Sculpy Halloween Refrigerator Magnet Craft

Crafters! Add a seasonal flourish to your refrigerator with these nifty Halloween-themed magnets you can make with Sculpy, the polymer clay that bakes hard in your kitchen oven.

Sculpy can be found at most craft and hobby-shops as well as major chain stores such as Walmart. It is available in colors as well as the basic white. The magnets pictured here are made with the white Sculpy and finished with acrylic paints. You may consider also purchasing some modeling tools. Small magnets can be purchased individually from most craft and hobby-shops as well.

Before modeling with Sculpy, be sure to knead and work it a few minutes until it is soft and pliable. Sculpy that has set on the shelf for long periods can be hard and crumbly, but don't let that discourage you; with a little work it renews its elasticity.

The pumpkin magnets were started by rolling a round ball of soft Sculpy about an inch and a half wide, and flattening it slightly into an oval shape. Next, cut a slice about a quarter-inch thick off one side. Place the magnet on a smooth, washable surface and press the oval slice over it to make an indentation to set the magnet into later, after baking. When you finish the modeling, you will remove the magnet before baking the Sculpy.

To model the segments in the pumpkin use a thin, tapering tool. For kid's craft classes, we used to firmly glue a toothpick to a Popsicle stick, which worked well as a detailing tool. Standard clay modeling tools are good. The best modeling tools for fine detail are the type used by dental lab technicians. Exacto blades can also be used for cutting out shapes and slicing out pieces.

Model your pumpkin shape with an eye to creating a full organic form. Round off the edges of the segments as they slope into the incisions. To create a carved pumpkin effect, carefully cut out triangular wedges for the eyes and nose, and remove wedges that alternate in a zig-zag direction for the mouth.

To create the stems, slice out a cone-shaped notch from the top of the pumpkin and insert a cylindrical roll for the stem shape. Merge the clay together with smooth pressure for a seamless fit. Model the stem with fluted edges.

To fashion the bat flying past the moon, roll a smooth round ball and slice a section off one side about a quarter-inch thick. Impress a magnet into the back of the moon as with the pumpkin. To shape the bat form, flatten the remainder of the ball with a roller, into a disc about an eight of an inch thick. Cut out the bat-shape with a thin tool or blade, and place it on the Moon-shape. Pat gently on the bat form to cause it to adhere to the moon. Touch-up and refine the edges where necessary.

The larger black bat is a simple form about 2" wide, carved out of a rolled-flat piece of Sculpy. Two sinister, slanted eyes were etched into the surface. For this type of magnet fixture, the magnet, preferably in the shape of a flat disc is directly glued to the back of the bat shape.

When the modeling is completed, carefully remove the magnets with a pointed tool like a needle. Place the Sculpy pieces on a flat, oven-safe pan or tray. I used the back side of a metal pizza pan. Pre-heat your oven to 275 degrees and bake for about 15 minutes (per quarter-inch thickness of Sculpy) Over-baking will cause the Sculpy to become brittle. Make sure to have the room well ventilated.

After letting the Sculpy forms cool thoroughly, they are ready to paint, using non-toxic craft paints, if possible, or acrylics. Orange for the pumpkin and bat's eyes, green for the stems, black for the bats, and yellow for the moon and carved-pumpkin's features. Use a quality, tapering art brush if possible.

When the paint is thoroughly dry, secure the magnets to the back of the pieces with glue and your projects are ready!