Cold Porcelain Tutorials

New Book About Air Dry Clay~FREE TODAY

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 18 Mar 2017 20:55:00 +0000

I just published my new book “TOP 10 REASONS WHY AIR DRY CLAY IS BETTER THAN POLYMER CLAY” and, as an introductory offer, I've made the book available for FREE for the next few days. Grab yourself a copy at Amazon. You can thank me by leaving a review.

Book description:

Are you wondering if the new no-bake clays could be a good alternative to oven-baked clay?
Are you struggling with switching from polymer clay to air dry clay?

Polymer clay and air dry clay each have their own set of pros and cons. The idea behind “TOP 10 REASONS WHY AIR DRY CLAY IS BETTER THAN POLYMER CLAY” is to debate the similarities and differences between polymer clay and air-dry clay. Neither modeling compound is actually “BETTER” than the other. It’s all a personal preference.

It does take a bit of experimenting to find the brand of no-bake clay that suits you and your sculpting style the best, but we’re going to help you narrow down the choices before you shop!

When you read this book you’ll discover the good points and bad points of the most popular brands of no-bake clay plus some tips and tricks to use with the self-hardening, air dry clays.

This is not a how-to book with step-by-projects. It’s a handbook providing potential solutions for those who’ve tried air-dry clay with little success. You may come across some compelling reasons to give air dry clay another try!

Don't hesitate! “TOP 10 REASONS WHY AIR DRY CLAY IS BETTER THAN POLYMER CLAY” will only be free until March 22nd.

It's a Kindle ebook but you don't need a Kindle to read it. There's a free Kindle app at Amazon. With the app you can read any Kindle book on your computer, or on a tablet, or on a cell phone.

Cute Critter Tutorial ~ Bluebird

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 12 Jul 2015 01:13:00 +0000

Finishing our week of creating cute and uncomplicated critters with a step-by-step bluebird photo tutorial from "Treehouse Cakes". Pre-tint some cold porcelain a 'bluebird' blue and a small amount of golden yellow.

Start with a blue teardrop shape large enough for the body, a ball for the head and 2 teardrop shapes that will become wings. With golden-yellow clay, shape 3 balls into beak and feet.

Use ball tool to indent large blue teardrop to shape a tail as shown. Attach head. Use a piece of toothpick between head and body for strength. Moisten joined area with a little water or dab of white glue. Attach wings to each side. If clay won't stick to itself by moistening with a little water, use a dab of glue.

Attach beak and feet. Add 2 back beads (or balls of black clay) for eyes. Use needle tool to poke 2 nostrils in beak and to draw 'feather' lines in tail and wings. Also draw 2 tiny eyebrows and poke a few dots in each cheek. Lastly, shape a few topknot feathers and glue to top of head or use needle tool to push topknot into head.

Cute Critter Tutorial ~ Lion

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 23:51:00 +0000

Continuing our week of creating cute and uncomplicated critters with a step-by-step wordless photo tutorial from the Polish site "Cakeroom". Author shows us how to create this cute little lion. (click link)

Cute Critter Week ~ Rainbow Unicorn Tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 02:59:00 +0000

Cute Critter Week ~ Bulldog Tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 03:55:00 +0000

Let's continue our week full of cute and uncomplicated critter tutorials with a step-by-step pudgy Bulldog. One of the softer clays or cold porcelain would probably be a good choice to use for this.

1. Roll a ball, flatten one side, imress a nose wrinkle.
2. Make a pancake shape for lower jaw.
3. Indent for eyes.
4, 5. Add brown 'patch'.
6. Add balls of black clay for eyes & nose.
7, 8. Paint reflection dots on eyes.
9. Add clay for eyelids and ears.
10. Make this shape for body.
11. Cut to make 2 forelegs. Shape rest as hind legs.
12. Place head on body shape and add tail. For added security, attach head & tail with glue and/or piece of toothpick between pieces.

Cute Critter Week: Snoopy tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 01:13:00 +0000

Let's start a week full of cute and uncomplicated critter tutorials with step-by-step Snoopy by Miss Kawaii.

Make Some Minions

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 20:19:00 +0000

This how-to make a minion tutorial was written for fondant but steps are exactly the same for cold porcelain. Because we don't need to use edible products when working with cold porcelain, you can substitute regular felt markers, white glue for adhesive and broom bristles instead of vermicelli.

(Note: Graphic was found on vandagoes.blogspot.com.es/ but I don't think they are author. I'd like to give author credit, so please let me know if you are author.)

How to Model the Head of a Doll or Figure

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 31 Aug 2014 02:55:00 +0000

Today we have another demonstration in a series of instructional videos from Marisol Romero about cold porcelain. Marisol Romero is a cold porcelain artist from Argentina, where this medium is very popular.

Many air-dry clay projects call for Styrofoam shapes as armatures for figure modeling In the following video, while at a craft show, Marisol shows us how to wrap a foam ball and model the head of a doll or figure. She also demonstrates her method for creating eyes, which are normally painted on.

Video dialog is in Spanish, however you should be able to follow along even if you don't understand the language. Marisol clearly and carefully shows each step (just mute the sound).

Painting a Cute Rabbit with Acrylics

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 23:41:00 +0000

Step by step photos on how to paint a cold porcelain (biscuit) figure using dimensional shading techniques.

Below is rabbit BEFORE being painted.

Make this Pink & White Cat

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 15 Jun 2014 18:55:00 +0000

Keep reading for step-by-step photos to create this cute kitten.

How to paint the eyes, anime style!

Face Modeling Video

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 19:37:00 +0000

This is a very good video demonstration of how to model a cute face in cold porcelain. You may not understand the language (just mute it) but the important parts....how she uses her fingers to shape the face....are very clear. Note that the eyes are painted on later and are not part of the face shaping, this simplifies the modeling.

Tulips Made with Cold Porcelain

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 17 Oct 2013 02:50:00 +0000

Create these realistic tulips with this tutorial from Russian artist Antonina Melnichenko. Antonina gives us some unique tips in this detailed, step-by-step photo tutorial, such as using a spoon to lay the petals in as they dry, assuring a cupped shape. She also collects real pollen to glue to her clay flowers!

Commercial cutters and veiners are used to cut both petals and leaves out of cold porcelain. You can make your own cutters or purchase an inexpensive set of flower cutters at Amazon (and other websites) such as the Wilton Gum Paste Flowers Set or one of the special tulip sets shown below that includes a cutter and veiner.

Jorge Rubicce Basic Doll Head Demo

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 27 Sep 2013 17:13:00 +0000

Cold Porcelain figure by Jorge Rubicce

In the following video, master craftsman Jorge Rubicce, shows us his method for modeling the head of his cute cold porcelain figures. He starts with a Styrofoam ball (for armature) and an equal size ball of cold porcelain to create an egg shaped head. Notice that he uses his palms to form the cold porcelain and always works toward center. He also applies hand cream to his hands while smoothing out surface of cold porcelain.

This video is from the South American TV show "Bienvenidas" (Welcome). Jorge Rubicce is the first guest. If you don't understand the language, just mute the video and follow along visually as he demonstrates each step (or try using the closed caption feature). Jorge does a great job of clearly showing how he forms the shape of a basic head. The eyes are painted on after curing (or a waterslide eye decal is used).

How to Wrap a Styrofoam Cone with CP-Method 2

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 16 Sep 2013 19:35:00 +0000

Wrap a foam cone to use for body of figure

Today we have another demonstration in a series of instructional videos from Marisol Romero about cold porcelain. Many air-dry clay projects call for Styrofoam shapes as armatures for figure modeling and sometimes, instead of a simple ball, you need a larger, oblong shape or double spheres. In the following video, Marisol shows how to tape 2 Styrofoam balls together and wrap both with cold porcelain (or other air-dry clay) and

also how to connect 2 loose balls with the cold porcelain. This technique is useful for modeling bodies of characters, such as bears, snowmen or doll figures.

Video narration is in Spanish, but even if you don't understand the language you should be able to follow along. Marisol clearly and carefully shows each step. One of the things she is saying is that it is important to use the palm of your hand to smooth the wrap as you press it around the foam ball. Notice that she starts with a ball of cold porcelain that is approximately the same size as the 2 foam balls combined.

We've previously featured a few other videos from Marisol showing the proper way to wrap Styrofoam shapes with cold porcelain (without getting cracks or trapped air) such as How to Properly Wrap a Foam Cone with Clay ...see the Labels for "Styrofoam" to view more videos. Her videos are very educational for those just getting started with cold porcelain. She also offers classes on her website (for a fee).

How to Make Cold Porcelain Without Cooking

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 28 Aug 2013 03:23:00 +0000

Alternative recipe from Heidy Jackson for making cold porcelain modeling paste the easy way ....No stove, No microwave, No Vaseline, No glycerin!!

CP Tips from Marisol

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 15 Aug 2013 05:47:00 +0000

Marisol Romero

What is Cold Porcelain? Cold Porcelain (CP) is a modeling compound that is composed of white glue and cornstarch. The recipe for cold porcelain is quite simple and it can be made or home or purchased commercially. CP is a material that can be modeled in small volumes and large. Its characteristics are softness, whiteness and elasticity. CP is known throughout the world, in every region or country, by many different names. Besides Cold Porcelain, it is known as Porcelana Fria, Masa Flexible, Biscuit, and Pasta di Mais among others.

See this page for recipes and how to make Cold Porcelain video. If you make your own dough, keep in mind that, to be of good quality, the ingredients you use should also be good quality.

Marisol Romero is a cold porcelain artist from Argentina, where this medium is very popular. On her website she shares some of her cold porcelain tips. Below are some of her tips translated to English as best as we can!

The CP dough does not require baking and dries at room temperature. Another feature is that, as it dries, it loses 15% to 20% of the initial volume. For this reason it is good to consider the proportions of what you want to model. If you doing all the parts together, you should have no problem. The issue of proportions arises when you dry the parts separately and then assemble them with fresh dough. Always add 20% to everything you do. If you are modeling in a large size, there are times that you must add up to 30%.

The dough quality often depends on the glue you are using. The glue is an essential ingredient and important in the dough. It has to be of very good quality to avoid the dreaded cracks that may appear when the piece begins to dry Test different brands of vinyl glue. The elasticity of the dough depends a lot on the glue. The only way to know if it is good is testing and testing again. The most expensive or best brand is not always the one that will help us make good cold porcelain.

After preparing, you must knead dough until it's cool, or at least until it stops sweating.

Uncured CP can be tinted with acrylics, tempera, oils and vegetable dyes. Also, once dry, the piece is paintable and different effects may be achieved with pastel chalks and other mediums.

There are a variety of recipes for making cold porcelain. These recipes often call for Glycerin, stearin and Sodium Benzoate . These ingredients can be found in bakery supplies and in craft shops.

Benzoate is a preservative that can be replaced with 1 teaspoon of white vinegar or alcohol. Glycerin is edible and you can get in bakeries. Vaseline is commonly found in drug stores. Stearin is one of the ingredients that may be more difficult to find but CP dough may be made without it.

In some countries they use formaldehyde as a preservative, but as it is toxic and may effect the eyes, I do not recommend using.

Many people are using vinegar as a preservative. However, in all the years I've been making my own cold porcelain, I've never had fungus problems.

Both the homemade and purchased CP must have the same useful lifetime. It should not crack or produce fungi.

You have to remember that the results you get when making CP will also vary according to the climate where you live. In dry climates some figures work well because they dry fast. In humid climates, or days of high humidity, the CP can lose it's shape as it stands.

Keep in mind that if cracks appear when drying it is often the poor quality of the ingredients. Cracks can also occur from bad modeling.

Here is a very simple technique to test if the consistency of your CP dough is ideal. Create a tower of doug of about 20 cm. If the tower is leaning or arching immediately, it is because it does not have the best consistency. You have to cook it more or leave it to aerate if it is commercial produced.

CP hardens because the water evaporates. When you have some dough that is not flexible and is difficult to knead, the dough can be recovered. How? Cut it into pieces and dip them in a bowl with hot water. Leave it a few minutes and then fold and knead again to integrate the pieces and return to a homogeneous mass.

With this method you return moisture to the dough. If the dough is still too hard, unfortunately it must be thrown out.

To store the CP dough so that this does not happen, wrap the dough in plastic wrap and then place it in a jar or airtight pot. This flask must not be stored in a place where it will received sun or this will make the dough lose moisture.

In some cases the CP dough may be very moist. What you have to do is take it out of the bag, let it aerate a little and also knead a few minutes until you notice that it has the correct consistency.

Make a Chicken and a Cow Fridge Magnet

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 21 Jun 2013 03:07:00 +0000

This is a demonstration using molds to create body parts, but the simple shapes of the chicken and the cow could be made by hand if you don't have the molds. What makes them extra cute is the painting techniques!

All the best cold porcelain tutorials seem to come from South America! ;-) If you don't understand the language, just mute the sound and follow allow visually. Video is pretty self-explanatory.

How to Make a Double Rose

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 18:24:00 +0000

In the following video, the well-known cold porcelain artist from Argentina, Jorge Rubicce, shows us another technique for creating realistic roses using cold porcelain. We've previously featured a few of Jorge's videos where he shows us how to make roses, but, this time, he shows us how to create a double petal rose, sometimes called a wild rose.

You will need some artificial stamens and floral wire, a roller or other means to create a flat sheet of cold porcelain, a petal cutter, a texture plate for veining, a ball-ended tool and a spongy surface to work on. Pre-tint your cold porcelain in a color of your choice. Jorge also uses a small knitting needle-type tool to thin and flute the petal edges. At the beginning it looks like he dips the stamens in a little bit of white glue and then a little petal dust to create the stamen effect.

This video is from the South American TV show "Bienvenidas" (Welcome). Fast forward to 20:48 for the Jorge Rubicce segment. If you don't understand the language, just mute the video and follow along visually as he demonstrates each step in rose creation. Jorge does a great job of clearly showing each step of the process.

I'm often asked where you can buy some of the tools shown in these videos. Amazon is a great source and here's a sampling of tools similar to those used in above video.

The petal cutters in above sets have 5 petals for rose, the set below has 6 petals!

Little Farmer step by step

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 18:18:00 +0000

This cold porcelain tutorial written by Fernanda Malzoni shows us how to create this cute "little farmer" figure step by step, with progress photos showing each step. This tutorial is in Spanish, use Google Translate to translate page if needed (or other online translator).

(Note: The original tutorial has been moved or removed from the manualidades website. If anyone knows where we can find it now, please let me know.)

Materials needed include:

Cold porcelain tinted in a flesh tone, blue for overalls, brown for shirt, reddish-brown for hair, light yellow for hat and bright yellow for flower, green for flower stem, leaves and grass.
A Styrofoam ball to use for body armature and one for head
White glue
Roller and modeling tools
Mini clay pot
Petal cutter for flower
Wooden base
A stiff bristle brush for texturing
Watercolor pencils for final tinting and shading
Eye decals or craft paint to paint on eyes

Tips:

It works best for me to create body parts separately and then assemble. I would model the body (blue overalls and toes) and let it cure before proceeding. This adds strength to the legs so you don't end up squashing the figure as you proceed. You might also insert part of a toothpick in legs for reinforcment.

While waiting for the body to dry/cure, I would work on the head, hair and face. After both the head and body are dry, I would proceed with adding the shirt and arms and attaching head. When dry cold porcelain is attached to other parts, white glue should be used to secure parts. It only sticks well to itself when it's wet on wet.

This particular tutorial does not show how to model the head or how to paint the eyes. There's additional tutorials on those topics here at Cold Porcelain Tutorials. Here's a step-by-step tutorial showing how to model a basic head and here's a video showing how to paint eyes if you're unable to locate any eye decals. Also, for additional tips on coloring and tinting your cold porcelain, please refer to this post on coloring.

Roses in Cold Porcelain by Tryny

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 01:35:00 +0000

Here's is another tutorial for making cold porcelain roses. This time Tryny Designs shows us her rose technique, step by step with lots of photos. With this method, the variegated shading of the petals is done after the flower has cured.

This tutorial is in Spanish, use Google Translate to translate page if needed (or other online translator).

Variegated Rose Technique by Rubicce

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 18:28:00 +0000

In the following video, the well-known cold porcelain artist from Argentina, Jorge Rubicce, shows us a very new technique for creating realistic roses using cold porcelain. We've previously featured a few of Jorge's videos where he shows us how to make cold porcelain roses, but, this time, he shows us how to create petals with gently variegated colors.
Extremely realistic. No painting required. The only tools needed are a heart-shaped cutter, a ball-ended tool and a spongy surface to work on. Pre-tint your cold porcelain in 2 colors of your choice.

This video is from the South American TV show "Bienvenidas" (Welcome). Fast forward to 11:45 for the Jorge Rubicce segment. If you don't understand the language, just mute the video and follow along visually as he demonstrates each step for creating the petals and building a rose. Jorge does a great job of clearly showing each step of the process.

Remember, fast forward to 11:45 for Rubicce segment
(when video starts, pull slider to right until 11:45 appears)

I've been asked about the ball-ended tool that Jorge is using in video. That tool is readily available in USA but is usually found with the fondant and gumpaste supplies rather than clay tools. In the past, only professional-quality tools were available for use by commercial bakers, so they were often expensive. However, because air-dry clay is becoming more and more popular in USA and making flowers is among the favorite things to do with air-dry clay, we are finally beginning to see some lower-cost flower-making tools being made available especially for clay.

Here's a few sources for some of the supplies used with this tutorial. The first two tool sets shown include a ball-ended tool. These are plastic, rather than stainless steel, which makes them inexpensive.

How to Create the Texture of Wool

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 04:33:00 +0000

Jorge Rubicce imitates wool texture in this cold porcelain video demonstration. He also shows how to create the effect of hair peeking out from under the wool cap. Notice that the head he is working with is fully cured and he uses white glue to attach the additional cold porcelain for the cap.

If you don't understand the language in this video, just mute the sound and follow along visually. Each step is clearly shown. Rubicce is a well-known cold porcelain artist in South America and this is an excerpt from the television show Bienvenidas. Fast forward to 13:03 to view the segment with Rubicce.

Sleepy Puppy

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 00:44:00 +0000

Make this cute sleepy puppy with homemade cold porcelain. Materials needed include:

Cold Porcelain (about 1 lb...500 gr)
Polystyrene or Styrofoam spheres No 4 and No 5 (1 for body and 1 for head)
Acrylic or oil paint to pre-tint white clay: Raw Sienna and Burnt Sienna
Sculpting tool & clay roller
Vinyl or water-based glue
Eye stickers (or paint the eyes)

Blushing powder (pastels, scrapbooking powder or make-up)

Black permanent marker for "freckles"
Optional wood base

Acrylic paints for the wood base: yellow and white

Acrylic paint to tint clay for "quilt buttons": blue

Click here for step by step puppy tutorial

This tutorial creates a fairly large clay figure and uses a pound of cold porcelain. Compare size of puppy to adult hands shown in photo below. If you want to make a smaller dog, start with smaller Styrofoam balls for body and head and make other body parts proportional. Less clay will be needed if size is reduced.

Text for tutorial is in Spanish. If your browser doesn't automatically translate, you can translate by pasting URL of page into Google Translate. However, the translation does not make it perfectly clear that the acrylic (or oil) paint is kneaded into clay to pre-tint before starting and that, after Step 7, the figure is left to dry (cure) before applying eyes and other details. After body is cured the head, ears & tail are all glued on because clay will no longer stick to itself.

Tips:

It is sometimes beneficial when attaching parts with glue to also embed part of a toothpick to reinforce the join
When applying spots to cured puppy, it is helpful to soften a little of the Sienna clay with water to help it stick and well integrate into body.
Remember to make the spots all different sizes

How to Decoupage on Cold Porcelain

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 17:56:00 +0000

Clown by Jorge Rubicce with decoupaged shirt

Jorge Rubicce demonstrates how to decoupage on cold porcelain. This technique was used to create the flower-patterned shirt for the scarecrow shown above (and in video). Video is from South American television show 'Bienvenidas'.

Video dialog is in Spanish. If you don't understand the language, just mute the video and watch as Jorge carefully shows each step in the process. I've roughly translated the dialog below. If you speak Spanish and would like to translate all of Jorge's tips into English to share with everyone, please contact me and I'll publish the transcript here.

The first thing you need to do is find some napkins with a pattern you'd like to transfer to cold porcelain.
Separate each ply of the napkin so you are only using the very thin printed layer.
Roll out a thin sheet of cold porcelain slightly larger than your napkin.
Use hair dryer to warm the cold porcelain so it is flexible.
Thin some white glue with water and paint a thin layer of glue all over the sheet of cold porcelain (CP).
Carefully lay the 1 ply of the napkin on the CP. Cover that with cellophane (wax paper may work).
Make a pom pom of tissue and use that to rub the cellophane and push any air bubbles out of napkin & CP layers. Keep rubbing until the printed pattern embeds itself into the CP.
Carefully remove cellophane layer.
Use hair dryer again to gently warm the decoupaged sheet of CP to dry the glue.
Use scissors to trim all edges, including a little bit of CP along with napkin as you cut edge. This ensures a good seal.
To create the look of fabric, use modeling tool to roll the cut edge against your finger so it becomes very thin. Gather that edge as a shirt sleeve or skirt would be gathered and glue to your figure.

Fast forward to 13:03 to begin Jorge's segment on the show.

Make a Skinny Doll Ballerina

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 00:53:00 +0000

Create this cute ballerina skinny doll from cold porcelain following these instructions from Giselle of Gisarteira Atelier. Customize the doll to your own preference!

Step by step instructions (in English) follow the video (which is written in Portuguese).

Materials needed:

Pre-tinted cold porcelain (CP) : flesh
Pre-tinted cold porcelain (CP) : pink
Pre-tinted cold porcelain (CP) : black
Styrofoam ball: Choose size of ball based on the size of the head you want doll to have. A ball about the length of your palm or fingers should be about same as shown in video.
Shish-ka-bob BarBQue skewers
Pink ribbon
Pink gauze tu-tu material
Black beads for eyes
Circular cutting tool
Quick drying glue
Black acrylic paint
Toothpicks

Cut 2 barbeque skewers to about 6 to 7 inches (17cm). These will be legs.
Cover each stick with flesh-colored CP.
Roll "legs" between palm and table for a smooth finish & set aside for now
Cover a Styrofoam ball evenly with flesh-colored CP. (Black hair will be attached to back of head later so flesh color doesn't need to completely cover foam ball.)
Insert toothpick in head for neck strength.
Roll a roundish tube of clay for body about 3 inches (7cm) long.
Form waist by rolling with finger.
Use scissors to snip top section into 3 parts and shape each of those parts into neck and shoulders.
Roll a ball of pink CP into a cylinder about 2" (5cm) long.
Roll another one the same size. These will be the ballet slippers.
Indent one end of each slipper using ball-end tool.
Cut 2 strips of pink ribbon about 3 inches (7cm) long and lay ribbon in the indentation made in previous step.
Roll 2 small ovals of flesh colored clay and insert into slippers, holding ribbon in place.
Press each leg created at beginning into the flesh colored part of slippers. Add glue before inserting if you feel it's needed.
Position each foot/slipper/leg into a ballerina pose. Smooth clay around ankle of both legs.
Roll a ball of scrap clay and insert each top of legs into ball. Use scissors to snip open the "hips" of body made in previous steps and insert leg assembly into body. Smooth clay back down over top of legs.
Roll a flat pink rectangle of clay about 6" (15cm) long. This will be leotard.
Cut 3 circles in pink clay, one in center for head and one on each side for armholes. Place leotard over body and smooth into shape using photo of finished doll as guide.
Cut a small strip of pink gauze 24" (60 cm) long by 6" (15cm) wide. Fold the 6" section three times. The width of the skirt will be 2" (5cm).
Apply a line of glue and attach gauze around hips to create tutu, gathering as you go.
Criss-cross shoe ribbon around ankle and legs and glue as shown.
Create a bow and glue to leg at top of ribbon.
Repeat for other leg.
Roll a ball of black clay for hair. Impress an indentation in center and do some shaping of clay to fit head before applying.
Attach black completely around back of head and shape to form hair. Smooth with palm.
With the ball-end tool, create an indentation at top of head where hair bun will be placed.
Mark a center part in hair with modeling stick.
Mark lines pointing to top indentation, imitating hair being pulled into bun.
Create 3 tapering snakes of black clay about 5-6" (14cm) long. Curl all 3 snakes together into roll.
Attach roll onto top of head as hair bun.
For the arms, roll 2 tubes of flesh-color clay approximately 3" (8cm) long.
Use finger to roll and indent wrist and create hands.
For hands, make 4 cuts for fingers and thumb. Gently model each finger so it is round.
Use finger rolling technique to create elbow crease and gently bend elbow.
Glue and insert arms into body and blend clay at shoulder. Remember to place in ballet position.
Insert 2 black beads for eyes and attach head to body. You can use dots of black paint for eyes if preferred.
Dip 3/4 of circle cutter into black paint and use it as a stamp to imprint smiling mouth.
Paint eyelashes & add blush.
Add pink bow to hair bun.
....and pirouette!

Another doll by Giselle