Better Homes & Gardens – Holiday Crafts 2019

Instructions

HolidayCrafts 2019 49

CHILDLIKE WONDER

Simple curving cloaks wrap the oven-baked clay fi gures of the Holy Family. Without

need for detail, the clay forms display the distinct looks of Joseph, Mary, and Baby Jesus.

The fi gures are assembled using only three pieces each: head, body, and cloak. Arrange

the Nativity scene on a footed stand with bottle-brush trees and artifi cial snow, or set

them in a purchased or homemade crèche.

Designer: STEPHANIE DUKE

MATERIALS

Oven-bake polymer clay: beige,
white, light blue, brown (such as
Sculpey brand)
Toothpicks
Polymer clay slicing tool (optional)
Acrylic clay roller
Baking sheet

MAKE MARY AND JOSEPH
Break off and knead a small section of beige
clay to soften. Roll the clay into a ball to
make a head; set aside. Repeat to make a
second beige head.
Break off and knead together two
sections of white clay. Roll into a ball
and set aside. Break off and knead two
more sections of white clay; roll into a
second ball.
Roll each white clay ball into a teardrop-
shape body. Flatten the top (narrow end)
and bottom (wide end). Break a toothpick

in half. Poke the blunt end of one toothpick

half into the center top of a body. Push a

beige head onto pointed end of toothpick.

Repeat to attach remaining head to

other body.

MAKE BABY JESUS

Break off one section of beige clay. Cut the

section in half with a slicing tool; knead and

roll each half into a ball. Shape one ball into

an oval-shape body. The remaining ball will

be baby’s head.

Break a toothpick into three equal parts.

Discard bottom two sections. Poke the

blunt end of top toothpick section into one

end of the body; push head onto pointed

end to make Baby Jesus.

FINISH THE FIGURES

Break off and knead one section each of

white, light blue, and brown clay; roll each

piece into a ball.

OVEN-BAKE CLAY AND SCULPTING TOOLS

shape beautiful result s.

ROLLER GUIDES ENSURE CONSISTENT THICKNESSES

WHILE SHAPING TOOLS FORM PRECISE DESIGNS.

Using an acrylic clay roller, roll the white

ball into a circle wide enough to wrap

around baby’s body. Place baby body on

top of the circle and wrap each side of

circle over the body. Fold and tuck bottom

of circle over bottom of body to fi nish

Baby Jesus.

Roll the light blue and brown clay balls

each into a fl at rounded triangle large

enough to cover a remaining body. Lay a

body on a triangle (cloak) so the bottom

straight edge of triangle extends slightly

past bottom of body. Referring to the

photo, opposite, pinch side edges of cloak

around the body. Place body upright and

shape bottom edge of cloak to fl are out

around bottom of body. Shape top of

cloak into a point and gently shape cloak

around head.

Following clay manufacturer’s

instructions, bake the clay; cool completely.