Never, Ever enough Time ...

I am sure many of you feel the same way,  Never enough time in a day to do all we need and want to do.  Especially this time of year !    First, let me apologize for not keeping my word.   I mentioned in my last post that I would have some instructions on painting the clay Santa face on Sunday.  Heck, I'm not even sure if you need it, but, I do intend on having that no later than tomorrow. 

I had  a few technical difficulties when I started printing all those patterns that so many of you ordered.  THANK YOU SO, VERY MUCH !   I truly do appreciate all of the excitement over the latest Santa pattern.   It surprised me how many actual printed patterns I sold, and that took a great deal of time to get them printed and packaged.  Then, I had some personal things to tend to.  Including getting a little Christmas decorating started.   I always wait until the first of December to start my decorating.   To be honest, I never really decorate much for Christmas.   It's just the 2 of us, no kids, But, I'm feeling a little extra festive this year, so, I want to do more than my usual.  Even if it is just for Me and Jeff (  who really isn't Mr. Holly Jolly - but, not at all a scrooge :) 

Just a few greens here and there so far.  I am very happy with my Santa sitting upon my shelf.   Do you know that I have never, ever kept an Santa for myself ?  Nope...not a single one from all of these years that I have been making them. This one is staying home with me.  Oh, but, I must add some buttons or bells to his vest !

We did get our little tree up.  It's not fully decorated yet.  I hope to make myself some little felted ornaments to add to it over the next few weeks. 

I'll tell ya...  With all that I've been through health wise this past year, I have felt pretty darn good ! 

UNTIL, last month.  I was pretty down for a few weeks after starting a medication that is supposed to help keep cancer from coming back.  It took everything out of me, and I ended up with a bad reaction to it . My Doctor took me off if it and I have just started feeling myself again these past couple of weeks.  I want to do EVERYthing !   Live it up while I can !  Enjoy LIFE ! 

I am sure she (my Oncologist ) will suggest I start on something again, and I will do what she thinks is best, but, I do hope it can wait until after the holidays.  But, then again, the quicker I start fighting back, the quicker I will win...Right ? 

Okay,  I'm off to do some this and that and will get those painted face instructions posted on here tomorrow at the latest.  

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH for taking time out of your day to stop and see what I have to show and tell.  I wouldn't be doing it if not for YOU ! 

Happy Day ! 

Dru Ann

Clay Santa Face Tutorial

*This lesson is meant  for those who have purchased my Santa patterns. To Find those Cinnamon Creek Santa Patterns.  Please visit my Etsy shop .    Thank you . *

Here is how I make my clay Santa face that I've been doing for, oh, so many years.  When working with clay, I've never been able to get the same exact face twice.   The faces that you see on all of my Santas through the years have all been either resin poured or chalkware.  But, they all began with an original clay face that we made molds from. 

This face is for a Santa that is anywhere from 16''- 20'' tall

Maybe next time, I can do a video. I'm just not set up for that now.  I hope that these step by step pictures and instructions will do the trick.

Here is what you need.    This "CREATIVE PAPERCLAY"  can be found at Hobby Lobby.   Now, maybe you are familiar with other clays, but this is all I've ever used.  It is great to work with. Soft and easy to shape and blend. 

You will also need a small paintbrush. with a smooth, rounded end.  That is your sculpting tool.  Perhaps you have something else similar that may work better.  You also need a little cup of water to keep your fingertips moist. An fat needle will be used to make some wrinkles on his forehead. 

Begin by breaking off a chunk of clay .  It will take about 1/4 of your block of clay. 

Roll it into a ball .  Your ball should be about 3'' maybe a little less.   Knead it and work with your hands to get any air out and smooth the cracks.   Keep your hands moist.   You want to keep it crack free.  Too much water, and it gets too messy.  

Flatten it out  a bit onto a hard surface.  

 It needs to be about 1/2'' thick , 3 - 31/4'' long and about 2 3/4'' wide

Make sure it is fairly smooth with no cracks.  If you have some cracks, rub over with dampened fingers until smooth. 

Keep the back of it flat.

Now, for the nose...  take a piece of clay about the size of a small grape.  Roll and knead to smooth and then roll in your palms...

You want the nose to be about 1 1/2'' long.

Set into place - going by the picture. 

Start pressing in on the sides.  First with your fingertips. ( I usually go at it with both index fingers on both sides at the same time, but, I needed one hand for the camera.  :) 

Once you have the sides smoothed down into the face, take your smoothing tool ( paintbrush end) and start kind of rolling it and sculpting.  Pressing down fairly firm to form it into the face. 

This is just something you will need to work with and take your time to sculpt and shape. It's fun , if you just let  yourself be a sculptor.  You'll want to taper the bridge of the nose down and thin it at the top.  Simply press and play with it every which way . It will take shape as you work with it. 

You see here, I am pinching the clay towards the bottom. That kind of squeezes out the nostril shape. 

Pressing that paintbrush end like this picture helps protrude that nose out. 

Continue working with it until you are happy with it.  Keeping those fingertips moist and smoothing it out. You can poke that brush end  on both sides under the nose to make the nostrils. 

Now that the nose is in fairly good shape, Start indenting the eye area...

Press in your brush end as shown and roll it  a bit.  Smoothing as you go. 

Looking at the pictures gives you the best idea of the shape you are going for. 

Take your time and work with it.  Pressing in and rolling the brush end around a bit until you have it the same on both sides.  Again... keep your fingertips moist and add smooth with your dampened fingers all along the way. .....

Keep smoothing and sculpting until you have it looking something like this .

Now,  he needs a bit more of a forehead.  We are doing this separately, as it just seems to work out better this way.  You will take a piece of clay from your block that is about 2 1/4'' long and 1/4'' thick.

Knead it a little, roll, press and smooth it until you get something like this. 

Then, gently  press it into the face above the eyes, being careful not to disturb what you've done so far.  Smooth those edges with your fingertips, fingernails and/or brush end tool until it is blended in .

This is what you should have at this point, or something similar. 

You actually don't want it too smooth, as the imperfections give it an older look. 

Add some chubby cheeks....  Take 2 pieces of clay - about the size of a small grape.  Knead and roll, then  smooth onto the sides of the face as shown with your dampened fingertips.

Use your brush end tool to sculpt it into the face further.  Too chubby ?  Press it on down into the face and simply work with it until it is how you desire it to be. 

It's taking shape ! 

Silly Ol' Santa Face !  

Take a little piece of clay ( about the size of a pea) .  Roll between your fingers a bit and set into place as shown. 

Press it into place , under the nose as shown, and sculpt and blend into a mouth shape.   

This mouth really won't be seen much under that wooly beard. It does not need to be perfect.  You just want a hint of lips showing through. , so they need to protrude out as shown. 

I hope you are having fun !   The first time I worked with clay, I was surprised how easy and fun it was.  Even though it took me a long time and some patience with myself to get it to where I was happy with it.  It simply takes time.

To add a little detail.... use a needle or a toothpick to create a few creases in his forehead.

Maybe a few little lines on the sides of his eyes...

Then , smooth them out with your dampened fingertips. 

Happy , Silly Santa Face !  

Your face should be dry in 2 - 3 days.  Keep in a warm , dry area.   It is possible to speed it up if you put in the oven at a very low temp. ( 200 degrees )  But, you must be careful of cracking.   Once it is fully dry, you  will not need to worry about it cracking.  It becomes very durable. 

2 different Santa Faces.   Each one as unique and original as you and me ! 

FACE SHOULD BE APPROXIMATELY 1/2'' THICK WHEN DONE  ( POSSIBLY 3/4'' WITH CHEEKS )  IT SHOULD BE 3 - 3 1/4'' LONG AND 2 3/4'' WIDE 

I hope that this has helped you.   If you feel that I have left something out, PLEASE feel free to let me know.  Sometimes, well... Lots of times I forget things.  I'm happy to help as much as I can. 

Best way to contact me is through Facebook messenger for the quickest reply.   Of course, I can't always answer instantly, but I'll do my best. 

Happy Santa Making ! 

Dru Ann

p.s. ----  Tomorrow ( Saturday, Dec. 1st ) I will share how to paint the face and apply the beard. 

Sock Head Santa

Today I am showing you how I make those sock heads on "Old Tattered Santa" and "Good Night Santa"

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You should use a cotton or cotton blend sock with a tight weave.  A ladies sock is best.   Cut it  in half, or, at the heal as shown.

Stuff fairly firmly with fiberfill.  I always use "Morning Glory" fiberfill. It stays where you put it and doesn't shift like that other slick brand.   It takes a couple of big handfuls for this head.  Shape it as you go and then tie off at the end with jute or any twine. 

With a long darning or embroidery needle and full strand of embroidery floss ( cream or light tan ), you will begin the nose.   Use the picture of a guide how to start towards the top , about a 1/2'' across, gathering some of that stuffing underneath. Pull that needle and thread through tightly.  Once you get your first stitch through, Run it back through, and back and forth, pulling tight. You may want to hold it with your fingers as you go along.

Keep doing that until the nose is about 1 1/4'' long.

At the bottom of the nose,hold your thread as shown, giving it a slight curve.  Pull your needle through , and pull up....

I honestly am having a hard time describing how to do this.  I  know a video may be best, but, not possible at this time.
Once you have the stitch in as in above picture, run your needle up to the forehead area as shown, pull tightly to give the bottom of the nose a somewhat rounded end.

Now you will begin indentions for the eyes and giving it somewhat of a forehead.....

Run your needle back and forth from that eye area ( see where I started... a tad bit away from the nose at the top)   Run that needle up , always through an amount of the stuffing underneath to give it some depth.   You are ending your needle up at the top of the head.  That will be covered up, so no need to worry about what it looks like up there. ..... 

Keep going until you get the look going on here in these pictures.    I really hope I''m helping... It may just take a little practice for you to get the feel of it.  Once you play with it a bit, I know you'll get it ! 

When you are all done running those stitches through on both sides.  End up at the top of the head and sew a tight knot to secure.

Look ... It is not perfect, and looks really silly at this point...but, trust me... It will be great when that beard gets on ! 

Now give him a little mouth, using the same method.  It doesn't need to look like much,  You just want  the hint of  a mouth once the mustache and beard goes on.

Now, it's time to paint the head.   My all time favorite paint for Santa Faces is this Ceramcoat AC Flesh.

Just apply a nice even coat of paint all over face and even the back of the head/neck area.

Once your flesh color is dry, paint eyes on as shown.  I'm sorry these next few pictures are a little out of order.  I'm still learning how to set this up.  See below for paint color. You should use a soft white shade of craft paint.  

Simply use a tiny liner brush and paint an shape of an eyeball . As you see, I cannot do perfect shapes.  It is impossible for me.  However,  these are primitive Santas.  Have fun , and do the best you can and it will be wonderful !   

I have had a few requests for a diagram for eyes and features.   I think these pictures will help.  I get the feeling that some of you are scared and uptight about doing faces.  You may want to practice and play a little with it all.  I want you to have fun with it !  

I like blue eyed Santas. You could do brown if you like.  With  a tiny brush,  paint the iris of the eye. Just little circles as shown. 

Outline the eyes with  brown paint.   I know...this really does not look that good, but, when you get the final aging coat on , it will all blend in ! 

Add black pupils with black paint or a sharpie marker as shown.  You may also wish to add a teensy white dot in each pupil to add a little gleam to his eye. 

For the cheeks... use a piece of foam or sponge, dab into a little  dark red paint. Dab on paper to  remove excess and then,  blush his cheeks and his lips. 

It looks so silly !   Dude looks like a lady at this point !   Smiles !
Let this all dry really well, and then we will age it !  

Okay... so now, you need to brush water or light coffee stain over the entire painted area.  While wet, brush on a light, dirty brown paint over it all.  Wipe any access off immediately.  You just want to tone that face down so it isn't so bright.  Remember , you can always refer to my tips and techniques page in my patterns for further aging ideas. 

Once the the head is dry and ready,  add your beard and mustache.   I prefer to stitch mine on, however, sometimes hot glue is best ( as much as I hate to use a glue gun )  it comes in handy for applying the eyebrows and getting that wool just where you need it. 

I truly hope that this has helped you.  I look at this picture and see that, as with all of my Santa faces.  It definitely is not perfect.   The eyes are not set just right, but, I can re-adjust that by shifting the nose.  I'm leaving it as it is on here for a few reasons....to show you that it's okay, and it will all work out in the end, you just need to re-adjust things as you go along.  PLUS,  I am simply not feeling well today and I'm doing the best I can.  I promised I'd get this to you guys ! 

I do look forward to fixing up the blog better and better and it will be fun to start doing weekly posts, more tutorials and fun things along the way. 

Thank you ALL so much for your support and enthusiasm for what I do !   

Happy Creating ! Have fun ! AND Be as original as you can.... You can always use these guidelines, but, I love seeing others do things their way and doing it better than Me ! 

Dru Ann

ps..... If you feel that I've left something out, and want more information, I'll do my best to help you. You can leave a comment to let me know.