Better Homes & Gardens – Holiday Crafts 2019

HolidayCrafts 2019 57

to create the hat tip. Blend hat and apply
texture. Roll two tiny pieces of clay and
press onto head for eyes.
Using a clay roller or rolling pin, roll a
piece of polymer clay to^1 ∕ 4 inch thick. Cut
out a base using a round biscuit cutter or
scalloped cookie cutter. Use a foil ball to
apply texture to the base.
Using polymer clay adhesive, adhere
bottom of Santa to base; let dry.
Following manufacturer’s instructions,
bake the clay fi gure; let cool.

PAINT THE SANTA
Paint the face and hands the desired fl esh
color. Paint hat, body, and arms red. Paint
beard and base cream. Paint eyes black.
Let dry.
Mix a small amount of dark brown
paint with water. Brush wash onto fi gure,
focusing on areas where clay pieces meet.
Dab away excess mixture with a paper
towel; let dry.
Brush fi gure with matte varnish; let dry.

Mod Squad

shown on page 54

MATERIALS

 Plastic wrap

 Tape: clear or painters

 36-inch length of^1 ∕ 4 -inch-square

wooden dowel, cut in half

 Air-dry clay (such as Creative

Paperclay brand)

 Clay roller or rolling pin

 Crafts knife

 Fine-grit sandpaper

 Glue stick

 Acrylic paint: white, black, metallic

gold (such as DecoArt Extreme

Sheen: 24K Gold)

 Artists brushes

 Clear acrylic sealer: gloss

 Ribbon or cord

PREPARE THE CLAY

Tape corners of plastic wrap to work

surface. Place^1 ∕ 4 -inch-square dowels on

plastic wrap about 10 inches apart. Tear

off a large piece of air-dry clay and place it

between the dowels. Cover the clay with

another piece of plastic wrap.

Using a clay roller or rolling pin, roll

over the clay and dowels until clay is the

thickness of the dowels. Remove clay from

plastic wrap.

CUT AND DECORATE

THE ORNAMENTS

Trace patterns in Pattern Pack onto

white paper; cut out. Lay patterns

on clay; cut out shapes using a crafts

knife. Smooth out imperfections

using sandpaper.

For the round ornament, use a dowel

to etch the word JOY into ornament.

For the house ornament, press the

end of a dowel into clay four times to

make each^1 ∕ 2 -inch-square window. To

make the door, press about^5 ∕ 8 inch of

the square dowel into clay at bottom

edge of ornament. For the lightbulb

ornament, gently press a glue stick

cap randomly into the clay to make

round indentations.

Using a pencil, carve a scalloped edge

at ornament cap bases on lightbulb and

round ornaments. Poke a hole through

the top of each ornament.

Let ornaments dry for two to three

days. Sand any imperfections.

FINISH THE ORNAMENTS

Paint the front and back of each

ornament white; let dry. Apply second

coats of white; let dry. Using black, paint

circles on lightbulb, letters on round

ornament, and door on house; let dry.

Using metallic gold, paint ornament

caps on lightbulb and round ornaments

and windows on house; let dry. Brush

sealer on each ornament; let dry.

Thread ribbon or cord through each

ornament hole and tie ends together for

a hanging loop.