or translucent
clay with "inclusions" of all kinds, see Inclusions),
faux (fake) stones like jade, marble, ivory, etc, (see
Fauxs), or anything you want
...they can be left as is, or
they can be covered with metallic powders or metallic leaf
(to simulate gold statues), or metallic paints , etc.
...eyes, legs,
wings, etc. can be added to the simpler shapes with clay, or with wire, sticks,
etc., also if you want
Annie's simple animal shapes made with marbled
clay
http://www.anniesarc.com/Catalog.htm
(click on many more pages for duck, whale,
birds, elephant head, flamingo, sloth, etc)
fake
polymer clay rock with one large eyet, by Devil Ducky
... large eye was plastic so not baked with the clay --eye impressed in raw clay,
then glued back in after baking (or could make an eye with clay --see Sculpting-Body
> Eyes > Clay Eyes, or use a glass eye)
...foil-ball armature
underneath.... could use a paperweight, or outdoors, etc.
http://img110.imageshack.us/img110/3649/kamen2ze0.jpg
pipe cleaners (the bumpy kind)
formed into many tiny animals
... then bodies are embellished
with shapes of raw clay (and bit of white tacky glue?) to
add eyes, chest plate, and many other things, then baked at 265 for 15 min. (frog,
bears, Picachu, monkeys)
http://www.garieinternational.com.sg/clay/furry.htm
Garie's
lesson on making a fluffy bear with bump pipe cleaners
http://www.garieinternational.com.sg/clay/furry_stems.htm
