Sam the Snowman - Sculpey Clay Projects

January - Sam the Snowman

Some Basic Information:

Sculpey III, Bake & Bend, and Amazing Eraser Clay should be conditioned before using. To condition, roll and squeeze each color in your hands until the clay becomes soft and pliable and an even consistency.

It's important to bake projects for the right amount of time and at the right temperature. Once your project is complete, follow these baking instructions for each type of clay:

Sculpey III bakes in your home oven for 15 minutes at 275 Degrees F (130 Degrees C).
Bake & Bend bakes in your home oven for 20 minutes at 285 Degrees F (130 Degrees C).
Amazing Eraser Clay bakes in your home oven for 10 minutes at 250 Degrees F (130 Degrees C).

Line your baking sheets with aluminum foil or index cards when using them to cure (bake) polymer clay projects.

Always assist children during the baking process and never touch a clay project until it is completely cool. You should use an oven thermometer to make sure the oven temperature is accurate. Overheating polymer clay can cause it to become discolored. In the case of Amazing Eraser Clay, the eraser may not erase well if it's over baked.

Good working surfaces include a large piece of glass, wax paper, marble, or an old baking sheet. It is important that you not place unbaked polymer clay on any good furniture surface as the unbaked clay contains pigments which may stain. Do not use everyday cooking utensils with clay if you are going to continue using them for preparing food.

Shapes:

All of the projects in this series can be made from the following shapes:

Ball - Take a lump of clay and roll it in your palms until it's smooth.

Teardrop - Start with a ball of clay and then taper it on one end with your fingers.

Coil - Roll a lump of clay until it¹s long and skinny.

What you'll need:

2 ounce packages of Sculpey III in the following colors:
- White
- Black
- Sweet Potato
- Maroon (or any color you would like for Sam's scarf)

Instructions

1. Make a round ball from 1/3 package of Sculpey III White - this is Sam's head.

2. With the remaining 2/3 package of Sculpey III: Make two ½" balls (these are for Sam's arms) and one 1 ½" ball (this is for Sam's body). Roll the two ½" balls into logs. Roll the 1 ½" ball into a rounded barrel shape.

3. Assemble Sam's body.

4. Make a coil from ¾" ball of Sculpey III Maroon, flatten to make the scarf, about 5" long. Using a toothpick place some lies at each end of the scarf to resemble a fringe. Wrap the scarf around Sam's neck.

5. Let's put a face on Sam . . . . Sam's Nose is made from a small teardrop shape of "Sweet Potato" Sculpey III. Sam's mouth, eyes and buttons are small balls of black Sculpey, flattened or round, your choice.

6. For Sam's hat: with ¼ of the packet of Sculpey III Black make a ¾" ball and flatten it out to make the brim of Sam's hat. Make a ball about 1" and flatten both ends making a short flat "pipe-shape". Assemble the hat right on Sam's head.

7. Bake Sam at 275 Degrees F (130 Degrees C) for 1/2 hour in a calibrated oven in which the temperature has been checked for accuracy with an oven thermometer. Use a timer to avoid over baking. Over baking may cause your snowman to darken. Use an oven-proof baking dish lined with index cards. Do not handle your snowman until he is completely cool.