Sculpey III® Cute Koala

Getting Started:

Please make sure your work area is covered and you are not working on an unprotected surface. We recommend working on the Sculpey® Oven-Safe Work Mat, wax paper, metal baking sheet, or disposable foil. Uncured clay may damage unprotected furniture or finished surfaces. Be sure to cover your crafting area appropriately.

Start with clean hands, unwrap and knead clay until soft and smooth, or condition by running clay though a Pasta Machine. We recommend using a designated machine for clay purposes only. When working with multiple colors, clean hands with soap and water or baby wipes (we have found that baby wipes work best) before switching colors. Shape clay, pressing pieces firmly together. Wash hands after use.

Baking:

Begin by preheating oven to 275 °F (130 °C). After you are done creating; for best results bake clay on an oven-proof surface such metal, aluminum foil, an index card or the Sculpey® Clay Mat at 275°F (130 °C) for 15 minutes per 1/4" (6 mm) thickness according to package directions. Oven safe glass or ceramic surfaces are also acceptable for baking; however please note that the baking times may take longer as the glass or ceramic surfaces take longer to heat up. For best baking results, use an oven thermometer. DO NOT USE MICROWAVE OVEN. DO NOT EXCEED THE ABOVE TEMPERATURE OR RECOMMENDED BAKING TIME.

You will need about 1/2 block of black & white for your koala. Set aside a small piece of white & black, plus your toothpick for later.

Take your piece of white and black and mush them all together. Keep mixing until you have one new solid color of grey without any streaks.

Make your new color into a log. Use a toothpick to make sections in that log. You will need two BIG sections and 5 small sections.

Cut your log apart where you made it into sections. Roll all your sections into balls. Make one big section into a teardrop. Make two small balls into teardrops as well. Set your shapes out to look like the picture shown at right.

Place the large teardrop on the bottom and the large ball on top. Press down to join the two pieces together.

Add the two large teardrops to the bottom. Press the teardrops flat in the from to look like foot pads.

Add two more of the balls to the koala by making teardrops and using them as arms. Position them as you’d like.

Use the extra black clay to make a large nose and eyes. Flatten the last two round balls and attach to the head as ears.

Also use the extra clay to add details to the feet.

Use the extra white clay to make centers for the ears. Use the toothpick to “scratch” the white clay and make it look furry. Bake according to the directions in Step 1. After baking, you can add details using acrylic paint if you’d like.