Nativity - White Sheep

Original design created by Amy Stevens 

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

Standing- Stands 2" tall, 1 1/2" wide, 2 1/2" long. 

Sitting- Stands 1 1/2" tall, 1 1/2" wide, 2 1/2" long. 

You will need:

Sculpey polymer clay:

White (001)

Pink (1209 ballerina)

2 black seed beads (per sheep)

ball headed straight pin or stylus

flat headed straight pin

toothpicks

1) First, mix 1/2 white &1/2 pink (ballerina) for head, ears & legs. Roll out each body part into the desired size. 

Head - 3/4" light pink ball (per sheep)

Ears - Two 7/16"  light pink balls (per sheep)

Hair - 3/8" white ball (per sheep)

Body - 1 1/4" & 1" white balls (per sheep)

Legs - Standing - Four 9/16" light pink balls. Sitting - Four 5/16" ballerina (pink) balls

Tail - 3/8" white ball  (per sheep)

2) Legs: Standing Sheep - Roll four 9/16" ballerina (pink) balls into very short, slightly tapered logs. Use thumb or a flat surface to flatten the top, and slightly flatten the bottoms. Bunch logs together, smaller ends up. When in desired position, gently tap or press legs on a flat surface to flatten the bottom completely so it will stand steadily. Use thumb to indent the outside of each leg just 1/8-1/4" from top. Insert 1/2 toothpick through the length of each leg, leaving 3/4 exposed for the body to be pressed onto.

Sitting Sheep- Flatten four 5/16" ballerina (pink) balls to 1/16-1/8" thickness. Place on bottom of body after body is molded & texture is added. 

3) Body: Roll 1 5/8" white ball into a rounded oval. Flatten the oval slightly. Separate 1" ball into various different balls ranging from 5/16" to 11/64" and place onto flattened oval, mainly on to and sides. Use flat or ball headed straight pin or stylus to smooth out creases and add texture all around the body. Insert 1/2 toothpick where head will be located, leaving 1/3 of it exposed for the head to be pressed onto. 

4) Tail: Use flat or ball headed straight pin or stylus to add texture to 3/8" white ball. Press tail firmly to body, and touch up texture if needed. 

5) Head: Roll 3/4" ballerina (pink) ball into rounded teardrop. Flatten the back end slightly. Press onto toothpick and gently wiggle/pivot around the toothpick onto the body to create a bond between the two. 

6) Ears: Roll two 7/16" ballerina (pink) balls into rounded teardrops. Slightly elongate the tapered end, flatten bottom side of teardrop and press firmly onto head. 

7) Hair: Roll 3/8" white ball into an oval & flatten to apron 1/8" thickness. Use flat or ball headed straight pin or stylus to add texture the flattend oval.  Press tail firmly to body, and touch up texture if needed. 

8) 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 on the outside of the eye, once in the middle, and once just above to create eyelash indents. Repeat again for the second eye. 
Use narrow edge of flat headed pin to create an elongated heart shape for mouth.

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.)

Have fun, and enjoy expressing your creativity!