Are you looking for an easy activity to do with the kids this winter? Make some little loafer clay! It’s a great indoor project that will keep them out of trouble for at least an hour. Little loafers clay also make perfect gifts for that crafty friend you have. These little shoes are relatively easy to make, and if you follow this tutorial, you can create your pair in no time. Let’s get started!
What You’ll Need:
- Large mixing bowl
- Knife
- Spoon
- Plastic wrap
- Parchment paper
- Cookie sheet lined with parchment paper
- Sharpie marker
Make Little Loafers Clay
What you’ll need:
- 2 cups of white craft clay
- A cup of brown craft clay
- A tablespoon of clear acrylic sealant or varnish (optional)
- Ribbon
- Paintbrush
- Rolling pin
- Small bowl to mix the colors in
- Oven mitts
Shaping The Shoe
First, you need to create the clay into a long, thin rectangle. Second, take your index finger and press it down into the clay. Third, spread your fingers and pull up on the clay below to create an impression of the shoe’s upper. Fourth, repeat this process to form the second shoe with your other hand. Fifth, use a rolling pin to gently flatten out the boots and ensure they are even in shape. Sixth, use a knife or curved spatula to cut off the excess clay around each shoe. Seventh, bake in an oven at 275 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes or until stiff. Eighth, paint to decorate!
Adding Color
Now is the time if you want to add some color to your loafers. Get some acrylic paint and a brush. Paint a stripe up the front of your slug, and then add dots or lines on the sole for decoration. You can also use this opportunity to get out some of that creativity!
Let It Dry And Build Your Loafers!
Before you get started, let the little loafers clay dry. You want it to sit for at least 24 hours before moving on. Once it’s dried, you can start building your loafer! Before you do, though, get some scissors and a sharp knife:
- Cut out two long strips from your clay about 1/4 inch wide and roughly 9 inches in length.
- Use your fingers to pinch one end of the strip and fold it back over itself to form a loop.
- Lift the other side and fold that back over as well. These loops should be roughly 3/4 of an inch long.
- Take the end of your second strip and loop it around one of the loops created in step 2 so that they overlap each other by about 1/2 inch or so.
Pinch one end of this new loop before folding it over itself again as you did with the first two loops. With both strips overlapping each other, as shown above, take the end of your second strip and wrap it around (overlapping) one of the loops created in step 3 so that they overlap each other by about 1/2 inch or so, as you did with steps 4-5 above – only this time looping around the opposite loop than before Finally, take this new loop and repeat steps 4-5 with it but this time wrapping around the same original circle (the one created in step 3), which will cause
Now that you’ve finished your loafers, you can decorate them as desired. And, as a bonus, you can give your new shoes to an animal that needs a good home!
- What You’ll Need:
- Make Little Loafers Clay.
- Shaping The Shoe.
- Adding Color.
- Let It Dry And Build Your Loafers!