Polymer Clay Bugs - Kids Craft Idea - CATHIE FILIAN's Handmade Happy Hour

These polymer clay bugs are so fun to create. Kids and parents will have a ball getting creative with polymer clay. They either love them or hate them, but what kid isn’t fascinated by bugs? So grab so clay, wire and your creativity.

Cathie Filian and Steve Piacenza on the Set of Creative Juice on HGTV

This project was featured on Creative Juice on HGTV. You can watch the full episode on watch.hgtv.com. Watch all seasons on watch.HGTV.com.

Polymer Clay Bugs – Snail

Materials:
Sculpey clay: brown, orange, bright green, dark green, white, blue and red
20-gauge craft wire
wire-cutters
cookie sheet
parchment paper
oven

1. Knead the clay until it’s soft. To make the snail shell, roll a piece of brown clay into a long log shape with one tapered end. Do the same thing with a piece of orange clay. Hold the two pieces together and roll them into a coil/cinnamon bun shape, starting with the skinnier ends.

2. To make the body, roll a piece of bright green clay into the same tapered log shape, only slightly shorter. The thicker end of the shape will be the head; gently smash the shell onto the top of the body and bend the head end of the body upward. Stick several tiny dots of dark green clay all over the snail’s body to create warts.

3. Shape a piece of dark green clay into a pea-sized ball. Next, make a flat disc shape out of white clay and press onto the green ball. Place a small blue circle of clay in the middle of the white area to create an eye for the snail. Repeat this process for the other eye. Cut two small straight pieces of wire, each approximately 1″ long. Stick these into the top of the snail’s head, leaving a little more than half sticking out. Skewer the eyes onto the wire.

4. Roll out two small pieces of red clay into log shapes with tapered ends. Put them together to make lips; place on the snail’s head.

5. Bake the snail on a parchment-lined baking sheet according to the instructions on the package of clay. Let cool before handling. Other types of creatures can be made using similar techniques.