Miniature Donut polymer clay accessory using Papa's Clay - Part 1

This is part one of a two-part polymer clay accessory tutorial . This tutorial is going to be all about the basics of making a donut out of Papa’s Clay and part two will be about decorating your donut. A donut is a great polymer clay accessory because you can use it for so many different uses: key chains, jewelry, magnets, decoration, and others!

Here's what you will need to get started:

• Latte polymer clay
• Mustard Yellow polymer clay
• Ocher polymer clay
• Any type of pointed tool
• Old Toothbrush
• Chalk pastels (optional)

Step 1 - Condition the Clay

Papa's Clay conditions differently than other types of clay. It just needs some gentle rolling and heat from your hands. Make sure to condition your clay before you start working with it. Small pieces take just a few seconds to condition and big pieces can take up to a minute or two. You can use a hair dryer to condition it even quicker.

Step 2 - Combine your colors

Step 3 - Make your donut shape

Press your clay down into a rough circle shape. Then gently press in the circumference of your donut so that you get some rounded edges. Do this step in your palm instead of a flat hard surface to preserve the shape. Otherwise, your donut will look flat and misshapen on one side.

Take any type of pointed tool and push it through the middle of your donut. Move it around to make the donut hole look nice and clean. Flip your donut over and do the same thing on the other side of the donut.

Use your fingers to correct the donut shape wherever it might have gotten misshapen. Set your donut aside for at least 10 minutes so that the Papa’s Clay firms up a bit and does not get smashed in any next steps.

Step 3 - Add texture to your polymer clay donut

We’re going to use a tooth brush to provide the donut texture. Toothbrushes are amazing texture tools. Gently press down on your donut so that it has a slight porous texture. Hold your donut gently in your palm so that you don’t smash it. You can even use your toothbrush to help reinforce the donut shape you want it to have.

Step 4 - Chalk pastels and "fry line"

I’m going to get some chalk pastels colors ready for a later step. If you have chalk pastels available get a golden yellow brown and a rusty brown color to help accentuate the golden fried and cooked dough colors.

If you don't have chalk pastels, don't worry because the colors we mixed earlier still look like a nice, fried donut polymer clay accessory.

Have you ever noticed that donuts don’t get as golden in the spot where they float in the oil? In order to emulate that look we’ll wrap our donut very carefully with some thread and then apply chalk pastels everywhere else.

Take your golden yellow brown color and liberally apply it all over your donut. Then apply the rusty red brown color much more conservatively to give it some additional color highlights. Remove the thread and very carefully touch up any spot that needs to be fixed.

Step 5 - Finishing touches

Carefully use your toothbrush to add texture back in case you removed any while handling your donut. Use your toothbrush to also gently push in or correct any spots on your donut that need to be fixed.

Place your polymer clay accessory on a bed of corn starch or baking soda and then put it in the oven to bake.

Now you have a donut that is ready to be cooked and all set for our next tutorial on decorating, frosting, and glazing.

Check out the video tutorial here: