Creepy Cute crafts: Craft Your Own Mini Polymer Clay Ghosts!

White Polymer Clay: This is your main ingredient!

Assorted Colors of Polymer Clay OR Acrylic Paint: You can paint your clay to fit your vision once it’s been baked, or use pre-dyed polymer clay to make your creations!

Sculpting Tools: A few basic tools, such as a dull knife, a toothpick, or even a pen cap, can be used.

Baking Sheet: To bake your finished ghosts.

Oven: To cure your clay.

Optional: Glaze or clear nail polish for a shiny finish, jump rings, and eye pins if you want to make them into charms.

Step One: Warm Up Your Clay

First things first, take a small piece of white polymer clay and warm it up in your hands. This makes it softer and easier to work with. Knead it gently until it’s pliable.

Step Two: Form the Body

Roll your warmed white clay into a small ball. We started by making a ball that was a ½ inch in size. This will be the head of your ghost. Then, gently pinch and pull the bottom of the ball downwards to create a flowing, wavy shape for the ghost’s body. Flatten the bottom of your ghost by pressing the clay down gently onto your work surface, so your ghost will stand upright on its own. You can make them tall and slender, or short and plump– it’s all up to you!

Step Three: Smooth and Refine

Use your sculpting tools or even your fingertips to smooth out any rough edges and make sure all the pieces are securely attached. This is where you can truly refine your ghost’s shape and expression. If you want your ghosts to “hold” objects, such as pumpkins, skulls, or other accessories, you can add arms! Try rolling two tiny clay snakes and attaching them to the sides of the ghost’s body, then curving them slightly. Use your tools to wrap them around and blend the clay into the ghost’s body.

Step Four: Add the Spooky-Cute Details!

Now for the fun part: giving your ghosts some personality! You can add all sorts of accessories and designs to your ghost– a mushroom cap, glasses, flowers, cat ears, a witch’s hat, anything you can think of!

Step Five: Time to Bake!

Carefully place your finished mini ghosts onto a baking sheet. Make sure they aren’t touching each other. Now, it’s time to bake them according to the polymer clay package instructions. This is super important! Clay brands can vary, so always check the specific temperature and baking time on your package. Typically, it’s around 275°F (135°C) for 15-30 minutes, but always refer to your clay’s specific instructions.

• Charms: If you want to turn your ghosts into charms, insert an eye pin into the top of the ghost before baking, making sure it’s securely embedded. After baking and cooling, you can attach a jump ring and add it to a necklace, bracelet, or keychain!

Step Six: Cool Down and Finish

Once your ghosts are baked, let them cool completely. They will be soft when they first come out of the oven, but will harden as they cool. At this stage, you can paint your ghosts, if desired! Add fun patterns or intricate designs that might be tricky to make out of clay, or touch up spots. You can also add glitter to give your ghosts an extra otherworldly flair! 

• Optional Glaze: If you want a shiny, finished look, you can apply a thin coat of polymer clay glaze or even clear nail polish once they’re completely cool.