Introduction: Polymer Clay Jack O'lantern Tutorial (+ Video)

By YouTube Nikita Maree
About: Hello, I'm Niki. I like to make things and save money while I am doing it.

In this video I will show you the steps I took to create this hollow, light up Jack o' lantern
Made out of polymer clay.

Supplies

Not all of this materials list is necessary to create a sculpture of a Jack O'lantern.

These are just the materials that I used.

  • Polymer Clay
  • Aluminum Foil
  • Scalpel
  • Needle and Thread
  • Sculpting Tools
  • Bake and Bond
  • Baby Oil
  • Heart Shaped Cutters
  • Paint Brush
  • Brown Paint
  • Drying Retardant
  • Wire
  • 400 grit Sand Paper
  • Orange Tulle
  • Drill and Drill Bit
  • LED's and Batteries

Step 1:

Starting with an aluminum foil ball.

Step 2:

I am using CosClay, Mixing a l:l ratio of
the Yellow and orange.

Step 3:

Roll it out into a flat sheet.
Then cover the foil ball.

Step 4:

It doesn't have to look pretty,
we will be covering all this up later.

Step 5:

Using a scalpel to sketch and
cut out the eyes, nose and mouth.

Step 6:

I was originally going to have the top lift up,
but later decided against that.

Step 7:

I gave him a full bake then
cut him open down the back and underside,

so that I could remove the foil ball.

Step 8:

I could not have done this technique
with regular polymer day.

Step 9:

I used a needle and thread
to hold the cut closed.

Step 10:

I would first push a hole
either side with a needle tool. Then thread it together.

Step 11:

This looks really cool,

so I see myself using this technique for something in the future.

Step 12:

I am now covering over
the cut and thread with some more clay.

Step 13:

The lid piece was bothering me,
so I permanently attached it with clay.

Step 14:

I roll out a length that is tapered on either side

and that will reach from top of the pumpkin to the Base.

Step 15:

Once I am happy with the length.
I press it down with my fingers to flatten it a bit.

Step 16:

Position it onto the pumpkin and blend in the sides.

Step 17:

For the face details I would hold it into position and lightly score the surface.

Step 18:

Cut along the scored line.

Step 19:

Place it back into position
and blend it in.

Step 20:

Repeat for around all the facial features.
I will be giving this another bake really soon.

Because I tend to squish every thing.

Step 21:

But before I do, I am brushing the surface
with some baby oil on a paint brush, to smooth it all down.

Step 22:

I then texture the surface with a needle tool.

Step 23:

After it's been baked, I continue the same presses for around the back of the pumpkin.

Step 24:

Time for poor Clive to be split open.
I lightly score in a sort of zig-zag jagged line

and then deepened and widened it.

Step 25:

Using a small ball tool to mark out the holes

and then a larger ball tool to make those holes bigger.

I then bake it again.

Step 26:

For the green of the stem and leaves,
I am mixing in a 1:1 ratio of green and yellow and a small amount of brown.

Step 27:

Roll it out into a thin sheet.

Step 28:

I got these heart shaped cutters from eBay
for $1 with free postage.

Step 29:

With a heart shape pressed out
I make 4 small cuts with the scalpel.

Step 30:

I then use this silicone sculpting tool to wedge into the cuts

and sculpt a leaf shape.

Step 31:

With a needle tool,

I create the veins of the leaves.

Step 32:

I then make many more in 3 different sizes.

Step 33:

After I figured out what I was doing I made the rest with more of a
production line kind of an approach.

I got quicker, but it was still a tedious task.

Step 34:

Towards the end, I omitted the scalpel cuts and went straight in with the

silicone shaper. My hands were hotter and the clay was softer,

so this technique worked quite well.

Step 35:

After I made 34 leaves in that green.
I made a darker green by mixing in more of the brown.

Step 36:

l made 14 leaves with the darker green.
And then gave the leaves a bake.

Step 37:

Moving onto the vine stitches.
I roll out a short length with tapered ends.

Step 38:

Check that it fits,
then texture it with a needle tool.

Step 39:

I add a little bit of Bake and Bond . . .

Step 40:

into the holes before adding the vine in.

Step 41:

I repeat this process for
the rest of the stitches.

Step 42:

Placing some at an angle to create a cross.

Step 43:

For the needle that Clive will be holding
I am using Premo Accents in silver.

Step 44:

I am also using some thin wire for support inside the vine

that will be holding up the needle.

Step 45:

Roll out the clay to the length of the wire.
Cut a slit down the center with a scalpel.

Step 46:

Push the wire down into the scalpel cut,
sealing it into the center.

Step 47:

Again, texture with a needle tool.

Step 48:

Press the vine into the bottom hole.

Step 49:

Start shaping it into position.

Step 50:

I added a couple of leaves to the base of the vine.

Then baked it again.

Step 51:

For the chopped stalk, I created a cone shape.

Rolling, pinching and pressing until it looks right.

Step 52:

I then cut out small triangles from around the base.

Creating a 5 pointed star shape.

Step 53:

Picked my favorite orientation.
Add some bake and bond.

Cut the top of the stalk off at a slight angle.

Step 54:

Add lines all around the stalk.

Step 55:

With a small ball tool I draw in 3 rings
on the top of the stalk. Brush it down with some baby oil.

Step 56:

Back to the needle.
I am adding some wire into the center, just like I did for the vine.

Step 57:

Roll it out with a taper on one end.

Step 58:

Cut a slit into the other end.

Step 59:

I will be wrapping this slit around the vine.

Step 60:

For extra support, I wrapped a small piece of wire around the stem.

To push the needle down onto.

Step 61:

I am rolling out some more vines.
These ones don't need any wire in the centers.

Needle tool to texture.

Step 62:

Twirling the vine into a nice shape.
Blend it to the stalk.

Step 63:

I gave him 4 vines and baked him again.

Step 64:

I add the leaves with some Bake and Bond.
A pair of tweezers works really well for this.

Step 65:

I also rolled out some baby vines to add
amongst the leaves.

Step 66:

Drilled a hole in the underside.

Step 67:

Now time to add some paint.
I mix the brown paint in with some drying retardant.

Step 68:

Brush it on everywhere

Step 69:

Then lightly remove the excess from the surface.

Leaving the brown paint in all the lower areas.

(I used a sheet of paper towel)

Step 70:

After the paint had fully dried
I used a 400 grit sand paper to expose

some of the original colour on the surface.

Step 71:

The light I wanted to use for this didn't arrive in time.

so I will use these for the time being.

Step 72:

To defuse the light I used a cut up freezer bag.

Step 73:

But I would have loved to use some orange tulle,

like I using for a different project.

Step 74:

And now it is done.
Let me know in the comment section

what your favorite Halloween memory is.

Step 75:

Growing up we didn't go trick or treating.
So we would come up with elaborate designs to soak all our friends

who rang the doorbell with water.

And we still gave them lollies.

If you are into these kinds of projects
I would love to have you subscribe to my YouTube channel.

YouTube - Nikita Maree

So you don't miss out on my future projects.