Clay Penguin Photo Holder

Materials

Kato Polyclay:
- two 3 oz. blocks of black
- 3 oz. brick of green
- 3 oz. brick of white
- 3 oz. brick of red
- 3 oz. brick of orange
- 3 oz. brick of purple
- 3 oz. brick of turquoise
- 3 oz. brick of magenta
3 straight pins
1/2" Kemper heart cutter
1" glass ice cube
5-1/2" piece of 16-gauge wire
wire cutter
needle-nose pliers
pasta machine or acrylic roller
white paint
paintbrush
toothpick
Nublade or knife
E6000 Adhesive
paper towel
circle template (optional)

Condition clay according to manufacturer's instructions.

Base

1. Roll a 1-1/4-inch ball of green and flatten into a 2-1/4" x 1-3/4" oval (figure A).

2. Roll a 3/4-inch ball of both white and red clay. Roll each into a log. Twist together and roll into a ball. Roll into a log, twisting as you lengthen the log. Press around the edge of the base. Cut off ends and press together (figure B).

3. Center and press the ice cube into the base.

4. Use pliers to curl one end of the wire. Press right behind ice cube (figure C).

Penguins

1. For the body, roll a 11/16-inch ball of black into an oval.

2. For the feet, create two 3/16-inch balls of orange; roll into teardrops and flatten. Use a toothpick to indent two toe lines in each foot. Press onto the bottom of the body (figure D).

3. For the wings, roll two 3/8-inch balls of black into teardrops. Flatten and press the widest end lining up with the top of the body onto both sides of the body and curl the ends out (figure E).

4. For the heart, flatten a sheet of white through the pasta maker at a #4 setting (3/64 inch). Use the heart cutter to cut out a heart and press onto the center of the body (figure F).

5. For the head, roll a 9/16-inch ball of black. For eyes, flatten two 3/32-inch balls of white into ovals. Press narrowest ends together slightly and press onto head. For pupils, roll two 1/16-inch balls of black and press onto upper part of each eye. For beak, roll a 1/4-inch ball of orange into a cone. Press onto the head below the eyes. Use the knife to make the mouth (figure G).

6. For the hat, roll a 5/8-inch ball of clay (magenta, purple or turquoise) into a 1-1/2-inch long stocking cap shape. Use the blunt end of a paintbrush to make a hole in the center of the hat. Gently roll the paintbrush around the hole, making the hole larger until it fits over the head. Press the hat around the top of the head and curl the end. For the pompom, roll a 1/4-inch ball of white. Use the rounded end of the paintbrush to make a hole in the pompom and press it onto the end of the hat (figure H).

7. Press a straight pin halfway into top of the body and press the head onto it (figure I).

8. Make three penguins and three hats, using turquoise, magenta and purple. Set the magenta penguin on top of the ice cube. Place the purple penguin on the right, pressing their wings together. Place the turquoise penguin on the left, pressing their wings together (figure J). Crinkle two pieces of paper towels and place under the two penguins to support them.

9. Bake according to manufacturer's instructions. When cooled, gently remove the penguins and place glue under each one, and replace them back on the cube and base.

10. Use the blunt end of a paintbrush and white paint to place dots randomly all over each hat.