Super Sculpey Living Doll™ Garden Lady Sculpture

Getting Started:

Please make sure your work area is covered and you are not working on an unprotected surface. We recommend working on the Sculpey® Oven-Safe Work Mat, wax paper, metal baking sheet, or disposable foil. Uncured clay may damage unprotected furniture or finished surfaces. Be sure to cover your crafting area appropriately.

Start with clean hands, unwrap and knead clay until soft and smooth, or condition by running clay though a Pasta Machine. We recommend using a designated machine for clay purposes only. When working with multiple colors, clean hands with soap and water or baby wipes (we have found that baby wipes work best) before switching colors. Shape clay, pressing pieces firmly together. Wash hands after use.

Baking (also called Curing):

Begin by preheating oven to 275 °F (130 °C). After you are done creating; for best results
bake/cure clay on an oven-proof surface such metal, aluminum foil, an index
card or the Sculpey® Clay Mat at 275°F (130 °C) for 15 minutes per 1/4" (6
mm) thickness according to package directions. Oven safe glass or ceramic
surfaces are also acceptable for baking/curing; however please note that the
baking/curing times may take longer as the glass or ceramic surfaces take
longer to heat up. For best baking results, use an oven thermometer. DO NOT USE
MICROWAVE OVEN. DO NOT EXCEED THE ABOVE TEMPERATURE OR RECOMMENDED BAKING TIME.

Making the base for the face:

Wrap an egg shape in foil so that it can be removed easily after baking.

Using a Sculpey acrylic roller or Sculpey Clay conditioning machine, roll out a large sheet of Sculpey Living Doll clay to about 3mm thick, or the thickest setting on the clay conditioning machine.

Wrap two layers of clay around the pointy end of the egg to form the base layer for the face. Cut off any excess clay at the pointy end and smooth. Cut a straight edge around the top of the head.

Place the head upside down (clay facing up) in a mug to support it whilst baking.

Making the armature for the body and neck:

Form the upper body and neck using Aluminium kitchen foil and tape, and cover with Sculpey Ultralight clay.

Bake the head and shoulders in the oven as per the instructions on the packaging.

Allow to cool, then remove the egg former from the head. Trim away any excess clay from the neck and body with a craft knife, if needed.

Building the face:

Form the upper body and neck using Aluminium kitchen foil and tape, and cover with Sculpey Ultralight clay.

Bake the head and shoulders in the oven as per the instructions on the packaging.

Allow to cool, then remove the egg former from the head. Trim away any excess clay from the neck and body with a craft knife, if needed.

Adding the mouth:

Roll two thick sausages of clay for the top and bottom lips.
Add the top lip by smoothing the top of the first sausage into the face.
Add the bottom lip by smoothing the bottom of the second sausage into the face.
Refine the basic shape using your fingers and thumb. We will add detail later.

Adding the nose:

Roll a small ball of clay and position this where the tip of the nose will go.

Using your thumbs, smooth the top sides of the ball into the face to form the bridge of the nose. Smooth and define the shape with your fingers.

Create the nostrils using the medium Sculpey dual ended ball tool.

Refine the shape of the nose and lips and add some texture lines to the lips to define them.

Adding the Chin:

Roll a small ball of clay and place this under the bottom lip to bulk out the chin.

Smooth and shape the chin using your fingers and thumbs.

Adding eyes:

Using a needle tool, lightly draw the bottom edge of the eyelids as a guide for placing the eyelids.

Add flat oval discs of clay to the eyes, and smooth the top edges into the face to create closed eyelids. You can refine the bottom edge with the needle tool if needed.

Adding Brows:

Add snakes of clay to the forehead, starting at the bridge of the nose and ending at the outer edge of the eyes. These can extend above the face if needed.

Smooth the snakes of clay onto the face using the Sculpey medium dual ended ball tool and your fingers.

Refine the shape of the nose and brow and make sure that the clay is also blended and smoothed on the inside of the head where the unbaked clay joins the baked clay.

Adding eyelashes:

Using the edge of the Sculpey needle tool, slide and draw the eyelashes onto the face.

Body:

Using an acrylic roller or a Clay conditioning machine, roll out a sheet of Sculpey Living Doll clay to about 3mm thick, or the thickest setting on the clay conditioning machine.

Apply a thin layer of Sculpey Oven Bake Clay Adhesive to the baked body armature and cover with Sculpey Living doll clay. The Oven Bake Adhesive will help the baked clay stick to the unbaked clay, and helps to reduce the likelihood of air getting trapped between the layers.

Wrap extra clay around the neck to broaden it and make the top flat so that the head can join onto the neck in the next step.

Make a dent in the clay with your fingers to separate the body from the arms.

Add Head to Body:

Apply a thin layer of Sculpey Oven Bake Clay Adhesive to the neck and attach the head by smoothing and stretching the clay from the neck onto the head.

You may want to add some more clay to the back of the neck, if the neck is too thin. This will also make the head more stable on the neck.

Bake in the oven as per the instructions on the packaging and allow to cool.

Add arm armature:

Using a drill bit the same size as your armature wire, drill a small hole into the body where you want to place the raised arm.

Cut a small piece of armature wire a little longer than the arm, and create a small loop at the top of the wire (this will form the hand).

Place this wire into the drilled hole and carefully bend into position.

Remove and place to the side for later.

Add shirt:

Add sheets of clay to the body to create the shirt back, front and sleeves.

Cut to shape with a craft knife.

Smooth the edges and add texture and folds to the clothing with your sculpting tools.

Sculpt arm and shape hand:

Wrap a strip of clay around the armature wire to create the base for the arm and hand.

Place the wire into the drilled hole and position the arm.

Add another strip of clay to the arm so that it gets thicker at the elbow and shape the arm.

Shape the hand:

Add more clay to the hand and draw in the outlines of the fingers using a sculpting tool.

Add the thumb and index finger, and blend the edges together.

Take your time and use reference pictures of hands to help you get the shapes right.

Bake in the oven as per the instructions on the packaging and allow to cool.

Paint base layers:

Paint the entire sculpture with a thin layer of white Gesso acrylic paint which will help your colours to adhere better.

Paint the head, neck and arms in a light rose pink ( you can add more white if it’s too dark).

Paint the shirt in a light green.

Leave to dry.

Paint highlights:

Lightly dry brush a thin layer of white acrylic paint all over your sculpture to highlight the detail and soften the colours.

Dry brush a thin layer of rose-coloured paint onto the lips, cheeks, forehead, fingers and arms to give the skin a rosy glow. If it’s too dark, dry brush a little white paint over the top to tone down the brightness. Make sure to let each layer dry before adding another layer of colour. This will allow you to gradually build up the tones. Do this as many times as needed until you get the desired effect.

Paint the eyelashes using a thin paintbrush and thin brown acrylic ink or acrylic paint.

If you plan to put your sculpture outside, apply a layer of the Sculpey UV Glaze.