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Creep-a-Day Challenge Day 10

Polymer Clay Jack



Today was a slacker day and I didn't get to my craft until later in the evening. Turns out, some of the supplies I thought I had, I didn't. After a few moments of having no idea what to do, I settled on making a polymer clay jack o' lantern. There are no step-by-step photos because I didn't want to get clay on my phone.

Cautions: Polymer clay can give off fumes--make sure you are in a well-ventilated kitchen. They say it is best to keep your polymer clay tools strictly for polymer clay.

Supplies:
I package of orange polymer clay (I used Sculpey)
1 package of brown polymer clay (Sculpey again!)
Parchment paper

Tools:
Plastic stylus
Glass baking pan

The How:

Preheat your oven to 275 degrees. Line the bottom of your baking pan with a layer of parchment paper.

Condition your clay by kneading it with your hands. When the clay is pliable and soft, you'll know it is conditioned. I used two sections of orange clay for the pumpkin and rolled them in a ball. You can smooth out any cracks by rubbing your thumb over them.

I took my stylus and made a hole in the bottom of the pumpkin in case I ever want to use it as a pencil topper or make a body for it. (you never know where a craft might lead you)

Next I made a small hole on the top of the pumpkin and then two off-kilter eyes and a gaping mouth.

I broke off a small bit of brown clay and rolled it out into a "snake" about 1/2 inch long.  Twist the snake to give it a vine appearance. Put one end of the snake/vine into the top hole of the pumpkin.

Add wrinkles to your jack o' lantern around jack's eyes and mouth and add creases around the pumpkin to give it some character.

Once you are pleased with the appearance, put the jack o' lantern on the parchment-lined baking pan and put in the oven for 15 minutes.

Remove the pan and let the jack o' lantern cool completely. Now you can make your own pumpkin patch!

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