Parrot polymer brooch

Step 1
Print out your template and cut out the different parts of the parrot.

Step 2
Condition your clay colors either with the clay machine or with a rolling pin; your small plates need to be thick. Place a piece of your paper template on each one, press to adhere, then use a blade to cut around the edges of the paper.

Step 3
Take 2 bars of white clay and make a thin plate to support your parrot. With the remaining white clay, make a strip-shaped plate to match the thickness of the colored pieces.

Step 4
Position the colored pieces on the white plate, placing a thin, thick white strip between each piece.

Step 5
Place white strips all around the parrot. Place parchment paper over the parrot, then smooth out all the clay joints by running a smooth card over the paper and making small circles. Cut out the parrot's outline with the blade. Bake at 120 degrees for 30 minutes.

Step 6
Make a tiny ball from the white clay and an even smaller one from the black clay. Crush the white ball with your blade, then place the black ball on top and crush to form a he. Place it on the clay, again using a little baking paper to flatten it and fix it in place. Bake at 120 degrees for 30 minutes.

Step 7

Lightly sand your parrot under water to ensure it's clean and the edges are not sharp, using 1000-grit sandpaper. Varnish your parrot.

Step 8
Glue your brooch to the back of the parrot.