Need more help getting started with QuikWood (QW) go to this page: Quikwood Tips and Tricks
Sculpting Instructions:
Preparing Cone:
Measure and trim ½” off of top of cone. Punch holes in top sides of cones. Cut 8” of wire and slip thru holes in cone and fold wire up. You can adjust wire later once you position on bird’s beak and insert flowers in cone.
Adding the Beak:
Roll Styrofoam egg to flatten the one side. The flat edge will be the top of the bird and the front of the bird will be the pointy end.
Mix 1/2″ of QW and roll in to a cone about 2″ long. Place on top front of the egg to form the beak. Begin blending the edges of the cone into the Styrofoam, reshape beak if needed. Since we are going to open beak allow to sit about 10 minutes.
Using exacto knife begin cutting beak from tip to back on one side, then repeat on other side. Use blade of knife to lift the top of mouth open and keep lower lip level. Reshape if needed. Insert wire from cone in mouth and pull down to create a channel for the wire to hang. Allow to cure.
Tip: Sit egg in lid of QW or an egg box to keep it from getting damaged until it cures.
Making Tail Feathers:
For the large bird cut 1” of QW and divide into 3. Lay parchment paper over pattern. Roll clay into a 3” coil with a point on each end. Begin pressing and patting to fill in the pattern. Place a point on the back end of the feather. Move parchment paper and make next two tail feathers beside the first one. Wrap parchment paper with tail feathers around 8 oz. paint bottle (2” diameter) and secure with rubber band or tape. Allow to cure.
Making wings:
For the large bird mix up 3/4” of QW and divide into 2. Divide each piece again into two with one piece being larger than the other. Take the larger part and roll into a pointy cone the size of the larger part of the wing. Lay parchment paper over pattern and press clay to fill pattern. Move parchment paper to the side and roll smaller piece of clay into a pointy cone and press and fill in small feather pattern. Repeat for second set of wings. Wait 5 minutes. Following pattern place smaller feather on top of larger feather. Reverse the pattern for the second wing. Lay wings on book or box and fold down front of wings. When almost cured pick up wings and give them a little bend. Allow to cure.
Adding Bird Eyes:
Mix up sliver of QW. The flat side is the top of the bird. Pull off small pieces of clay and press and blend to the Styrofoam behind the eyes. Use extender to blend onto existing QW. Continue adding QW until you have used the entire piece. Mix up 1/8” of QW for the eyes. Pull off 2 equal ½” balls.
Place balls for eyes above the beak and slightly flatten. Using tool or pencil press in center of each eye. Using pointed tool press two small holes above eyes for antennae. Allow to cure.
Adding Legs:
We will use the 6” ¼” dowels for the legs. Decide on placement- they should be centered on the body from front to back and evenly spaced from side to side. They are about an inch apart. Mark on Styrofoam where you want to insert them. You also want to think about the tilt of the bird, is the head looking up, straight or down. On the large bird you will want to make sure they also fit into the holes in the cart. Insert into Styrofoam. Mix ½” QW and divide into 2. Make 1 ½” coil and lay around top of leg. Blend edges of clay into Styrofoam. Pat and shape top of leg. Repeat for other leg. Stand bird in cart and allow to cure.
Attaching Tail:
To add the tail to the bird mix 1/2″ of QW. Roll in a ball and position at the back of the bird. Blend edges onto the bird. Add the middle tail feather and place in center. Blend QW onto top and bottom of feather. Then add next feathers to each side and a little lower than center feather. Push clay against feathers. The middle feather should be higher than the side feathers. Make any final adjustments. When satisfied with shape of tail, shape the QW the feathers are inserted in, and blend out if needed. Stand bird face down in a cup to keep the tail upright. Allow to cure.
Adding Wings:
Mix up 1/8” of QW and divide into 2. Pull off small pieces of clay and press and blend the clay behind the wings on each side of the bird.
Mix up ¼” of QW and divide in 2. Roll into two balls and place on each side where you want the wings. They are a little below the eyes and back from the beak. Blend edges of each ball. Place wings on each ball. The small wing should be on the top. Blend clay to the back of the wing. Position wings the way you want them and blend any excess clay in front of wings out onto the bird. Allow to cure.
Baby Birds:
Mix ¼” of QW and roll into an egg shape about 1” long. The pointy end will be the top of the bird. Bend point out slightly, this will be where you attach the beak. Insert tooth pick into bottom and reshape if needed. Repeat for other two birds. Allow to cure.
To finish birds mix 1/8” of QW and divide into three. Pull off ball that is about 1/8” and attach to front of point. Shape into point for beak. Pull off two very small balls for eyes and place above beak. Insert pointy tool into center of each to form pupils. Divide remaining clay into two and form a ½” cone, flatten and attach to sides for wings. Using exacto knife cut through center of beak. Open with blade of knife and reshape beak. Repeat for other two with remaining clay. Allow to cure.
Nest:
Flowers:
Daisy – Mix ¼” of QW and divide into two. Pull small ball (less than ¼”) off of each piece for centers. Roll larger piece into a ball and lay on piece of parchment paper. Gently flatten with hand and then press in center with finger. Using a blade tool pull from outside in about ¼” to make the 6 petals. Then press in center again with finger. Place small ball in center. Repeat for other flower. Allow to cure.
Large Roses – Mix ¼” of QW and divide into two. Roll each into a 3” coil. Lay on parchment paper and flatten with fingers. Let sit 10 to 15 minutes. Pick up and begin rolling from one end keeping the center tight. Then begin adding little pleats to the bottom to make the petals stand out. Repeat with other one. Allow to cure. (video)
Medium Roses – Mix ¼” of QW and divide into three. Roll each into a 2” coil. Lay on parchment paper and flatten with fingers. Let sit 10 to 15 minutes. Pick up and begin rolling from one end keeping the center tight. Then begin adding little pleats to the bottom to make the petals stand out. Repeat with other two. Allow to cure. (video)
Small Rose buds – Mix 1/16” of QW and divide into five. Roll each into a 1” coil. Lay on parchment paper and flatten with fingers. Let sit 10 to 15 minutes. Pick up and begin rolling from one end keeping the center tight. Repeat with other four. Allow to cure. (video)
Star Flowers – Mix ¼” of QW and pinch to flatten. Lay on parchment paper and cut out stars using large Kemper star. Reroll clay and continue cutting until you have 7 or 8 stars. Using blade lift a few of the points up on some of the stars. Pull off very small balls of clay and place in the center of the stars. Allow to cure. (video)
Flower backs – Mix ¼” of QW. Cut some pieces of wire about 2 ½” long. Turn daisy flowers upside down. Pull off small ball of clay and place on back. Shape clay into a cone shape and insert wire into clay. On the back of the large and medium roses pull off a piece of clay and shape into a cone and place on back of the flower and insert wire. Do the same thing on the star flowers. Mix up more clay if needed. Allow to cure. Do not add any back to the small roses. (video)
Adding Star Feet:
Mix up ½” of QW and pinch between fingers to flatten. Then lay on parchment paper and flatten with the palm of your hand. Using large star clay cutter cut one large stars, reroll excess, press and flatten and cut second star. Use excess clay to cover any areas on bird that are still Styrofoam. After attaching feet mix up more clay if needed and finish covering Styrofoam.
Three of the points will be the toes of the bird. While on parchment paper pinch three points and pull two towards center. Pick up and lay on front of foot. Wrap other two points around the back and blend them up the leg. Reposition toes if needed.
If needed trim the ends of the toothpicks on the baby birds to about 1”- 1 ½”. Mix 1” of QW and let sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Roll into a ball and press finger into center of ball. Begin pressing and pinching sides to create basket shape. Sit on top of bird. Insert birds into basket with about ¼” of toothpick exposed. When happy with placement remove birds and allow basket to cure.
If needed mix up a sliver of QW and pinch thin between fingers and place on any areas of Styrofoam around basket. Mix more if needed.
Begin adding straw texture to basket by mixing up 1/8” of QW at a time. Pull off small ball and roll into a thin coil. Place on basket with it going up and down and crossing over each other. Continue covering the basket with some of the original basket showing through. Add small rosebuds by rolling small piece of clay into a cone and flatten and place on basket for leaves. Add desired leaves and place rosebuds next to them. I added three leaves and two rosebuds. Allow to cure