| Materials:
Directions:
Step One - Body
- Shape a 1" ball of Granitex blue
into a large teardrop shape. (The back of this piece will be flat
on the table). With your X-Acto knife, make a slice up the center
of the bottom. This creates his legs.
- For his cuffs, mix a 1/2" ball
of Granitex blue with 1/2" ball of white until blended.
- Now pinch this ball in half, roll
each half into a ball and gently press with your fingers and press
to the bottom of the body for each leg.
- The straps are two 1/4" balls
of Granitex blue rolled to about 3/4" long. Press flat. These
will be applied later.
- At the bottom of each cuff, poke a
larger hole with your stylus so the shoes can be pressed in.
- Then poke smaller holes under each
cuff so the straw can be added later.
Step Two - Arms
- Roll two balls of 5/8" alizarin
crimson into tapered logs (carrot shaped).
- Join the two tapered ends together
at the top of the overalls. Be sure to lay the arms straight across
like they are hanging on a pole. With your stylus, poke a hole at
the end of each arm so the hands can be added.
- Take two 1/2" balls of white,
roll into teardrop shapes and gently flatten with your fingers.
Press the small end into the hole at the end of the arm. Now gently
press the wider end downward so the hand is hanging.
- Next use your ball stylus to poke
a few holes at the end of the arm so you can add the straw later.
- Now press an overall strap across
the shoulders and connect them to the overalls.
- Take two small 1/8" balls of
alizarin crimson and press to the end of each strap. With the stylus,
indent the center with the needle, and poke two holes for the button
holes.
Step Three - Head
and Face
- Start with
a 5/8" ball of ecru. Press this flat to about the size of a
quarter. Place this at the top of the overalls over the shoulders.
Try to bunch it up a bit to look ruffled. Press a straight pin halfway
in so the head will be secure.
- Now press a
7/8" ball of ecru for the head.
- Pinch a small
1/8" ball of alizarin crimson and press to the center of his
face. With your needle, press the seed beads in sideways for the
eyes, and then indent the stitching down the center of the face.
You can then draw his smile.
Step Four - Shoes
- Roll two 5/8"
balls of raw sienna. Shape into teardrop shapes and press into the
bottom of the cuff.
Step Five - Hat
& Patches
- Press a 11/16"
ball of Granitex brown flat like pancake. Place this at the back
of the head and shape it around the sides of the face. Next, place
a smaller 5/8" ball of Granitex brown and press to the center
of the brim. You can use your X-Acto knife to slice the edges a
bit.
- Flatten small
balls of different colors and with your X-Acto knife cut small squares
and place on the overalls as patches. Take the skewer and from the
bottom, gently press the skewer up through the body until it is
through the back. You can leave this in when you bake.
Step Six - Pumpkins
and Crow
- For the pumpkins
take various size balls of orange ranging from 5/8" to 3/4".
Roll into short pumpkin and longer thinner pumpkins. Next hold a
piece of thread tightly and press down from the center of the top
of each pumpkin. Be sure the thread is not so tight that you are
slicing the pumpkin. Just apply enough pressure to indent the lines
on each pumpkin.
- Poke a hole
with the stylus, add a small 1/8" roll of raw sienna for the
stem.
- For the leaves
pinch 1/8" and 1/4" balls into diamond shapes for the
leaves and press to the top of the pumpkins.
- For the crow,
roll a 3/4" ball of black and shape into a plump teardrop.
Press two 1/4" balls of black into small flat triangles for
the wings. Press to the sides. Next take a 1/4" ball and roll
into about 1/2" long and fold in half. Press to the top of
the head.
- For the beak
take a 3/16" ball of yellow and press into a flat triangle
and press to the face. Now take two more 3/16" balls of yellow,
roll to about 1/2" long and fold in half to form a V. Press
to the bottom of the body for the feet. Poke two holes with the
stylus for the eyes. Now they can be baked.
Baking Instructions:
The rule of thumb
for baking is: 275 degrees F (130 degrees C) for 30 minutes per ¼"
of thickness for Premo! Sculpey, and 15 minutes per ¼" of thickness
for Granitex. This project has a combination of the clays, so 20 minutes
per ¼" of thickness will be adequate. Always use a timer and
check visually frequently to avoid any darkening.
Finishing Touches:
After the piece
is baked and cooled, you can apply the straw hair. I used felt fringe
sold at a local fabric store. You can substitute by making your own
fringe. Cut various sized strips of material (straw colored) ranging
from 1/4" to 1/2" sections.
With your scissors, cut your own fringe for each section. Glue each
of the sections of straw for the head, hands and feet. The holes you
poked before baking make it easier to secure the straw. Dab some glue
into the hole with a toothpick and then press the opposite end of
the fringe into the hole with a needle or the stylus. This will also
make the fringe look a bit more raggedy. Glue the bamboo baking skewer
into the haybale and then attach the pumpkins and crow.
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