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(as featured on Good Housekeeping Magazine,
November 2002 issue)
Clay Ornaments and Novelties
A fun and simple craft that even children can enjoy
with their moms. Ingredients are readily found in the kitchen and no special tools
are required.
Materials:
Clay:
In a large saucepan, mix together 1 cup cornstarch and 2 cups baking soda. Add 1-1/2 cups
cold water and stir until smooth. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until
mixture comes to a boil and starts to thicken into a mass like mashed potatoes that holds
its shape. Turn out into a dish and cover with a damp cloth. Allow to cool. Once cooled,
knead it until it is smooth and elastic. Refrigerate for at least one hour in a resealable
plastic bag before using. To store, refrigerate in resealable plastic bag.
Giftwrappers or photos
Aluminum foil
Wire hanger
Large paper clips
Ribbon
Acrylic Paint
Varnish or Polyurethane
Brushes
White glue
Tools: Simple tools such as a barbecue stick, toothpick, fork,
knife, cutter, scissors, and cookie cutters are useful.
General Instructions:
Sculptures of different shapes and sizes can be
molded by hand or by cutting with a cutter, scissors or cookie cutters. Details can be
made using a toothpick and other simple tools.
When joining component parts of your sculpture, first roughen the
areas to be joined by scoring or pricking with a stick. Then, brush with a little water
and attach.
If joining is not done properly, component parts may fall off after
drying. You may simply glue them on with white glue or use fresh clay to join them.
Cracks may appear in your sculpture during or after drying,
especially for bigger sculptures. If cracks do appear, they can be filled with fresh clay.
Re-dry.
After sculpting the clay, dry thoroughly before painting.
Sculptures can be air dried or baked in an oven. Baking time depends
on thickness of the sculpture. Larger items take longer. For smaller items, try baking at
150 degrees C for 15 minutes and check if sculpture is dried.
Use water based paints like acrylic.
When paint is completely dry, finish with polyurethane or varnish.
Animal Sculptures- Detailed instructions are given for the cat and
pig figures, but with a few changes, a variety of other animals can also be made using
this clay. Change the shape of the ears and snout to make dogs, bears, tigers and other
animals. Changing colors will also result in a wide range of designs.
CAT
- Begin by crumpling a sheet of aluminum foil into a ball approximately
1" in diameter. If you are making a pen holder, wrap the foil around a pen or pencil
to make a hole on top.
- Cover the foil ball with a layer of clay, making a golf-ball-sized
ball for the cat’s body.
- Pinch two small pieces of dough to form triangles for the ears.
Attach ears following the general instructions for joining component parts.
- For the face, make two small flattened balls of clay for the cheeks.
Shape a smaller ball into a nose. Attach cheeks and nose to the body. Make whisker pores
and eyes with a toothpick or barbecue stick.
- Make two small balls of clay for the paws and attach to bottom of
body. Mark claws with a toothpick or stick.
- Add a long piece of clay for the tail.
- To make a memo holder, stick a large paper clip on top of the head.
- Dry the sculpture and paint as you like.
- When paint is completely dry, finish with polyurethane or varnish
PIG
Begin by crumpling a sheet of aluminum foil
into a ball approximately 1" in diameter. If you are making a pen holder, wrap the
foil around a pen or pencil to make a hole on top.
Cover the foil ball with a layer of clay, making a golf-ball-sized
ball for the pig’s body.
Pinch two small pieces of dough to form triangles for the ears.
Attach ears following the general instructions for joining component parts.
For the face, make one small flattened ball of clay for the snout.
Attach to the body. Make nostril marks and eyes with a toothpick or stick.
Make two small balls of clay for the feet and attach to bottom of
body. Mark hooves with a toothpick or stick.
Add a curly piece of clay for the tail.
To make a memo holder, stick a large paper clip on top of the head.
Dry the sculpture and paint as desired.
When paint is completely dry, finish with polyurethane or varnish.
Mini Frames for Christmas ornaments or
Refrigerator magnets
Choose a picture to frame (you can use a
photograph or an illustration from a magazine or giftwrapper). Paste the picture on a
piece of cardboard and cut to the desired shape and size. Trace outline to make a pattern
for the mini frame.
Roll out two long ‘snakes’ of clay approximately ½ to ¾
cm. thick. With the two pieces placed side by side, twist them together, taking care to
keep the twist uniform throughout.
Form the frame by laying the twist on the pattern of the photo or
illustration. The frame should be bigger than the pattern but edges of the pattern shouldn’t
be seen through the center of the frame. Join the ends of the twist.
Put decorations over the join. For Christmas ornaments, try make
holly leaves by rolling out clay and cutting into shape with a cutter. Mark veins using a
toothpick. Add small balls of clay for berries. For other projects, flowers and other
decorations may be used.
For Christmas ornaments, attach a piece of wire or a paper clip for a
hanger. Be sure to anchor into clay so that it won’t slip out when the clay is dry.
Dry the frame and paint as desired.
When paint is completely dry, finish with polyurethane or varnish.
Glue the picture to the back of the finished clay frame.
Cover the cardboard back with a piece of colored paper (to match the
color of your frame).
For refrigerator magnets, attach a magnet to the back of the frame.
For tree ornaments, attach ribbon or cord to the wire hanger.
Costing:
Baking Soda P30.00 / 1 lb.
Cornstarch P21.00/ 400 g.
For inquiries, call Patsy at (632)3751069 or email us at
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