How to Make a Polymer Clay Baby Fairy

Baby fairies are easier to make than adult fairies, so if you are new to making polymer clay fairies, you might want to start with a baby. The main reason babies are much easier is that there is no armature to make, so you can immediately start sculpting without a lot of prep work. You can use these instructions, without the wings, to make a just a regular baby if you want, just skip the wing making steps.

Materials For Your Polymer Clay Baby Fairy

Prosculpt polymer clay, or other nude tone polymer clay

Wire mounted wings

Pink cosmetic blush

Small amount of doll quality Mohair

Sculpting Your Polymer Clay Baby Fairy

I like to use Prosculpt, because it is comes in natural skin tones that look real when cured. Cut off a golf-ball size piece and put it in a zip lock bag. soften the clay up through the bag so you will touch it with your fingers less. When working with the clay, wash your hands thoroughly with plain water first, and let them air dry. Rub rubbing alcohol on your hands and let air dry frequently, to keep your fingers and palms free of oils that will discolor the clay.

Babies are easy to sculpt, as they can be done all in one piece if they are small enough. These instructions are intended for a two to three inch baby fairy, from head to toes. Babies are easiest to sculpt in a tummy-down position, with the arms curled up under the body, with the knees tucked up under the tummy, bottom up, and head to the side.

The reason I do this is so I can keep the limbs close to the body, making them less likely to break off. Start your fairy baby by pinching off a small marble-sized section to use to make facial features, and set it aside for now. Roll the rest of the polymer clay into an oval shape. Form the head by squeezing a little less than a third of the oval, shaping where the neck will be. Sculpt the head, referring to baby photos if you need to. Roughly shape the head, neck and shoulder area.

The head doesn't need to be perfect because you will be gluing on hair. When you have the head and neck shaped the way you like it, turn the baby over, face up in the palm of your hand. Sculpt the face, using your fingers and polymer clay tools. Use bits of your reserved clay to put on the nose, eyelids, lips, and to fill out the cheeks if needed.

I like to make the eyes closed, simply because eyes are difficult, especially for a beginning sculptor. When you are finished with the face, you can start shaping the body. For a baby, I like to simply sculpt the shapes of the legs and arms, leaving the body in a single piece. Pull out rough shapes of arms and legs, and use your sculpting tools to add dimension. Make toes and fingers buy cutting into the bottom of the limbs where the fingers and toes will go, and gently shape with your fingers.

When you are satisfied with your sculpture, smooth any bumps or rough spots with your fingers.

I have yet to perfect wings, so I use pre-made wings, which I insert into the back at this point, before curing. Wrap them in foil if they are made of a delicate material. Set your baby polymer clay fairy on a section of foil laid on a pan or cookie sheet, and cure according to the instructions for the type of clay you are using.

When the baby fairy is cured and cooled down, you can add the hair. Glue on tiny, short strands of Mohair onto the baby's head. Don't cut the hair, or it won't look natural. Try to pinch off small amounts from longer strands instead. Mohair looks the nicest, better than artificial hair, because the strands are so fine. For a final touch, add a little bit of blush to your polymer clay baby fairy's lips and cheeks.