Play Pals

For tips on getting started with QW you can go to this page: https://janeallencreates.blog/quikwood-tips-and-tricks/

Trees and Greens

Mix ½” of QW.  Make a mark from top of skewer down ½” and then ¾” below that point.  Pinch and press clay into a thin pancake.  Cut one large hand, reroll clay and cut one medium hand and three small hands.  Allow clay to sit 5 minutes. 

For tree pick up largest branch and fan fingers out and pinch back together and place at lower mark on skewer.  Pick up medium hand and fan fingers and pinch back placing at next mark.  Pick up small hand and fan fingers out and pinch back into a nice point.  Place on top of tree.    Allow to cure.

For pine pinch back of hands together and lift fingers, place on a right angle to each other with backs touching. With extra clay make three ¼” berries and place between leaves. Allow to cure.  (Video)

Starting Snowmen bodies

For the body of the larger snowman mix ¾” of QW and ¼” of QW for the smaller snowman.  Cut a toothpick in two with one piece being larger than the other.  Place parchment paper over pattern.  Roll clay into a ball and then an oval and lay on pattern for large snowman.  Begin pressing and patting to fill in shape, again creating a dome shape. Lift top of body with blade and slip larger piece of toothpick under top of body and extended into head area of pattern. Gently pat.  Move parchment paper so it is over pattern for small snowman and they are not connected to each other.  Create body of snowman the same way.  Lift small snowman with blade and position against large snowman using pattern for placement.   If needed use super glue gel on top edge of stocking. Push stocking up against bottom of bodies.  Pat and pull clay to down to stocking.    Allow to cure.  (Video)

Adding heads to snowmen For the large snowman’s head mix 1/8” of QW and for the small snowman mix 1/16” of QW.  Place parchment paper over pattern.  Roll clay into a ball and place on the pattern over the toothpick Using hand gently flatten to fill pattern, create a dome shape by applying more pressure on outside edges.  Repeat for other snowman.  Allow to cure.  Note: When working on your projects use your artistic eye to judge if you have the right amount of clay and adjust accordingly

Back of Snowman and Tree

To finish back of tree, mix 1/8” of QW.  Pull off a small ball about ¼” and place on top of the back of the tree.  Gently blend into place being careful to not have the clay show on the front of the tree.   Use a 3/8” ball for the middle and  blend the clay  in place.  Use the remaining clay and roll into a ¾” coil.  Lay on bottom and blend into place.  Allow to cure.  (Video)

For the back of the Snowmen mix up 1/8” of QW.   Divide clay in two with one piece being larger than the other.  For the back of the smaller snowman pull off ¼” ball from smaller piece of clay and blend into place, use the remaining clay for the back of the body also blending into place.  For the larger snowman pull off a 3/8” ball from larger piece of clay and blend onto the top of the head.  Use the remaining clay and blend onto body.  If you would like your hook to be on the top of the larger snowman’s head fold over a piece of wire and cut a hook that is about ½” long.  Insert into clay on back of head. Allow to cure. (Video)

Details on Tree, and Snowmen Noses

Mix 1/8” of QW.  For the large snowman’s nose pull off a little less that 1/4” ball and roll into a 3/8” cone.  Place back of cone on center of face with the point going down and to the right. For the small snowman’s nose pull off a 1/16” ball of clay and roll into a 3/8” cone. Place on center of the face with it pointing up and to the left.  For the balls on the tree begin pulling off 1/8” balls of clay and place on the tree.  I put 2 on top tier, 4 on middle tier and 5 on the bottom tier.  Allow to cure.  (Video)

Adding Arms and Bird

Mix 1/8” of QW and divide into two.  For the large snowman’s arms take one of the pieces and divide into two. Roll each piece into a 11/2” coils for his arms .  Place one end of coil at the shoulder, repeat with other arm.  For the small snowman’s arm pull off 1/3 of the remaining clay and roll into a 1 ¼” coil.  Place on outside shoulder and bend at elbow.  Make sure arm is about ¼” from bottom of body to allow for top of cuff.  For the bird pull off  ¼” ball from remaining clay.  The remaining clay should be a 3/8” ball.  Begin rolling into a ball and then begin flattening and pinching at top to make a pear shape.  Place on center of large snowman’s body.  Divide ¼” ball of clay in two.  Roll each piece into a small cone about 3/8” long.  Flatten to make wing and place one on each side of the bird.  Lift left arm and place under bird, and then place other hand under the other hand.  Cut a piece of wire and insert into center of face for beak.  Once clay cures you will trim the length of the beak.  (Video)

Stocking Cuff

Mix ½” of QW and roll into a 2” coil.  Begin press and flattening to make a rectangle about 2 ½” x 1 ¼”.   Allow to sit 5 minutes. Once shaped use blade to lift up and lay 1/8” above top of wooden stocking.  Fold edges down and pat into place.  Allow to cure.    (Video)

Hat, Scarf and Sweater

Mix 1/8” of QW pull off ¼” ball for ball on top of large snowman’s hat.  Roll into a ball and place on top of his head.  For brim of hat pull off ¼” ball of clay and roll into a 1 ¼” coil.  Lay on top of head and pat into place wrapping ends around back.  Pull off slightly larger ball for collar of sweater and roll into a 1” coil.  Lay under neck and pat into place wrapping ends around back.  For the scarf on the smaller snowman divide remaining clay into 3 with one piece being a little smaller.  Roll one of the larger pieces into a 1” coil and lay around neck.  Pat into place bringing ends to back.  Roll smaller piece into a ½” coil and have it next to bottom of scarf and coming down. Roll remaining piece into 1 ¼” coil and have end start at top of scarf and come down over body.  Using exacto knife or tool put little rib lines in hat band and collar of sweater on larger snowman.  Allow to cure.  Trim beak on bird with wire cutters.

Note:  If I had the time I would stop sculpting and begin painting all of the pieces before continuing.

Finishing

Mix 1/4” of QW and roll into a 1 ¾” coil.  Lay on back of stocking so that you are covering seam of snowman and stocking.  From the front position tree, and then press into clay.  If you have painted your tree and stocking you can just blend the clay over the trunk of the tree.  If not just lift the tree out leaving the channel for the trunk.  When you are done you can glue the tree in place and cover with a sliver of QW.  For a hook fold over a piece of wire and cut about ½” long.  Insert into clay on back center of ornament.  (Video)