Sculpey oven baked clay sitting duck tutorial

I recently received a package of clay tools, shape cutters, texture sheets and a sampler pack of oven bake clay from Sculpey for the tutorial exchange held on Totally tutorials --thanks Kym!  Check out www.sculpey.com for more fun projects with clay, and be sure to check out Totally tutorials for tons of tutorials of all kinds!  

The sitting Mallard duck is quick and easy and looks great on a mantle, shelf or table with his legs hanging over the sides.  Make more than one and you can have all your ducks in a row! (I couldn't resist)

You will need:

Sculpey oven baked clay in Green, beige, white, yellow, brown, gray, lt. blue, and optional black

Sculpey clay tools

Premo small leaf cutter (optional)

Two glass E sized seed beads

X-acto knife

Sculpey gloss glaze

Small paintbrush

Home oven

Waxed paper, aluminum foil

E-6000 glue or tacky craft glue

Medium twine or cord

Ruler

Scissors

Pattern for breast, beak and wings

1.     Gather your supplies. Download the pattern for the beak, breast and wings.  Cover your work surface with waxed paper.

2.     Make the duck body.  Mix a block of white and beige clay together.  Knead with your hands to condition.  You will end up with about a 2-inch slightly varicolored ball of clay.  As you roll the clay in your hands put a little pressure on one end to form a slight point. (Neck area) Flatten the opposite end for the bottom.  (See photo)

3.     Break a toothpick in half and insert into the neck area.  This will secure the head.  To make the head condition and roll some green clay into a 1-inch ball. Put pressure on one end slightly to narrow the neck area slightly. (See photo) and insert onto the body.

4.     Trace the breast pattern onto a piece of paper and cut out.  Place it on some thinly rolled out brown clay and using an X-acto knife, cut it out.  Press onto the front of the body with your fingers. 

5.     Using the pointed tool make two deep holes in the body front under the breast. (This will be where you insert the cord for the legs.)

6.     Trace and cut out the pattern for the wings.  Roll out some gray clay thinly and use the pattern to cut out two wings.  Place a wing on the side of the body and bring the ends to the front and press in place.  Repeat for the opposite side. (See photo)

7.     Make a thin snake from a tiny amount of brown clay by rolling on your work surface.  Press onto the bottom tips of the wings on each side and cut off the excess.  Repeat this step with some lt. blue clay. Use the needle tool to press in lines on each wing tip.  (See photos) While you have the needle tool press some downward facing lines on the breast as well.

8.     Cut out the beak pattern and roll out some yellow clay a bit thicker than you did for the other pieces.  Cut out two.  Using a ¾” piece of a toothpick lay it on one beak piece and then press the other piece on top leaving a small bit of toothpick exposed. (Basically you are sandwiching the toothpick between to beak pieces) Use a pointed end of a clay tool to press in two indentations in the beak. Carefully insert into the head. (It may be easier to make pilot hole in the head with the needle tool)  Use the blunt end of a clay tool to press all around the area where the beak is attached to the head.

9.     For the feet, roll a piece of yellow clay into a ½” ball.  Flatten slightly with your fingers and shape one end into a rounded point.  Use the pointed end of a clay tool to make three indentations (webbed foot) then use the same tool to drill a hole all the way through the foot.  Repeat for the second foot.  Each foot will be ¼” in thickness.

10. Roll out a piece of white clay thinly and cut into a 1/8” wide flat strip.  Attach around the neck and press to secure.

11. Use the pointed tool to press in two E size seed beads on each side for eyes.  Use the needle tool to make three lines by each eye.  (See photo)

12. Optional step:  Roll out some black clay very thin and using the leaf cutter cut out three shapes.  Turn the duck to the back and attach to the bottom to represent tail feathers. 

13. Cover a baking sheet with aluminum foil and bake the body and feet in a pre-heated 275-degree oven for 15 minutes per thickness. (About 45 minutes)  Do not over bake.  Do not use a microwave oven.  After the pieces have cooled, brush on a thin coat of Sculpey gloss glaze and let dry.

14. Cut two pieces of tan cord or thick yarn 5 inches each.  Use a dab of glue on the ends to stop fraying if necessary.  Thread one end of the cord through the hole in a foot and knot it to secure.  Repeat with the second cord and other foot.  Dab a bit of glue in a hole in the body and using the blunt end of a broken toothpick push the opposite end of a foot with the cord into the body, and repeat for second foot.  Let dry. 

Note:  I made him as a Mallard but you can easily make him in any color.  And wouldn't he look cute with his legs hanging over the side of an Easter basket?