Kneading, pottery and modeling are not just for children. Adults also have fun creating imaginative decorations and figures from modeling clay. You don't need any special tools or huge ovens to bake the products and there is no chaos when crafting. There is commercially available clay that dries in the air and polymer modeling clay that can be baked at home in an electric oven.
You can get the right tools from specialist retailers, but you don't have to. Many things from the household are suitable - different sized knives or cookie cutters for cookies, cups and glasses for cutting out, a bottle or rolling pin for rolling out and objects with interesting structures to create motifs on the surface of the modeling clay.
Take a look at the instructions and try to make artistic figures with us step by step out of air-hardening clay or polymer clay or Fimo.
Depending on the size of the doll you want, take a sufficient amount of modeling clay in your hand. In total, you will need three balls of different sizes - a small one for the bun, a medium-sized one for the head and a third, which you then shape into an elongated shape, for the body. Design the hairstyle as desired - braided, pinned up or divided into two. Adjust the number of balls accordingly. After you have finished all the figures, they need to be baked in the oven. Set the kitchen oven to 130 degrees and when the temperature is reached, place the prepared figures on baking paper and in the oven for 30 minutes. The desired temperature and baking times vary for the different types of modeling clay. It's best to follow the manufacturer's instructions. Allow the dolls to cool before touching them. If you only used plain white modeling clay, you can paint the figures with any color you like and design their clothing freely. Have fun!
For the instructions, dolls were made that had a cone-shaped body and a spherical head. However, you can of course experiment with the shapes and try out any other variants until you find something that suits you.
There are various tools for working with this that make the work easier. With them you can, for example, press the mass in a certain way, which can be practical for creating eye sockets. The mass can also be scratched. Here you have the opportunity to experiment again. So you can say that the work is very fun and varied.
Once you get the hang of it, you won't be able to get enough of it. Paint the finished dolls according to your taste and create blonde, brunette or red hair, happy, sad or abstract faces and any type of clothing. The bodies that youturn into clothing, can have beautiful patterns or just be plain.
And when the dolls are finished, try out other characters next time! How about owls or other animals, cupcakes or even cacti and other plants? Let your imagination run wild. You can create beautiful decorations for your home using modeling clay.
Below you will find a variety of ideas and suggestions for wonderful figures made from modeling clay that are easy to make and are also suitable for crafting with children. First of all, we would like to draw attention to these cute owls in fun colors. They can either be made from white polymer clay and colored after it has hardened, or made directly with colored clay. You decide the size yourself. Just keep in mind that the larger the figures are, the more time they need to harden.
If you are looking for ideas that are also suitable for children, then it is best to choose small dolls and animals that are easy to imitate. These cute penguins are a great idea, for which you only need some black, white and orange versions. Start by making three balls of each color, with the black one being the largest and the white one being the smallest. Then shape the body and arms first, and then the stomach and legs. Don't forget the beak and eyes too.
However, it shouldn't always be animals or small people. Rather, you can make appetizing delicacies out of polymer clay that look really realistic. Small fruits and vegetables, cute muffins, macarons, donuts and croissants can be designed with a little skill and creativity. You can then let these harden in the oven and turn them into beautiful jewelry. Your daughter or best friend would surely like homemade pretty earrings with donuts or a necklace with a sweet muffin as a gift.
Cats and dogs are considered the most popular pets worldwide and are often made by children from various materials. One of them is certainly modeling clay. A cat can be made quickly and easily from polymer clay and is perfect as a first DIY project for beginners. You can choose any color, as cards come in many different colors. First, make an oval of the chosen color for the body, make two flat ovals for the paws and attach them to the lower side of the body. The figure should be able to stand upright. Then form two small triangles and attach them to the top as cat ears. All that remains is to design the face, make a cat tail and the figure is ready.
You can also use polymer clay to make atmospheric decorations for your home. Beautiful houseplants and succulents are perfect as figures made from modeling clay and can beautify any windowsill. Small cacti of different types can be made from simple figures and then arranged in mini pots. In the picture you will find some inspiring ideas for mini houseplants made of polymer clay that you can quickly and easily make at home. Try it!
With this type of clay, the figures created are left to air dry for one to three days, depending on their thickness and size. So that you can work longer, occasionally moisten your fingers and the craft clay with a little water. Use a bottle or rolling pin to roll. You can cut out circular shapes using a drinking glass, a tea cup or a knife. The surface is quite soft and can be printed with different structures. Once dry, varnish and decorate tastefully with paint. Have fun crafting!
If you want to make flat figures, such as cup coasters or hanging tree decorations, then you will need a rolling pin to roll out the dough. If you don't have a rolling pin, you can use any round bottle made of glass or other solid material as an alternative.
The cookie cutters are perfect for cutting out different shapes. Glasses and cups of various types offer a great alternative for round shapes. With a bottle neck, however, you can cut out particularly small circles that can almost never be perfect with a knife.
If you would like to decorate the figures made of modeling clay with a beautiful pattern, you can stamp the clay before it hardens. Various objects with a patterned surface can be used for this, such as elegant doilies and lace. The easiest way to transfer the pattern to the mixture is to place the doily on top and press it over it with the rolling pin. After hardening, the resulting patterns can be painted colorfully for a beautiful effect.
