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Mini Clay Penguin
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How to Make a Clay Penguin

This polymer clay penguin is such a fun and satisfying craft! With a bit of shaping, some smoothing, and a gentle bake in the oven, you’ll have a cheerful little penguin that’s perfect for displaying or gifting.
Active Time30 minutes
Baking Time30 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Yield: 1 clay penguin
Author: Debbie Chapman
Cost: $2

Equipment

Materials

Instructions

Step 1: Find what you need

  • Gather your supplies and materials.
    Clay-Penguin-Supplies

Step 2: Prepare the head and body

  • Begin by wearing nitrile gloves and working on a clean surface, like a baking sheet, silicone mat, or acrylic sheet.
    Grab 1/3 of a package of white polymer clay and break it into 2 pieces, with one section slightly larger than the other.
    Clay-Penguin-1
  • Condition the clay, squishing and kneading it with your hands until it's nice and malleable. Roll the clay into 2 balls.
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Step 3: Make the feet and beak

  • Condition a ball of orange clay and break off a tiny bit.
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  • Roll the orange clay into a ball and then shape it into a rounded triangle for the beak.
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  • Roll 2 more orange balls and shape them into ovals for the feet. Flatten them on an acrylic sheet (or silicone mat) and use a silicone brush to make indents for the toes.
    Use a knife or hard spatula to lift them up without misshaping them.
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Step 4: Create the mask, wings, and tail

  • Condition a ball of black clay. Break off part of it and use a clay roller to roll it out very thin. It should be stretchy and malleable.
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  • Create the black facial mask for the penguin with this clay. Begin by using a round clay cutter to cut 2 circles next to each other near the bottom edge of the clay.
    Repeat at the edge of the clay, so that when you remove the circles there are 2 empty arches in the clay.
    Finally, cut the bottom triangle off. This will be the center black band that goes down to the penguin's beak.
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  • Lift the black clay and place it on the small white ball. Allow the part you cut to touch the white clay first so that it preserves the shape.
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  • Smooth it down carefully around the penguin's head, cutting off the excess at the bottom.
    Use a silicone brush to smooth out the clay where needed. The black clay should cover around the whole head and meet in a band under the "chin".
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  • Roll another piece of black clay very thin. Then wrap it around the sides of the larger white ball so that only the white stomach is showing.
    Again, smooth out the clay carefully, cut off any excess, and use the silicone brush to blend or refine any areas that need it.
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  • Break off another piece of black clay and use your fingers to form it into a rounded rectangle shape with one side thinner than the other.
    Make the wider end a bit flatter than the other side. This will be the tail.
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  • Roll 2 balls of black clay, a little bit smaller than the one for the tail. Flatten them out and form them into a similar shape to the tail, creating the wings.
    If the clay gets stuck to your working surface, use a clay knife to carefully slide them off.
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  • Use a clay knife to break off two very tiny bits of clay for the eyes. Roll them with your fingertip and then use a clay tool to lift them carefully.
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Step 5: Assemble the pieces

  • Begin by pressing the head onto the penguin's body. You'll want to connect them firmly enough that the clay will stick together, but not so much that you misshape the pieces.
    Then line up the feet and press the body down onto them so they stick out the front.
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  • Pick up the penguin and use a clay knife (or toothpick) to smooth the feet into the body at the back.
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  • Attach the beak to the front center of the face, just at the edge of the black mask.
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  • Connect the wings to each side of the penguin with the flatter part at the top and so they're sticking out at the bottom.
    Use a wide silicone brush to smooth the wing into the body.
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  • Attach the tail to the back in the same way.
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  • Use a clay knife or other tool to lift and press the eyes into place. Press them flat with your fingertip.
    Important: Make sure your finger is clean and doesn't have black clay residue when you do this, or you'll discolour the white clay.
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Step 6: Bake the clay

  • Place the penguin on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake according to package directions.
    Our clay recommends 275F for 15 minutes per 1/4 inch thickness.
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  • Your clay penguin is complete!
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  • Now have fun making a whole colony of cute clay penguins!
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Video

Notes

Looking for more cute clay animal crafts? Here's a few of our favourites:
How to Make a Clay Turtle
Clay Bear
How to Make a Clay Frog