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Sculpey Original
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Tooth picks or craft wire
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Acrylic Paint Colors
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Flesh
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Blue
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Brown
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Black
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Yellow
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Small Paint Brush
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Craft Knife
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Gauze Bandage Wrap
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Paper Towel Tube
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Toothbrush or texture tool
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Straw
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Scissors
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Stapler or tape
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Star Cookie Cutter 1 ½"(optional)
Directions:
THE CRECHE:
- Cut a paper towel tube in the center.
- Fold one edge of each tube and attach together to form a point using a stapler or tape.
- Cut approximately two inches up the inner side of each tube for easy access.
- Insert clay into the inside of each tube for stability.
- Flatten sheets of clay approximately ¼ thick and wrap around all portions of the crèche smoothing out any seams.
- Use a toothpick to make grooves into each side of the crèche in different lengths and thickness to create a wooden texture effect.
- Roll 18 balls of clay into ¾" thick in diameter
- Roll 6 balls of clay into ½" thick in diameter
- Attach the balls, which will be the rocks, in a random pattern on the front and sides of the bottom of each pillar.
- Use a toothbrush or texture tool and make indentations into the rocks for a rugged effect.
- Flatten a sheet of clay to ¼" thickness. Use a star cookie cutter and cut out three stars. You can also draw a star onto a sheet of paper and cut out to use as a pattern instead of the cutter.
- Attach the start to the top center of the crèche, offsetting each slightly.
LAMB:
- Legs: Roll a snake of clay 3/8" thick and 2" long. Cut into four ½" pieces.
- Body: Roll out an oval ¾" thick by 1 ½" wide.
- Ears & Tail: Roll out three balls 5/16" thick, form each into a teardrop and slightly flatten each.
- Head: Roll out a ball 5/8" thick and form into an egg shape.
- Eyes: Roll out two 1/8" thick balls
ASSEMBLY: - Place four legs side by side and insert toothpicks or craft wire into the top of each. Place the body onto the legs. Attach the tail. Insert a toothpick into the head and insert into the body. Attach the ears to the side of the head. Using straw, make indentations into the body, legs, tail, ears and top of the head. Take the end of a paint brush and make impressions for the nose, and where the eyes will be. Insert each eye into the holes. Use a toothpick to make the mouth and make creases for the eyes.
MARY & JOSEPH:
- Body: Roll out a one inch ball. Form into a teardrop 1 ½" inches tall and flatten bottom.
- Arms: Two ½" snakes each ¾" long. Taper one end to a point.
- Hands: Two 5/16" balls shaped into teardrops.
- Head: 7/8" ball shaped into an egg.
- Eyes: Roll out two 1/8" thick balls
- Nose: 3/16" ball.
- Mustache: two ¼" balls rolled into a teardrop and flattened
- Beard: ½" ball form into a U and flatten, tapering the top of each side into points.
- Staff: Roll a snake 5/16" in diameter 2 ½" long, insert a toothpick through the entire length and smooth over the ends. Use a toothpick to make grooves into all sides of the crèche in different lengths and thickness to create a wooden texture effect.
ASSEMBLY: - Use the end of a toothbrush to make openings for the hands. Insert hands and attach the arms to the body. Insert a toothpick into the neck, attach the head. Take the end of a paint brush and make impressions eyes will be. Insert the eyes. Attach mustache and beard and nose. Use a toothpick to make creases for the eyes. Attach the staff at the bottom of Joseph and wrap arm and hand around it.
BABY JESUS & MANGER:
- Body: Roll ½" ball and form into a 1" log
- Head: Roll 3/8" Ball
- Nose: Roll 1/8" Ball
- Manger: Roll a 1" ball and form into a 1 ½" log Use a finger to press into the center of the manger large enough for baby Jesus to lie in.
ASSEMBLY: Use the edge of a straw to make an impression for the closed eyes and mouth. Attach the nose to the head. Insert a toothpick into the body and attach the head. Use a toothpick to score the manger to make a wooden effect of the outside and inside.
Bake the pieces in a preheated oven at 275 for 30 minutes, let cool.
PAINTING & FINISH WORK:
- Paint the faces and hands a flesh color.
- Paint the crèche, manger and Joseph's staff & hair brown.
- Paint the star yellow.
- Paint all eyes and the bottom of the lamb's feet black.
- Paint Mary's clothes blue.
- Mix flesh color with a small amount of brown to make a tan color and paint Joseph's clothes.
- Mix flesh color with a small amount of black to make a gray and paint the rocks at the bottom of the crèche.
- To make the cloth, use three strips of gauze. In a cereal bowl put water and a small drop of brown paint, mix well. Insert two strips of gauze to dye them. Leave one in longer than the other to get two different shades of tan. Do the same with the third piece in blue paint water. After dying the gauze, use an iron to reshape, this will also quickly dry the gauze.
- Use a craft glue to adhere the clothes to the figurines. See photo for the colors used.
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