Clay Ladybug Pot Pal

Steps:

1. Condition polymer clay according to manufacturer's instructions.

2. To make the flowers: Using the push mold, press a ball of orange clay into the center of the flower mold until it is just even with the petals. Press a ball of yellow clay into the center of the flower, covering the orange. Press from the center out, filling in all the petals. Pop out flower. Make 11 to 13 of these flowers. Bake and set aside.

3. To make the ladybug: For her body, roll a 7/8" ball of black into a pear shape. Press a straight pin halfway into the top of her body.

Figure B

4. For her arms, roll two 3/8" balls of black into 1" tapered logs. Press onto both sides of body.

5. For her legs, cut two 3" lengths of the black wire. Wrap each wire around the paintbrush to coil.

Figure C

6. For feet, roll two 1/4" balls of black into ovals and flatten slightly. Press one end of the coiled wire into each foot, and press each leg into the bottom of her body.

Figure D

7. For her head, roll a 5/8" ball of black. Roll a 1/4" ball of white and flatten it to a 7/16" circle for her face. Press it onto her head. For her eyes, press two black seed beads into her face. Use a toothpick to make two squint lines in each eye. For her nose, roll a 1/8" ball of red into an oval and press it onto her face. For her mouth, press half of a circle cutter into her face under the nose. You can also used a toothpick or your fingernail to draw the mouth.

8. For antennae, cut two 1/2" lengths of black wire and press into the top of her head. Roll two 1/8" balls of black and press them onto the top of each wire.

Figure E

9. Press her head onto the top of her body.

10. For her wings, roll a sheet of red through the pasta machine at the thickest setting (#1), then thinner (#3) and thinner still (#5). If using a roller, roll until 1/32" thick. Use a heart cookie cutter to cut out a heart.

Figure G

11. For spots, roll 10 to 14 balls of black. Flatten slightly and press randomly all over the heart wings.

12. Place the ladybug on the pot in position. Press her wings upside down onto the back of the ladybug so that the tip of the heart is pointed toward her head.

13. Put the clay pot on its side with the ladybug on top and bake it all according to the manufacturer's directions. Cool.

14. Glue the ladybug to the pot and glue flowers randomly all over the pot.