Mia Bella Passions

DIY Teddy Bear Clay Craft

This super cute airdry clay teddy bear is not too difficult to create for a special ornament to gift, or you can use these 'how to' instructions to make it out of modeling fondant for a cake topper.

But today we are making it using the air dry clay.

On a tabletop or a craft cutting board roll a ball of clay that is about 5cm (2 inches) in size to an oval shape.

For the legs and arms, make four 3cm (1 1/2 inch) small sausages.

Squash the ends (this is where they attach to the body).

Attach by blending underneath with a flat edge tool and at the back of the bear's body, then create a fur effect using a pointed tool.

Do the same to make two arms.

Attach the legs to the body blending the flat part into the base of the body clay.

Attach the arms in the same way.

Use a pointed tool to rough up the clay to resemble fur.

You can manipulate the bear to sit flat and into the sitting shape you want.

To make the head roll a 2.5cm (1 inch) ball, a smaller one for the nose area, and two smaller ones for the ears.

Squash the balls, and cut out two ear shapes.

(see photograph above)

Position nose plate, and ears on the head, and attach blending clay to meld.

Attach the head to the body using a toothpick pushing into the centre of the body to support it.

Blend the clay around the neck area.

And use the pointed tool to create fur to blend the join.

(Take particular attention when melding the neck to the body, as when mine dried the clay shrunk (for lack of melding) and left a gap between the body and head, but reattachment using PVA glue fixed it fine).

The photo above is what your bear should look like.

Make little dots for the eyes and nose. I had black clay for this, but you can use natural and paint them later when it's dry.

Attach using a pointed tool.

Leave to dry.

(It takes about five days).

Once the teddy is completely dry, you can paint it any colour you want.

Touch up the nose and eyes with black paint if necessary.

When the paint is dry, seal the entire bear with a clear sealer.

I used a clearcoat spray sealer on the naturally coloured clay.

I hope all the photographs in this tutorial help you create your own sweet teddy bear. :)

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Upcycled Antique Frame Mood Board

This beautiful old frame found me.

I love how things appear for you when they are meant to be yours!

The first thing I thought about upcycling it into was a mood board for my studio's little quotes and art inspirations.

But first, let's have a chat about this frame.

This is where I might need your help!

Is it Victorian? 19th century? Faux old?

French? Replica?

I spent many hours researching on Google to no avail.

There were many much more ornately decorated and gold-gilded ones in similar styles.

But nothing quite the same as this frame is not overly ornate.

It's quite simple.

The style appears to be Rococo as it has asymmetrical shapes and motifs.

In the Rococo design, these are usually shells, flowers and foliage.

As this frame had damage to it, I could see it was gesso (pronounced 'Jesso') on wood.

Gesso in the old days was made by mixing chalk or gypsum, animal glue (usually from rabbit skin) and white pigment.

I believe this frame is very old.

It's age is a mystery.

What do you think?

Please share your thoughts.

In my mind's eye, the painting that once was housed inside the frame, was of elegant aristocrats in gorgeous clothing enjoying a picnic in a romantic scenic place.

I would have loved to see what that may have been.

But alas, I inherited just the worn and shabby chic frame.

It never crossed my mind to repaint it.

Its unique beauty 'as is' is undeniable.

It also looks fabulous against the ply wall and with the green painted wall on the opposite side of the room.

To create the mood board, I recycled heavy cardboard, and cut it to size for the back.

Then cut cork tiles to fit the cardboard.

I used woodworkers PVA glue to attach the cork tiles to the cardboard.

Once the glue was dry, set it in the frame, reusing the original tabs on the back to hold it in place.

After covering the tabs with masking tape, I attached picture mechanisms and wire for hanging.

It's quite a heavy frame!

Then for the fun bit - adding arty images and quotes using pearl-head sewing pins.

Now it hangs in pride of place above my studio work desk, and I adore it!

Feel free to comment on the frame's heritage.

I'm keen to know more about its origin.

If you enjoyed this project, you might like the

Upcycled Frame Jewellery Display

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Spiced Apricot Cake

Using canned apricot halves in your cake batter can result in an incredibly moist and flavorful dessert or afternoon tea cake, that will have everyone coming back for seconds!