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!