What you need
Polymer clay – any brand – colors of your choice (I used red, white & pink)
Liquid polymer clay
Acrylic roller or wooden dowel
Clay knife or plastic knife
Toothpick or bamboo skewer
Eye pins or wire/pin backs (optional)
Cookie or Fondant cutters – heart & circle (only for use with clay afterwards!)
Work surface – ceramic tile, file folder or wax paper
Instructions
Condition your choice of colors by rolling and squeezing in your hands. Test to see if it cracks when you bend it – that means it needs more conditioning!
Roll each color onto a ball, flatten & roll out to desired thickness with your acrylic roller or dowel (You can also use a clay dedicated pasta machine).
Using your cookie cutters, cut out various sizes of hearts – 1 large, 2 medium and 2 small.
Using a drop of Liquid polymer clay for each attachment, assemble your mouse – Turn the biggest heart upside down to make the body & attach the head on top with the ears behind the head (I elongated the head’s heart a bit to make a better snout).
Cut with your knife flat edges on the “feet (take off the points) and at the bottom of the legs. This will help them to adhere without gaps.
Don’t forget the tail!!!
Roll out a long snake of clay tapering one end to a point and attach it to your mouse – if you press firmly, no liquid clay will be needed.
Now embellish your mouse!!!
Cut out more hearts, little balls for paws, eyes and a nose & have fun! You can also add lots of detail by poking holes and scratching lines into the clay.
Bake according to manufacturer’s directions and let cool.
Hang on a pretty ribbon or glue on a pin back once cooled & enjoy or give as a gift! I glued on a crystal for sparkle!
*** TIP ***
Red or dark clay can leave some pigment on your hands. To help keep the white clay from turning pink, handle most of the white clay first. You can also use baby wipes to clean your hands and tools (alcohol is a solvent for the clay) or wear latex gloves & switch in between colors.
Once you use cookie cutters, pasta machine, etc for clay, it is recommended to no longer use it for food. Shop around for inexpensive cutters at your local craft store.
Bears do not have long tails, correct? This cute little pin looks like a mouse instead!