Original design created by Amy Stevens
(occasionally available for purchase on etsy-http://www.etsy.com/people/ExpressiveCreativity)
You will need:
Gray White
Pink Brown
Green Yellow
Orange
any other colors you want for your eggs
4 black seed beads
Ball headed straight pin or stylus
Tin foil
Toothpicks
Clay extruder
Clay conditioner
1) First, combine 1/2 gray and 1/2 white for the desired shade of gray.
Head - 9/16" gray ball
Cheeks - two 1/8" white balls
Nose - 1/8" pink ball (or less)
Ears - two 3/8" gray balls and two 7/32" white balls
Body - 13/16" gray ball
Tummy - 1/4" white ball (or less)
Feet - two 1/2" gray balls
Pads of feet - six 3/32" white balls and two 1/8" white balls
Arms - two 13/32" gray balls
Tail - 5/16" white ball
Egg - 5/32" ball (color(s) of choice)
2) Body: Roll 13/16" gray ball into a rounded, slightly teardrop shape. Flatten the bottom slightly. Roll 1/4" white ball into slightly tapered oval, flatten and press onto front of the body. Press a toothpick into the top for the head.
3) Feet: Roll two 1/2" gray balls into rounded teardrop shapes. Slightly flatten and square out the sides and indent the bottom of each foot. Press firmly onto the body. Roll two 1/8" white balls into rounded teardrop shapes. Slightly flatten and press onto the center of each foot. Slightly flatten each 3/32" white ball and place three on each foot, just above the center.
7) Ears: Roll two 3/8" gray balls into long rounded teardrops. Press lengthwise into a flat surface, and pinch slightly to create a slight triangle shape. Use stylus, or ball end of pin, to create an indent for hollow of ear. Roll 7/32" white balls into a log and press into the hollow. Once again, use the stylus, or ball end of pin to create a slight indent in the ear. Flatten edges along hollow of the ear for an even edge. For upright ear, press firmly on the head, and gently curve the ear (sideways) toward the top of the head. For floppy ear, create an indent or crease on the inside of the ear, gently fold the ear over, and press firmly on the the head.
9) 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 just outside of the eye in the middle and again just above to create eyelash indents. For eyebrows make three slightly slanted indents just above the eye. Repeat again for the second eye.
Basket
1) First, take enough foil to make a cube 1/2" x 1/2" x 3/4". Press enough green clay around the cube so no foil is showing (approx. 1/16-1/8" thick.) Save block for inside of basket to support the weave.
Basket Weave, Rim, & Braided Handle - 5/8" brown ball (or more)
Grass - 3/8" green ball (or less)
Assorted colors - 5/32" balls. Divide balls in half and mix two different colors together to the desired color or design. Make 15 - 20 depending on your preference.
2) Basket Weave: Roll a brown ball into a log, and flatten just enough to help it through the clay conditioner. Continue to press the sheet through the clay conditioner to the desired thickness (mine was approx. 1/16" thick). Using a straight edge and a sharp knife or point of a stylus, cut strips about 4" long and 1/4" wide. Start with four strips, and begin weaving until you have four strips across, and three strips down. Place your green block on top of your weave, and begin weaving the strips up along the block until you reach the top (3 more strips). Press the weave onto the block, and cut the edges down to the edge.
2) Rim: Roll a brown ball into a long log. Press firmly along the edge ore the basket, rounding the corners. Press the edges together along the back of the basket, and smooth so there are no seams.
3) Braided Handle: Roll three brown balls into long thin strands. Press the three strands together and braid tightly, when done, pinch the ends so it doesn't unravel (it shouldn't but it could). Press braid onto a flat surface to the desired thickness (mine is approx. 1/8"). Cut of the ends to achieve your desired length (mine is approx. 2 1/4"). Attach ends of braid to the inside of the basket. Press firmly to ensure it doesn't pop off after baking.
4) Grass & Eggs: Prepare the clay extruder for your grass. Pick an insert that has holes that are roughly 1/32" or slightly smaller. Make sure the extruder is clean from any prior use to prevent mixing of colors. Roll 1 1/2" gray ball into a log just thin enough to fit into the clay extruder. Press the clay through the clay extruder. Once you have your long strands, use a pin or straight edge to cut the strands to various sizes in groups of 2, 3, or 4, and press into the basket. Once the outside edges of the basket have your desired amount of grass, begin placing eggs into the basket. You can add more grass if needed as you put your eggs in, to fill in any spaces or add more character to the basket. Feel free to curl some of the strands of grass down and out of the basket, while leaving some up, or curled into the basket.
Chick
1) Head/Body - 1/2" yellow ball
Wings - 1/4" yellow ball
Feet - two 7/32" orange balls
Beak - 3/32" orange ball
2) Head/Body: Roll 1/2" yellow ball into an oval, with a slight teardrop. Take the small end (tail) and press at an angle on a flat surface to push the tail out and away from the tummy. Press gently along the back to make a gentle curve. Taper the top (head) slightly to distinguish between the head and the body.
3) Wings: Roll two 1/4" yellow balls into tapered teardrops. Press the teardrop onto a flat surface, lengthwise, and curve the small end up toward the large end sidewise. Make sure to curve each wing in different directions, otherwise, you will have two left or two right wings, instead of one of each. :) Press firmly onto the body.
4) Feet: Roll two 7/32" orange balls into a rounded triangle. Flatten the triangle slightly. Cut two small triangles out from each foot, to create the toes, and smooth the edges gently. Press firmly onto body.
9) 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 just outside of the eye in the middle and again just above to create eyelash indents. For eyebrows make three slightly slanted indents just above the eye. Repeat again for the second eye.
10) 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.)
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