Author: Susan Spinks

Santa Claus Shelf-Sitter
Materials
  • Scrap Clay (Baseball size)
  • Flesh Colored Clay
  • Black Clay (2 oz).
  • Old Pair of Socks
  • White Doll Hair
  • Black Seed Beads (2)
  • Blush for cheeks, lips
  • Glue
  • Face Mold
  • Large Hands Mold
  • Boots Mold
Instructions
  • Here’s an easy way to make Santa using push molds. Start by making a baseball size ball of scrap clay for Santa’s body. Cut a sock in half between the foot and the ribbing as shown. I used an old pair of red socks because I wanted a worn look.
  • Shape the lump of clay to look like a plump torso. The bottom of the torso is where the heel of the sock will line up. Slip the foot part of the sock over the clay to measure, add more clay as needed to make a fat belly.
  • Make the hands and head using the molds. Add wrists to the hands to lengthen them.
  • Cut a piece of wire the length of the torso and make a loop at one end. Cover the loop in foil. Press the foil flat on one side (this is where Santa’s face will go) and leave it rounded on the other side.

  • Flatten a ball of flesh colored clay and cover the back of the head. Attach the molded face to the front of the head and smooth the joining lines where the the face meets the back of the head.
  • Trim the wire to be long enough to insert about halfway into the torso. Insert into the torso of the body. Build up clay where the neck would be surrounding the wire and smooth onto the torso of the body. Add black seed beads for the eyes. Bake the torso/head for about 45 minutes at 275 degrees.
  • Make the boots using the boot mold. Bake the boots and the hands for 20 minutes at 275 degrees.
  • Cut the second sock in two the same as the first. Cut the ribbing down the middle for the sleeves of the sweater. Make sleeves by wrapping the ribbing around the wrist of the hand. I used No-Sew glue but hot glue or hand sewing will work.
  • After the torso and the head have cooled, slip the top of the first sock over the body. Make a shoulder seam on each side using glue or by sewing, leaving a hole for the head.
  • Slip the foot of the sock over the bottom of the torso as shown. Cut the toe area of the sock off. To make the legs, carefully cut up the sock foot to the crotch area, making two equal sized legs.
  • Remove the sweater from the torso and attach the sleeves and hands to the sweater with glue or by sewing. Slip the sweater back onto the torso and check for a good fit.
  • Remove the foot of the sock from the torso and glue or sew the inseam of the pants. Attach the boots to the leg bottoms with glue. I glued on hair, beard and moustache for Santa and added a stocking cap using the toe of one of the socks.
  • Glue the foot of the sock with the attached boots to Santa’s torso. I added suspenders and buttons to finish him off.