How to Make a Polymer Clay Penguin
Make the body of the penguin., Make the head of the penguin., Attach the head to the body., Roll some white clay out into a thin sheet., Cut an oval and a heart out of the white clay., Stick the white shapes onto the body and head., Roll some black...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Make the body of the penguin.
Knead some black clay until it turns soft.
Roll it into an oval, about twice the height of your thumbnail.
Flatten one of the oval's pointy ends against your work surface until it can stand on its own. -
Step 2: Make the head of the penguin.
Roll some black clay into a small ball, about the same size as your thumbnail, or half the height of the body. , Gently press the head on top of the penguin's body.
Don't worry if the head squishes a little.
If you'd like, you can use a clay sculpting tool to smooth the seam between the head and the body. , Clean your hands first, then knead some white clay until it turns soft.
Roll the clay into a thin sheet using an acrylic rolling pin or tube.
You can find acrylic rolling pins in the polymer clay aisle of an arts and crafts store.
If you can't find any acrylic rolling pins, you can use a regular rolling pin, a fat marker, or any other smooth cylinder. , The oval will make the belly and the heart will make the face.
Both need to be a little smaller than the body and head respectively.
You can use mini polymer clay cutters for this; they look like miniature cookie cutters.
You can also cut the shapes freehand with a craft blade instead., Gently press the white heart onto the head, and the white oval onto the body.
Make sure that the bottom of the heart and the top of the oval go into the crease between the head and body. , Clean your hands again, and knead some more black clay until it turns soft.
Roll the clay into a thick, black sheet.
Plan on making it twice as thick as the white sheet.
This will eventually make the wings. , Start by cutting an oval out of the clay, a little bit shorter than the body.
Cut the oval in half, lengthwise, so that you end up with two semi-ovals.
You can use a craft blade to do this., Gently press the wings down onto the body to either side of the white belly.
The flat edges of the wings should be facing the white belly.
The tips of the wings should be nestled into the crease between the head and the body.
Don't worry if the wings overlap the white belly a little.
Consider flipping the bottom of the wings outwards for a cute touch., Clean your hands, and knead some orange clay.
Roll the clay into a tiny teardrop or cone. , Press the bottom of the teardrop/cone into the middle of the penguin's face.Use a craft blade to cut the beak open after you attach it, if desired.
This will give your penguin an open mouth instead of a closed one. , Roll a small ball out of orange clay.
Cut the ball in half using a craft blade.
Cut two notches into each dome to make the feet., Turn the penguin upside down.
Pinch the back of both feet, then press them into the base of the body.
Make sure that the front of the feet (the notched parts) stick out from under the body.
Place the penguin right-side-up against the table, and adjust the feet, if needed., If you wish to turn this penguin into a charm, press a jewelry eyehook through the top of the head and into the body.
If the hook is very long, trim it down first using a pair of wire cutters., Turn on your oven, and let it reach the recommended temperature, usually between 215 to 325°F (102 to 163°C).
Place the penguin on a foil-lined baking sheet, and bake it for the recommended time, typically 15 to 20 minutes.
Each company will be a little different, so you will need to read the label on the clay's wrapper.
If your penguin has a lot of fingerprints on it, gently brush it with a soft-bristled paintbrush before you bake it. , Use a black permanent marker to draw two dots on the penguin's face, right above the beak.
Position them in the loops of the "heart".You can also use a thin brush and acrylic paint. , If you wish to make the penguin shiny, get some glaze meant for polymer clay.
Paint the penguin with the glaze, then let the glaze dry.Refer to the label on the bottle, as each brand's drying times will vary. -
Step 3: Attach the head to the body.
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Step 4: Roll some white clay out into a thin sheet.
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Step 5: Cut an oval and a heart out of the white clay.
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Step 6: Stick the white shapes onto the body and head.
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Step 7: Roll some black clay into a thick sheet.
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Step 8: Cut two wings out of the sheet.
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Step 9: Add the wings onto the penguin's body.
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Step 10: Make a beak.
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Step 11: Attach the beak.
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Step 12: Make the feet.
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Step 13: Attach the feet.
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Step 14: Consider inserting an eyehook.
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Step 15: Bake the penguin according to the manufacturer's baking times and temperatures.
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Step 16: Allow the penguin to cool before adding the eyes.
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Step 17: Glaze the penguin
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Step 18: if desired.
Detailed Guide
Knead some black clay until it turns soft.
Roll it into an oval, about twice the height of your thumbnail.
Flatten one of the oval's pointy ends against your work surface until it can stand on its own.
Roll some black clay into a small ball, about the same size as your thumbnail, or half the height of the body. , Gently press the head on top of the penguin's body.
Don't worry if the head squishes a little.
If you'd like, you can use a clay sculpting tool to smooth the seam between the head and the body. , Clean your hands first, then knead some white clay until it turns soft.
Roll the clay into a thin sheet using an acrylic rolling pin or tube.
You can find acrylic rolling pins in the polymer clay aisle of an arts and crafts store.
If you can't find any acrylic rolling pins, you can use a regular rolling pin, a fat marker, or any other smooth cylinder. , The oval will make the belly and the heart will make the face.
Both need to be a little smaller than the body and head respectively.
You can use mini polymer clay cutters for this; they look like miniature cookie cutters.
You can also cut the shapes freehand with a craft blade instead., Gently press the white heart onto the head, and the white oval onto the body.
Make sure that the bottom of the heart and the top of the oval go into the crease between the head and body. , Clean your hands again, and knead some more black clay until it turns soft.
Roll the clay into a thick, black sheet.
Plan on making it twice as thick as the white sheet.
This will eventually make the wings. , Start by cutting an oval out of the clay, a little bit shorter than the body.
Cut the oval in half, lengthwise, so that you end up with two semi-ovals.
You can use a craft blade to do this., Gently press the wings down onto the body to either side of the white belly.
The flat edges of the wings should be facing the white belly.
The tips of the wings should be nestled into the crease between the head and the body.
Don't worry if the wings overlap the white belly a little.
Consider flipping the bottom of the wings outwards for a cute touch., Clean your hands, and knead some orange clay.
Roll the clay into a tiny teardrop or cone. , Press the bottom of the teardrop/cone into the middle of the penguin's face.Use a craft blade to cut the beak open after you attach it, if desired.
This will give your penguin an open mouth instead of a closed one. , Roll a small ball out of orange clay.
Cut the ball in half using a craft blade.
Cut two notches into each dome to make the feet., Turn the penguin upside down.
Pinch the back of both feet, then press them into the base of the body.
Make sure that the front of the feet (the notched parts) stick out from under the body.
Place the penguin right-side-up against the table, and adjust the feet, if needed., If you wish to turn this penguin into a charm, press a jewelry eyehook through the top of the head and into the body.
If the hook is very long, trim it down first using a pair of wire cutters., Turn on your oven, and let it reach the recommended temperature, usually between 215 to 325°F (102 to 163°C).
Place the penguin on a foil-lined baking sheet, and bake it for the recommended time, typically 15 to 20 minutes.
Each company will be a little different, so you will need to read the label on the clay's wrapper.
If your penguin has a lot of fingerprints on it, gently brush it with a soft-bristled paintbrush before you bake it. , Use a black permanent marker to draw two dots on the penguin's face, right above the beak.
Position them in the loops of the "heart".You can also use a thin brush and acrylic paint. , If you wish to make the penguin shiny, get some glaze meant for polymer clay.
Paint the penguin with the glaze, then let the glaze dry.Refer to the label on the bottle, as each brand's drying times will vary.
About the Author
Patricia Murray
Creates helpful guides on cooking to inspire and educate readers.
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