Skill Level
Beginner. Adult supervision needed. Key Stage 1 + Key Stage 2
Time to Make
30 minutes + overnight drying time for clay + drying time for paint
Adult Supervision Needed
Yes
How to Make
- To make a turtle’s body, break off a 6cm ball of dough, roll it between your hands to make a smooth, round shape. Press the dough into a flat oval shape for the turtle’s shell, making it slightly pointed at one end and about 1cm thick. (To make a smaller-sized turtle, use a 4cm ball).
- Press a palm printer into the dough to make a textured pattern. Carefully shape the turtle’s shell into a shallow domed shape by curving it over the base of jar or cup, taking care not to squash the pattern. Leave the dough to dry. After and hour or so, check the dough is staying in a curved shape; if it starts to flatten, pull the edges down over the jar. Leave to dry overnight.
- Paint the turtle shell and leave to dry. Add a second contrasting colour using a sponge to highlight the pattern. Leave to dry.
- For the turtle’s head and legs, sponge paint onto a palm printer then press it onto coloured card to make a pattern. Leave to dry.
- Cut out a head, 4 flippers and a tail from the printed card. Glue them onto the underside of the shell. Add wiggly eyes to the head.
Top Tip
Start shaping the dough as soon as it comes out of the packet and wrap up any unused material so it doesn't dry out.
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