Original Sculpey® Leaf and Seed Pod Fossils

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:

Begin by preheating oven to 275 °F (130 °C). After you are done creating; for best results bake clay on an oven-proof surface such metal, aluminum foil, an index card or the Sculpey® Clay Mat at 275°F (130 °C) for 30 minutes per 1/4" (6 mm) thickness according to package directions. Oven safe glass or ceramic surfaces are also acceptable for baking; however please note that the baking 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.

Divide Original White Sculpey into manageable lumps of clay. I used one half of the 1 pound of clay and made three very large fossils. Condition the clay by kneading it with your hands. Original White Sculpey is very soft and smooth and should be easily conditioned by children eight and up. When the clay lumps are conditioned they should feel even and smooth all over. Make thick pancake patties with your hands.

Use the plastic roller in the Modeling Tools kit to flatten the patties out into 1/4” thick pancakes.

Impress a few of your collected leaves deeply into the clay. Try to just press the leaf pieces into the clay and avoid making fingerprints

This particular leaf had holes in it which I wanted to preserve and even make them more visible. Areas like this can be made more visible by using the Modeling Tools to carve out the areas where the holes are.

I collected a walnut shell for my impressions. First I filled the shell with some of the Original Sculpey.

Then I pushed the shell onto the pancake of clay making sure the edges of the shell were also impressed.

Then I carefully removed the shell leaving the nut fossil in place. If the nut gets stuck inside the shell, just carefully use the Modeling Tools to release the nut and position it onto the pancake of clay.

When the fossils are complete, bake them following the baking instructions for Original Sculpey. Allow them to cool completely before handling. The fossils can be painted if desired with acrylic paints. Here’s a look at my Oak, Fern, and the groove from the Walnut shell.

This one features the Walnut and it’s shell, another smaller Oak leaf, and a twig.

This one is a simple leaf with the holes removed.