My Etsy Shop is Open!

I've finally launced my first series of Bookworms on Etsy! I'm so excited about these little cuties! They are absolutely perfect for book readers of all ages. I love them because you can move them around on the bookshelf and have your kids find them. Get you kids excited to read a book by encouraging them to find the bookworm, then they get to pick out a book to read. These are also great teacher appreciation gifts. You can put them in your terrarium, and anywhere you want to add just a little bit of charm. Come check out my ExpressiveCreativity Shop!






https://www.etsy.com/shop/ExpressiveCreativity?ref=search_shop_redirect

Nativity - Camel

Original design created by Amy Stevens 

(occasionally available for purchase on etsy-http://www.etsy.com/people/ExpressiveCreativity)

Stands 3" tall, 1 1/4" wide, 2 7/8" long. 


You will need:
Sculpey polymer clay:
Camel (042)
Hazelnut (1657)

2 black seed beads
ball headed straight pin or stylus
flat headed straight pin
tin  foil
toothpicks

Head - 1" camel ball
Ears - Two 3/8" camel balls
Body - 1 1/2" camel ball or less
Legs - Four 13/16" camel balls
Neck - 3/4" camel ball
Tail - 1/4" mixed ball
Hoofs: Four 5/16" mixed balls

1) Legs: Roll four 13/16" hazelnut balls into approximately 1 1/2" long, slightly tapered logs. Pinch slightly above center and roll between fingers to create upper leg indent. Pinch slightly below center and roll between fingers to create lower leg indent. Use thumb or a flat surface to flatten the top. Angle the top on the outer edge and slightly flatten the bottoms. Make sure back legs are slightly longer than the front. Bunch two logs together, smaller ends up, angle legs toward each other. When in desired position, gently tap or press legs on a flat surface to flatten the bottom completely so it will stand steadily. Repeat for second set of legs. Once legs are standing, insert 1/2 toothpick through the length of each leg, leaving 1/2 exposed for the body to be pressed onto. Position front and back legs 1/4" to 1/3" apart to allow more stability for the body. 

2) Hoofs: Roll four 5/16" black balls into approximately 3/4" long logs. Taper both ends and bend ends toward each other to create a horse shoe. Gently press onto each leg, then tap or press on a flat surface to flatten the bottom so it will stand steadily. 

3) Body: Roll a small piece of tin foil into a rounded oval. [Using tin foil makes the thickness of the clay thinner. The thicker the clay the more likely you will get cracks in the clay during, or after the baking process. So, take my advice, don't skip the foil. :) ] Take 1 1/2" hazelnut ball or less and form over the tin foil into a slightly larger rounded oval. Flatten the oval slightly, to create a tummy. Then taper the top end where the hump will be. Firmly press your thumb into the thin side of oval to create bow in back near it's rump, and a small hump near it's neck. Round one hump, slightly shorter, for rump. Create a steeper slope for the other hump for it's neck. Insert 1/2 toothpick where head will be located, leaving 1/3 of it exposed for the neck to be pressed onto. 

4) Tail: Roll 1/4" mixed ball into a cylinder. Gently round one end of cylinder and taper the other. Use stylus, or ball end of pin, to create an indent for tail on body. Press tail firmly to body at a 90° angle, curve tail down away from rump. Curve end of tail upwards just slightly. 

5) Neck: Roll 3/4" hazelnut ball into a slightly tapered log. Looking at the ends of the log it looks like a circle, you will want to slightly flatten the circular shape into a pointed oval, thinner on the upper part of the neck, and rounder on the under part of the neck. Create an indent on the smaller end for the head to rest in. Using your finger as a guide, curl the tapered log around your finger. Flatten the wider end, and indent to curve around the body for easier smoothing. Press wide end into the toothpick, and smooth onto the body. Feel free to add more clay or take some away to make it look right. There should be no visible seems. Press 1/3 of a toothpick into the small end for the head to press onto. 

6) Head: Roll 1" hazelnut ball into a slightly boxy egg shape. Flatten slightly. Pick one end for the nose, on this side press into the bottom to create a jaw line and flatten/widen slightly. Leave enough on the bottom to play with the mouth. On the opposite end where the eyes will be, round the bottom end to fit into the neck pocket. On the top, near the middle, round the edges slightly, and press the sides in a bit, so the nose is only a little wider than the forehead. Press onto toothpick and gently wiggle/pivot around the toothpick onto the body to create a bond between the two. Smooth out the seams, feel free to add more clay or take some away to make it look right. Use pointed end of pin, or stylus to make slits for nostrils, and lip indent. Use the side of the pin or stylus to pull some clay down and away just under the top lip for the lower lip. Round out the edges and adjust the lip to be positioned where you want it to be. 

7) Ears: Roll two 3/8" hazelnut balls into rounded triangles. Use stylus, or ball end of pin, to create a rounded triangular indent for hallow of ear. Flatten edges along hallow for an even edge. Press firmly onto head, with most of the hollow toward the head. Pinch the top of each ear to make them more triangular, than round. 

8) Eyes: Use flat headed pin to gently mark where seed beads will go on face. Place one bead on straight pin. Press surface of bead into clay, but do not let the pin touch the clay. Carefully slide pin out of bead. Use the flat end of the pin to gently push bead farther into the clay. Press the point of the pin on the outside of the eye, once in the middle, and once just above to create eyelash indents. Repeat again for the second eye. 

9) Bake: Follow directions on Sculpey clay packaging. (275° F (130° C) 15 min per/ 1/4" (6mm))

(Word to the wise: Be sure to purchase a thermometer for your oven to make sure it is at the correct temperature. Let it heat up for at least 30 minutes or longer. To test your oven, take a plain piece of clay and form a disc 1/2" wide by 1/4" tall and bake in your oven. Always open windows and turn on ventilation. It's normal to smell slight fumes, but if you begin to smell a lot of fumes, or see smoke, your oven is toooo hot! Remove it from your oven, set your oven for 10° lower, and try again with a different disc of clay. Also, if you are using a lighter color of clay, it has a tendency to brown or burn, so before you bake it... cover the pan with tin foil, just like you would a turkey. :) Also, once your items are done baking, turn your oven off and crack the door with a wooden spoon, but allow your pieces to cool in the oven. This will also help prevent cracking because it will let the items cool off evenly and gradually.)

Most of all, have fun while expressing your creativity!

Sneak Peak for Spring

Here is a sneak peak into what I've been making for this Spring, and to hopefully jump start things for the summer. Better pictures will be posted in the next month.

Hanging Wooden Towel Holder

Living in an apartment can be tricky, especially when there are more than two in the apartment. I'm always looking for ways to make the most out of what little space we have, while still making it look attractive, clean, and organized. One thing that drives me nuts is having to find space for your towel in your bedroom, because there is not enough space in the bathroom, where it should be! So I came up with a way to hang our towels in the bathroom for under $5.00, and without having to drill huge holes in the wall.

I used some wood I already had, purchased some knobs from Walmart, and used a little left over oil paint that I had to "stain" the wood the color I wanted. After the paint dried, I sealed it with a matt clear finish to keep the wood from being damaged from any moisture from the bathroom. Then I drilled the holes, screwed the knobs in, put 2 sawtooth picture frame hangers on the back, and hammered 2 small nails in the wall. All said and done, I had my towels hanging in the bathroom within a day! Problem solved.

I even had some help from my son. He wanted to paint too, so he used a pen to "paint" on the back. :)

Anyway, if you're trying to find a quick, cheep, easy way to keep your towels off the floor, out of the bedrooms, and into the bathroom, give this a shot. If you do, I'd love to hear how your towel hangers turn out!

Victor the Vampire

Original design created by Amy Stevens 

Happy Halloween! 

This little guy was so much fun to make! I actually made him last year, but with the move I lost my notes. Complete bummer!! But I did take pictures this time so it is easier to see how he goes together. I hope you like Victor the Vampire just as much as I do!

Please let me know if you like the picture view or the written instructions (like in previous posts) better, or if you think a combo would be best.

Stands 2 1/2" tall, 1 1/4" wide, 1" deep.

You will need:
Polymer clay: 
Black
White
Red
Beige

2 black seed beads
roller or pasta machine
clay tool (as shown in picture)
flat headed straight pin
toothpicks

Bake: Follow directions on packaging. (For Sculpy it is 275° F (130° C) 15 min per/ 1/4" (6mm))

(Be sure to purchase a thermometer for your oven to make sure it is at the correct temperature. Take a plain piece of clay and form a disc 1/2" wide by 1/4" tall and bake in your oven. Always open windows and turn on ventilation. If you begin to smell fumes, or see smoke, your oven is too hot! Remove it from your oven, set your oven for 10° lower, and try again with a different disc of clay.)

Most of all, have fun while expressing your creativity!

Dragon for Dad

As you know, I was working on a bunch of Christmas gifts in the months prior to Christmas so that I could get them off before the rush of the season. I wanted to wait until after Christmas to post them so as not to spoil the surprise. So you should be seeing some of my Christmas gift ideas soon.

One of the gifts I made over countless hours was a Dragon for my Dad. He has always loved dragons, and likes to collect them. Here are the pictures of the dragon I made for my Dad. I apologize, there will be no instructions for this due to the fact that it is so detailed, and it's a special piece for my Father, but I hope you enjoy the pictures. Let me know what you think!

Rainy Day

We get a lot of rain here in Georgia. So, even though it's not spring right now, I thought it would be fun to make a little Rainy Day piece. I hope you enjoy it!

Original design created by Amy Stevens 

(occasionally available for purchase on etsy-http://www.etsy.com/people/ExpressiveCreativity)

You will need:

SculpeyIII polymer clay:
Yellow                Orange
Beige                 Red
Dark Gray          Green
Blue                   Purple
2 black seed beads
Ball headed straight pin or stylus
Tin foil
Toothpicks
Clay conditioner



Boy:
1) Head - 11/16" beige ball
Nose - 1/8" beige ball
Hands - two 3/8" beige balls

Body - 7/8" yellow ball
Collar - 5/16" yellow ball
Shoes - two 5/8" yellow balls
Arms - two 21/32" yellow balls
Hat - 5/8" yellow ball (or more)

Trim - 5/16" dark gray ball (or less)
Sole of shoes- two 5/16" dark gray balls
Buttons - two 1/8" dark gray balls 




2) Body: First, create an elongated oval of foil, and cover with the 7/8" yellow ball. Flatten the bottom, tapper the top, and widen the bottom to make a slight bell shape. Flatten the top and insert a 1/2" toothpick for the head. For the trim, roll 5/16" dark gray ball (or less) into a 4" strand. Flatten to desired width (mine is approx. 3/16"), and press firmly onto the bottom of the Jacket. Connect the ends in the back, and smooth the seem. 

3) Shoes: Roll two 5/8" yellow balls into elongated oval shapes. Slightly flatten and square out the sides. Pinch the middle of each oval to make a peanut shape, with one end slightly bigger than the other. Insert a 1/4" of a toothpick into the small end of each shoe, and press firmly onto the body/jacket. For the sole of the shoes, roll two 5/16" dark gray balls into elongated ovals. Flatten to the width of the shoe, or less. Match the curvature of the sole to the shoe, and press firmly onto each shoe. Press body firmly onto a flat surface to stabilize the piece. 

4) Arms & Hands: Roll two 21/32" yellow balls into tapered logs. Bell the wider end to make room for the hands. Flatten slightly, lengthwise, onto a flat surface. Choosing a right and a left arm, curve the smaller 1/3" of the arm up for a shoulder. Press firmly onto the body/jacket. Adjust the arm to the desired position. Wash your hands to prevent mixing of colors. Roll two 3/8" beige balls into slight ovals. Flatten slightly, and press firmly onto the bell of each arm. Press hands together firmly. 

5) Collar & Head: Roll 5/16" yellow ball into a 3" long strand. Curve into the shape desired and flatten slightly to create a thin outer edge, and a thick inner edge. Press onto body. Wash your hands to prevent mixing of colors. Roll 11/16" beige ball into a slight oval shape. Press firmly onto the toothpick, pivot/swivel around the toothpick to create a solid bond between the body and the head. Roll 1/8" beige ball into an oval. Flatten slightly, and press firmly onto the middle of the head. 

6) Eyes & Mouth: Use flat headed pin to gently mark where seed beads will go on face. Place one bead on straight pin. Press surface of bead into clay, but do not let the pin touch the clay. Carefully slide pin out of bead. Use the flat end of the pin to gently push bead farther into the clay. Press the point of the pin just outside of the eye in the middle and again just above to create eyelash indents. Repeat again for the second eye. For mouth, just under the center of the nose, push the point of a pin into the clay about 1/16" in. While removing the pin, curve slightly up and to the right. 

7) Buttons: Flatten two 1/8" dark gray balls into desired width. Using the ball end of a pin or stylus, press firmly onto the body/jacket, just underneath the arms. Using the point of a pin or stylus, press 4 holes into each button. 

9) Hat: Roll a small portion of yellow clay into a slight oval, and flatten on a flat surface to create a dome for the center of the hat to rest on. Press firmly onto the head. With the remaining yellow clay, roll into an oval and flatten just enough to help it through the clay conditioner. Insert the clay widthwise into the conditioner to get as close to a circular shape as possible. Once flattened to the desired width, (mine is approx. 1/16"), press onto the top of the head/dome. Curve the front down and around the face. Gently pinch the sides to create a slight flare. Round out the back of the hat down, just past or near the center of the collar. 

Umbrella

1) 3/4" to 7/8" balls of each Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, & Purple
Dark Gray - 3/4" ball (or more)

7 toothpicks

2) Circle: On a piece of parchment paper, draw a circle approximately 4 inches in diameter. Using a pencil or pen, split the circle into 6 even segments. Form each color into a triangle. Using the circle and segments as a guide, flatten each triangle until it fits within each circle segment, without any spaces. (Be sure to wash your hands after working with each individual color, to prevent mixing colors. It is especially important when going from a dark color to a light, or vise versa.) Once each segment is complete, carefully, but firmly press each color together, smoothing out each seam, both on top and on bottom. Be careful not to blend or smear the colors. Place over your circle guide to make sure the circle is even. 

3) Support: Flatten 5/8" dark gray ball slightly, and press firmly onto the center of the umbrella. This will be the underneath part of the umbrella. Turn the umbrella over, and cut 6 toothpicks to be just 1/4" shorter than the length of each seam. Press each toothpick into the dark gray ball on the underside of the umbrella, and press up against the umbrella to make it stable. Roll a small amount of dark gray clay into a strip. Find the center of each toothpick, and place the strip across each toothpick and press into the clay on each side of the toothpick to stabilize each segment. Once the frame is stable, you can form the umbrella to your desired shape. I draped the middle of each color down between each set of toothpicks. 

4) Handle: Flatten 1/4" gray ball and Press firmly onto the center top of the umbrella. Press the last toothpick up through the bottom just enough to be stable. Don't push it too far or it will pop up through the top of the umbrella. 

5) Hole: Press the handle of the umbrella into the hands of the boy, just to where you know it will be stable to be held after baking. Remove from his hands. 

6) Bake: Follow directions on Sculpey clay packaging. (275° F (130° C) 15 min per/ 1/4" (6mm))  Cover your baking sheet with parchment paper or use a silicon sheet. And be sure to place the umbrella upside down on top of some polyester batting (quilt batting) to prevent it from collapsing or having any flat spots after baking. 

(Word to the wise: Be sure to purchase a thermometer for your oven to make sure it is at the correct temperature. Let it heat up for at least 30 minutes or longer. To test your oven, take a plain piece of clay and form a disc 1/2" wide by 1/4" tall and bake in your oven. Always open windows and turn on ventilation. It's normal to smell slight fumes, but if you begin to smell a lot of fumes, or see smoke, your oven is toooo hot! Remove it from your oven, set your oven for 10° lower, and try again with a different disc of clay. 

Also, if you are using a lighter color of clay, it has a tendency to brown or burn, so before you bake it... cover the pan with tin foil, just like you would a turkey. :) Also, once your items are done baking, turn your oven off and crack the door with a wooden spoon, but allow your pieces to cool in the oven. This will also help prevent cracking because it will let the items cool off evenly and gradually.)

Have fun!