Skill Level
Beginner
Time to Make
1 hour
Adult Supervision
Yes
Top Tip
Acrylic paints can be mixed together to create more muted shades. Try white mixed with tiny amounts of brown and blue to make a grey colour for the hen. Red mixed with brown gives a darker crimson.
How to Make
- Break off 1/3 pack of clay, then seal the remaining clay in the pack inside a polythene bag so it doesn't dry out.
- Shape the clay into a smooth ball.
- Working on a wooden board, tile or baking tray, flatten the clay with a roller to about 5-6mm thick.
- Draw the hen outline with a cocktail stick or a pointed tool, then cut around the line with a knife, or use a flat modelling tool.
- Smooth the edges of the clay with your fingers.
- Smooth around the crest and beak so the shapes are well defined.
- Cut out a wing shape from the rolled clay.
- Make some small score lines in the middle of the hen with a modelling tool with some water over the top.
- Carefully lift up the wing shape, score a few lines on the back then press it in position on the hen. Smooth around the edges of the wing with your fingers.
- Press a feather pattern onto the wing, tail and crest using curved strips of card, or a straw cut down the middle for the smaller C shaped patterns.
- Cut an egg shape from the remaining rolled clay, adding more water if it has started to dry out.
- Press a simple design into the egg using a card strip and a straw to make circles.
- Make holes in the hen with a cocktail stick at the top and bottom of the body, and another hole at the top of the egg.
- Wiggle the cocktail stick to make sure the holes have opened out on the reverse side.
- Leave the clay pieces to dry overnight then carefully turn them over and leave to dry for another day.
- Depending on the temperature it may take 24-48 hours for the clay to fully dry.
- When the clay is dry, lightly sand over the surface and around the edges.
- Mix a grey colour for the hen's body and brush it over the clay.
- Paint the crest and the egg then leave to dry.
- Brush black paint into the patterns and lines on the clay and paint the eyes. Leave to dry.
- Lightly sand over the paint to partially remove the top layer.
- This should leave black lines highlighting the patterns, with some of the clay colour showing through the coloured areas.
- Thread some twine through the holes so the egg hangs underneath the hen. Tie a longer piece to the top of the hen to hang up the completed decoration.
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