Need more help getting started with QuikWood (QW) go to this page: Quikwood Tips and Tricks
Starting Snowman and Bear:
Mix 1/8” of QW and pull off a ¼” ball for the nose. Roll into a ½” +cone. Let Cure. Divide remaining clay in 2. For the Snowman insert 11/2” dowel into pointy end of 2 ½” egg leaving about ½ out of the egg. Roll one piece of clay into a 1” coil and wrap around dowel next to egg. Begin blending clay out onto the egg and then blend the clay up the dowel using extender if needed. Do the same thing for the polar bear using the 2” egg. Allow to cure.
For the snowman’s head use a 1 ¼” ball and mix ½” of QW. Roll the clay into a ball and then pinch and flatten into a pancake. Lay over ball and begin pressing and patting and covering ball. Push down any high spots and then roll between hands. Continue working with it until the clay is smooth. Press ball firmly down on dowel of 2 ½” egg. Reshape if needed. Insert nose in center of face smooth clay if needed. Allow to cure.
For the polar bear mix ¼” of QW and cover the 1” ball. Continue working with it the same way you did the snowman. Allow to cure
Mix a ¼” of QW and pull off a small piece and flatten between fingers. Lay on snowman’s body and begin pressing and patting and covering body. Also do on the bear body. Mix more clay if needed. You do not need to do both completely right now because you will have extra clay to use as we continue working.
Bear ears and muzzle:
Mix 1/8” of QW and pull off two ¼” balls and one 3/8” ball. Position balls for ears on top center of head, with them about ½” apart. Blend back and side of ears to head. To make indents in front of ear use a paintbrush with a rounded end. Dip tip of brush in extender and then press into front of each ear. From the ball for the muzzle, pull off a small piece for the nose. Shape into small cone and place in front of head. Have the nose turn up a little and then attach nose to tip of muzzle. Allow to cure
Snowman Hat:
Mix 1” of QW and roll into a 2 ½” to 3” cone with the end being skinny. Flatten top of cone and then insert pencil or pointy tool into top and roll around to open up the hat. Begin pinching with fingers to open. Insert tool in farther, and pinch open. When large enough place on head and move clay around to even out. Mix 1/8” of QW and roll into a 3 ½” coil. Lay center of coil against center front of hat. Wrap coil around and blend back together. Gently flatten. Once clay starts to cure, bend end of hat to right and then turn back up to hold ball. Allow to cure.
Hat ball and Penguin Feet
Mix ¼” of QW and pinch and flatten and cut out two medium stars for feet. Cut an additional star for the hat. Pull off a 3/8” ball for the ball on the hat. Using pointy tool place hole in ball and lay on end of hat. Reshape if needed. If you can’t get the ball to stay add a drop of Super Glue gel to the hole before attaching.
Press bottom of snowman down to flatten bottom. For the penguin feet pinch two points together. Pull to make it a little longer. Pinch each of the other star points to make them thinner. Let sit 5 or 10 minutes. With remaining clay continue covering snowman’s body.
Lift feet and continue shaping by pushing the two side points down towards the center point. Continue shaping and defining. When you are happy with them let them cure.
Snowman Trim and Feet:
So you will know where to place trim on snowman measure up ¾” from the bottom and mark with a pencil. Mix 1/8” of QW and roll into a 5” coil. Lay on line ending in back. Gently tug so that it meets in the back. Blend back together and gently flatten.
For the feet mix ¼” of QW and divide in 2. Roll each into a ¾” oval. Set beside each other with heels touching on parchment paper. The heels should be together with the feet pointing out. Place snowman on top of feet. Allow to cure.
Penguin and finish Snowman Jacket:
For the penguin mix ½” of QW and roll into a 1 ¼” cone. At the top begin pinching and pulling up to form the head. The body is now 1 3/8”. Insert two legs in bottom of body; you will want some of the legs showing so don’t push them in too far. Reshape if needed. Lay on snowman having it turn in a little. The bottom of the body should rest on the trim on the jacket. He is about 3/8” from the center front of the snowman. Allow to cure.
For the snowman arms mix ¼” of QW and divide in 2. Roll each piece into a 2” coil. Place top of arm at each shoulder. Bend the one arm come over the body of the penguin. The other arm will curl forward. Allow to cure.
To finish snowman mix 1/8” of QW and pull off three 1/8” balls for buttons, two ¼” balls for penguin arms and 1/16” ball for penguin’s beak. Pull off 1/16” ball to place star on hat and then use the rest to make the collar. Roll the clay for the collar into a 2 ½” long coil. Lay center of coil on center front of snowman and wrap around to the back. Use the ball for the star and attach the star to the hat above the band on his right. For the penguin fins roll balls into a ¾” cone and place on each side of the body. Since he is turned in the one on his left should go in next to the snowman. The other fin should go out a little and come down over the snowman’s arm. The ball for the beak should be placed in the center of the head. Blend edges a little to the body and keep shaping to form the beak. Place three buttons down the front of the jacket. Press and use pointy tool to put two holes in each button. Let sit and cure.
Banner:
Lay a piece of parchment paper over pattern. Mix 1/8” of QW and roll into a 2” cone. Lay on pattern and begin pressing and patting and filling in pattern. Lay skewer on end of banner with pointy end about 3/8” above banner. Fold clay over and blend together. Let sit 5 to 10 minutes. Lift banner and then lay it up and down creating a wave in it.
Bear Legs:
Press bottom of bear body to flatten. Mix a little clay at a time and cover body of bear. Lay a piece of parchment paper over seat. Fold so that the paper follows shape of sleigh seat.
Note: when I made the bear it was originally for the small sleigh and I am now using it in the Medium Sleigh. Lay something that is about ¼” thick on the floor so that the feet are the right proportion.
Mix ¼” of QW and divide in two. Roll each into 2” coil. Place in sleigh on parchment paper with the foot on the floor of the sleigh, then bending at ankle and then bending at knee. Do the same thing with the second leg. Sit him on the legs with him turning a little to his right so that he is looking out the sleigh. Allow to cure.
Mix 1/16” inch of QW and pull off a1/4” ball for his tail. Also pull off another ¼” ball for the top of the banner. With the remaining clay roll a coil that is just about an inch. Lay on bottom of bear next to legs and blend to legs and bottom using a little extender. Roll ball for tail and roll into a ¼” coil and place at back center. For the ball above the banner use pointy tool and put a small indent in it. Place a drop of Super Glue Gel in hole and place on top of dowel.
Bear Arms and Banner:
Before adding arms pick up banner and position it against bear, press and indent. Put a few drops of Super Glue Gel in indent and hold banner in place. For the Arms mix ¼” of QW and divide in two. Roll each into a 1 ¾” coil. Position top of arms at shoulder and then lay over dowel. Position other arm at shoulder and have it come over front with hand above other hand on banner pole. Allow to cure.
Owl:
Mix ½” of QW and roll into a cone shape that is a little over an inch. At the top flatten the face from front to back and side to side. Using finger pinch little ears on each side. Pinch ears side to side and front to back. Stand up on a piece of parchment paper and let cure.
For the owl’s feet mix 1/16” of QW and roll into a ball and then flatten into a pancake. Using medium Kemper star cutter, cut two stars. To make it easier to cut the stars dip cutter in water and then tap off on a paper towel before cutting. Pinch two points together to make leg. Pinch remaining three points to make them more defined. Push two side points towards center point.
Pull off a ¼” ball and divide in two for feathers around eyes. Roll each into ball and place beside each other on top of head. Gently flatten. Pull off very small piece for nose and roll into a ball. Pinch to make triangle and sit between eye feathers. Pull off two very small balls for eyes and place in center of each circle. Pull off two ¼” balls for wings and roll each into 5/8” cone. Place on each side on body and press top against body. Line feet up and side owl down on legs with the feet sticking out. Lift and turn feet down a little so they will hang down over edge of sleigh.
Bunny:
For the bunny mix ¾” of QW and pull off two small balls that are 3/16” for the ears. Roll each ball into a ½” + cone that are pointy on both ends. Lay and gently flatten. With the remaining clay roll into a ball and then into a tall cone that is about 1 ½”. Cut off top of toothpick and insert into top of body. Reshape if needed. Allow to cure.
For the head mix 1/8” of QW and pull off a small ball for the nose. The clay for the head should be a ½” ball. Shape with one end pointing out a little to form muzzle. Sit on top of body over toothpick. Insert ears into head. One on each side towards back, reshape if needed. Have nose pointing up a little and attach nose to tip. Allow to cure.
To finish bunny, mix 1/8” of QW and divide in 2. For back leg roll in a ball and then begin rolling an pinching one side to pull leg. Flatten ball area and lay at bottom of body. Repeat for other back leg.
Mix another 1/8” of QW and pull of two 3/8” balls for front legs. Roll each into a 1 ¼” coil. Place on shoulder and have arm bend at elbow and go out a little. Repeat for other shoulder. Take remaining clay and roll into a 3/8” ball and press on bottom back of bunny for tail. I used the extra clay and placed on bottom of owl so that it would sit better on the back of the sleigh. Blend to body. Allow to cure.
Sleigh:
To finish sleigh, mix a sliver and pull off six ¼” balls and place three between holly leaves on each side. Allow to cure.