Silk Clay Tutorial

We love Silk Clay!

• Use it for noses, beaks, claws, teeth, horns, ears, paws and more... you can even make a needle handle from it!
• We have 4 different colours available - black, white, brown, pink.
• The Silk Clay colours can be blended by kneading together some of each colour.
• Silk Clay can be painted.

With most items which will be attached into a felted item, once the item is made, bend the end of a thin piece of wire and push the bent end into the clay. Allow 24 hours to dry before attaching.

Noses:

As a needle felter, you have the perfect tool for creating a Silk Clay Nose - your felting needle! - though you will not be using it for felting...

You will need: Silk Clay, Felting Needle, short piece of wire

	Roll a round ball from the Silk Clay, roughly the right size for a nose.
	Flatten off the back by pushing it down on the table.
	Squeeze the bottom of the nose to make it more pointed, then flatten off the top of the nose slightly.
	Using the point of your felting needle, press it into the clay to create the vertical line between the nostrils.
	Nostrils: Hold the nose in your hand. Lay the bent end of your felting needle at an angle on the nose. Push the needle into the clay...
	...and then draw the needle down and back in a curved motion to widen the bottom of the nostril.
	Repeat on the other side. You can repeat the technique to further shape the nostrils an even them out if necessary.
	If you like, you can use the point of your needle to add a stippled texture to the nose.
	Take your short piece of wire and bend the end. Push the bent end into the silk clay and gently squeeze around trying not to change the shape too much. To attach the nose to your feltie, make a hole (you can push your felting needle all the way in onto the widest part of the needle) then push the wire part in. Add some glue behind the nose to hold in place. Then You can build up a little wool around the nose to help it look more part of the face.

 

Ears:

The pink Silk Clay makes beautiful ears for mice!

	Roll a ball from pink Silk Clay and squash it flat.
	Place a bent piece of wire into the base of the ear. Wrap the ear around the wire.
	Make a pair of ears and then glue into your feltie to hold in place (see nose instructions).

 

Claws, Beaks, Teeth:

The technique for all of these is the same. If you are making a specific type of beak etc. have a look carefully at photographs so that you can copy the shape.

	Roll a ball from Silk Clay and then roll one end into a point.
	You can bend the point if that shape is required (for a hooked beak, curve claw etc). Then bend the end of a piece of wire (see nose above) and push it into the claw.
	You can make all different shapes and sizes, and the silk clay can be painted to add details. For attaching, just make a hole and glue in (see nose instructions above).

 

Horns:

You can create single horns using the method above, or roll one long piece to make a double horn, and then build up layers of wool and a little glue to hold in place.

	Take a ball of Silk Clay and roll it into a long thin shape. You can roll extra at each end to make it thinner.
	Curve the horns as much as you like.
	Create your head shape and cover it with final colour if required, leaving the area where the horns will be attached uncovered. Felt a little dip where the horns will go and position horns.
	Pull some fibres from one side over the horn and felt down to tack the horn in place. Add a little glue if you wish to help hold in place.
	Pull fibres from the other side over the head and felt into place.
	Add your final details.

 

Silk clay is so versatile, you can have lots of fun creating all sorts of details, including hands for people, paws for mice etc!