by Shara Reiner & Jane Allen
Sculpting Instructions
Quikwood Basics:
- Quikwood is a two part resin. When mixed together you have about 20 minutes of open time before it begins to cure. It will fully cure in 24 hours.
- Only cut off as much as you need at a time.
- Make sure it is thoroughly mixed together (no swirls of color) or it will not cure.
- Do not wear jewelry especially rings when working with QW.
- Apply Avon Silicone Glove before starting and as needed when working with the QW.
- Use DecoArt Extender to blend QW being careful not to use too much or it will make your QW gummy.
Video on Quikwood Basics:
Adding Beak to Birds
To add the beak, cut 1/8″ of QW and roll into a cone about 1 1/4″ – 1 1/2″. Place beak on ball and blend around edges. Repeat for other beak.
If you want your bird to have an open mouth wait until the QW starts to stiffen. This will take about 5 to 10 minutes. Keep checking because you do not want it to get too stiff. Using Exacto begin cutting at the tip of the beak and cut back on one side. Go to the opposite side and cut from tip to back of beak. Use knife blade to lift open the mouth. Shape mouth if needed. Allow to cure.
Video for adding bird beaks:
Charlie – Adding flat tail and wings:
Lay parchment paper over pattern. Cut 1/2″ QW and divide in two. Make a ball with one piece and lay it over the wing pattern. Put extender on the palm of your hand and begin patting until the clay fills the space. Cut the wings in half with a blade or knife. For tail roll clay into a cone shape and then flatten to fill the pattern using the palm of your hand and/or fingers. Allow to cure.
Cut sliver of QW and divide in two. Press clay with fingers to make it thin and then place on body where wing would be attached. Press and blend using extender, repeat for the other side.
To add the tail cut 1/2″ of QW and divide in 2. Push tail into back of bird and then remove. Roll 1/2 into a ball and place on back of bird. Blend edges into Styrofoam. Insert tail into clay and then blend clay onto tail using extender. Once blended, blend any excess clay out and shape tail. Position tail as desired.
Divide remaining piece in two. and roll each into a ball. Press ball on each side of bird and then press wings on top. Make sure they are aligned correctly. on front of wings blend excess QW out onto body. On back blend QW to body and back of wings. Blend any excess out. Check alignment of wings and tail, and then let set to cure.
Video for adding flat tail and wings to Charlie:
Al – Creating and attaching curly tail:
Cut 1/4″ QW and divide in three. Spray largest petal on flower mold with oil. Roll into coil and press into mold. Lay on parchment paper. Repeat for the other two. Pinch on end of the petal (to make it a little pointy) that will go into the back of the bird. Curve petals a little and lay on their edge to cure. Check after ten minutes and lay on QW tube covered with parchment paper to curve slightly.
Cut 3/8″ of QW and make a ball. Place on back of bird. Blend edges into Styrofoam. Insert middle feather and blend clay to feather. Insert side feathers slightly below and blend into clay. Use an old brush with extender to blend between feathers if needed. Shape and blend excess clay. Let cure.
Video for attaching curly tail on Al:
Charlie – Make feet and flying legs:
Cut sliver of QW and divide in two. Pull off a small ball and make a cone about 3/4″ long. Lay on parchment paper. Lay end of dowel into thick end of cone. Press and blend clay onto dowel. Repeat for second dowel. Blend top of clay into dowel. Allow to cure. You are creating the center toe.
To add the side toes mix up a sliver of QW and divide in 4. You might not need all the clay so if the pieces are two big, just pull off what you need. Roll another cone about 1/2″- 3/4″ . Lay top of toe against top of center toe and blend in place. Repeat for other foot. Make another toe about 1/2″ to 3/4″ and attach to other side of center toe. Blend into place. Repeat for remaining toe. Allow to cure.
Insert legs into body in desired location. Cut 1/4″ of QW and divide in two. Roll into a coil about 1 1/4″ long and wrap around top of leg. Blend top into body, blend seam and shape bottom. Allow to cure.
Video for creating and attaching legs for Charlie:
Al – Creating and Attaching Dangling legs:
To create dangling legs cut 3/8″ of QW and divide in two. Roll each into a long coil/cone about 2 1/2″ long.(the end should come to a point) Lay on parchment paper and slightly flatten top and press hole in with tool or pencil. Allow to cure.
Cut sliver of QW and divide in 4. This might be more than you need. Roll cone about 1/2″ and attach to side of leg blending with extender. The toe should be a little higher than the center toe. Repeat for other leg. Repeat attaching toe on other side of each leg. Allow to cure.
To attach legs cut two lengths of wire about 2 1/2″ long. Fold over using round nose pliers. Slip wire through hole in legs and then insert in bottom of bird. Leave wires out about 1/2″. Cut 1/4″ of QW and divide into 2. Roll into coil about 1″ long and wrap around top of leg. Blend top into Styrofoam, blend seam and shape bottom. Repeat for other leg. Adjust wires if needed. Allow to cure.
Video for attaching dangling legs on Al:
Al – Wings:
Mix up about 1/2″ of QW. The wings are a large and small petal in the flower mold. Spray mold with oil. Pull off a piece of clay about the size of a pea and make large wing, repeat for second wing. Pull off a smaller piece and make small wing using small petal. Repeat for second small wing.
Pull off a small piece of clay and press until thin, then lay on area that would be behind the wings. Press and blend in place using extender. Repeat on other side.
Lay bottom wing in place on both sides, then place top wing slightly on top of bottom wing. Pull tips of wings out. Allow to cure.
Video for wings on Al:
Finishing Birds:
Cut 1/8″ of QW. Cut 2″ of wire to make a hook and bend over using round nose pliers. Cut another piece of wire about 5″ long and fold over about 1″ to make a testing hook. Insert hook (2″ length) into center top of bird. Slip other wire in hook to see if bird is handing the way you want. If not reposition hook and check to see if hanging the way you want. Pull off a small piece of QW, make a coil and wrap around hook. Blend.
Pull off two balls of clay about 1/4″. Position balls behind beak for eyes and gently press in place. Push tool or pencil into centers. Insert tool into body for wires. (If not done now you can drill small holes when cured).
Note this step is not on the video: Using pointy tool push in two holes for you to later attach the curly antenna. If you forget you can drill the holes in after it is cured.
With remaining clay pick off a small piece and flatten with fingers, then lay on Styrofoam areas of bird. Blend into place using extender. Continue working until the entire bird is covered. Mix up more QW as needed.
Repeat for both birds.
Video for finishing Birds: