Polymer clay penguin feet- FREE TUTORIAL

As I designed my new pattern for a penguin this month, I devised a way to make and attach polymer clay feet. I wanted to make them of that material to give a more realistic look. I don't know if I found an original way to do it, or if it is already widely known. Be as it may, as it succeeded, I will share my 'experiment' here on the blog.

POLYMER CLAY PENGUIN FEET - TUTORIAL

Step 1
What you need:
-Polymer clay (I use Fimo)

-Two cotter pins, four disks.
The pin and disks sizes depend on the size of your animal. I used 1 1/4 inches (35mm) cotter pins, and 18mm disks. I would suggest to use the longest cotter pin you have, as a part of its length needs to be stuck into the clay.

-Strong glue
-Acrylic paint

-Semi-gloss varnish, suitable for Fimo

-A brush
-Toothpicks

Step 2
Take two chunks from your clay batch, and roll them into identically sized balls. Again, the quantity depends on the size you want your feet to be. You might need to add or subtract material as you work.

Step 3
Insert the two cotter pins into each one of the Fimo balls.

Step 4
With a toothpick, roll some of the material from the edge of the ball, towards the center where the pin is. Smooth it to have an even surface. The head of your cotter pin must be securely embedded into the Fimo ball.

Step 5
Insert a disk in the pin and push it so that it is against the clay.

Step 6
Start sculpting your shape.
The disk should give you the dimension of the leg diameter.

As for the shaping goes, there are no rules, shape the feet as you like!
Some pictures of my sculpting process:

 I mostly do my sculpting with my hands and with the aid of a toothpick. I gently roll it on the clay surface to make it even.

 Remember to check that the two feet are evenly sized, and most of all, that they have the same height from the cotter pin to the base!

Step 7
When you have done with your sculpting, remove the disks.

Now it is baking time! Bake your two feet following the clay instructions.
Here is a foot already baked!

Step 8
Sand both feet with fine sandpaper, then wash and dry them.
Step 9
Now take the glue, put some around the disks hole, and insert the disks back on your legs. Let it dry.

 

Step 10
When the glue is dry you can proceed to paint and shade your feet. Again, here it is a matter of preference.
In this instance I have
-applied very little white acrylic with a dry brush, for a very subtle effect, on the whole feet surface
-painted the nails with three layers of black acrylic, then slightly shaded them with white for a 'worn' look
-covered with semigloss varnish, to protect the colours
 I let the feet dry upside down with the pins inserted on a needle felting sponge.

Here is the end result.

I have painted the rim of the cotter pins with black, as the fur of the area where the legs will go is black, and it will blend better.

Step 11
Now your feet are ready to be attached to the body. You can do it as you would with any other limb.

 Here is my next penguin...well, only half of him yet... now, he has feet!

Birthday cake

No sewing for a couple of days, as it is my son's birthday.
This is the result of yesterday's efforts.

It has already been devoured by the Kindergarten children! :-)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY FABIO!

Sally & Puck: baby polar friends

I have finally taken some pictures of the two sweet friends together!

I did a felt fish for Puck, but he's willing to share it with Sally! :-)
I hope they will be adopted together, as they look so happy I would loath to part them!

Sally the seal new pictures

My husband gave me a suggestion. He said that the little Sally would look even better if she had claws. To 'spice up' her body appearance which was so totally white.
So, I did some Fimo claws during the week-end, together with her felt ball.

And here she is...all ready for her new pictures!

 

 By the way...I think this time my husband was right (it doesn't happen often! ;-)  ).

Sally the baby seal

Puck the penguin is a happy little fellow today, as he now has a new friend, Sally the baby seal!
Here are some of the first pictures.

With some very careful balancing, she can also stand!

 She definitely needs a felt ball to play with now!

 She has wiring into her tail, arms and she has a spine. many posing possibilities there!
 I will be taking more pictures when I do her felt ball. I will also do group pictures...
Isn't she sweet? :-)

Polar frenzy - Puck the baby penguin

I'm in a polar frenzy. I have my head full of ideas, and they all have the same theme. Polar animals. This time I want to be patient, keep my polar creations a while with me until they are all ready together, and make pictures of them. I might also sell them as a group, we will see!

My first polar buddy is a baby penguin. New design. He measures 7.5 inches. I have used a fantastic Schulte alpaca. It is very soft and beautiful. The only thing is, you have to take care and put anti-fray around all the edges because it frays very easily. Nevertheless...I'm going to buy more, because I fell in love with it!

And here he is, Puck the baby penguin!

I have sculpted his feet with polymer clay (Fimo), and I have also shaded them with acrylics. I think they look cute!
His wings are wired, so they can be folded and posed.
I gave him a spine, and he can move his head up and down...

With his head folded down, he looks a bit shy. He definitely needs a friend to cheer him up! :-)

I like him like this, with his head slightly to the side.

This pictures shows better his cute little tail.

I'm now working on his friend, a baby seal. Another new design, another challenge!