Polymer Clay Moose Pen

Materials:

Fimo polymer clay: green, caramel (2), white, black, Sahara
Bic round stick ballpoint pen
floral wire
needle tool
clay shaping tools
liquid polymer

1. Remove the pen's ink cartridge with pliers. Cover the full length of the pen with caramel color clay using the basic pen wrap technique (figure A).

2. To make the head: Shape a 1-1/8-inch caramel ball of clay into a rounded triangle. Gently impress the sides of the triangle towards the top. Press a 7/8-inch caramel ball of clay to the lower front of the rounded triangle. Blend the seam with a clay shaper.

3. Create a hole in the bottom of the head large enough to press over the top of the pen. Poke holes for eye placement and drop in tiny black clay balls for eyes. Shape eyes with a clay shaper as desired (figure B).

4. To make the antlers: Shape a 9/16-inch sahara clay ball into a triangle. Flatten. Create indentations with a needle tool (figure C). Press a 1-1/2-inch long piece of floral wire into each side of the head, leaving 1/2 inch exposed. Press antlers over wire (figure D).

5. For extra strength, dab a drop of liquid polymer gel to the joint area. This will cure in the oven and create a more durable bond.

6. Bake at 265 F degrees for 45 minutes. Allow to cool. After cooled, insert ink cartridge into pen case.

7. To make the body: Roll entire caramel package into a ball. Flatten bottom slightly and pull up center. Press thumb indentation on sides of body where back legs will be placed (figure E).

8. To make legs: Shape four 1-inch caramel balls into logs. Taper two of the logs to points at both ends. Shape the remaining two into tapered logs, thicker at one end than at the other. Press a flattened 1/2-inch black ball to the thick end of each of the tapered logs (figure F). Press these logs onto the front of the body.

9. To make the hiking boots: Don't get frustrated at the "complex" shape of the hiking boot. Think of the "Six Simple Shapes Technique." Breaking each component down to the most basic form, you will roll a 1-inch, 7/8-inch and 3/4-inch ball of Sahara clay. Press the 1-inch ball flat on the work surface. Place the 3/4-inch ball behind it. Place the 7/8-inch ball on top. Blend all the seams together with the clay shaper (figure G). Refine as you work.

10. Flatten a 1/2-inch black ball and create the same shape as the bottom of the boot. Press this to the bottom of the boot for the sole (figure H). Press a hole in the top of the boot for the point of the leg to fit into.

11. Cut a slice down the center of the boot front. Pinch with fingers and separate, creating a V. Poke holes for shoelaces and add any stitch marks you desire with a needle tool. Roll thin black logs for shoelaces (figure I). Press point of leg into hole in top of boot. Press leg to thumb indentations on side of moose's body (figure J).

12. When moose pen has cooled, gently but firmly press pen down into center of body base, creating a hole (figure K). Shape several 1/4-inch green balls into flattened ovals and apply around neckline for scarf (figure L). Repeat until scarf is finished.

13. To make tassels, repeat above instructions. You may wish to make each log slightly bigger for the tassels. Press one tassel to front side and one to the back. Draw gather marks with a needle tool.

14. Gently remove pen. Bake all components (except moose pen) at 265 F degrees for an hour. Allow to cool.