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How to make polymer clay mini garden in a bottle

This art requires a lot of patience. If you're getting frustrated, stop and try again later, or try a bigger jar. Don't ever loose interest, that's important.

362
STEPS
TOOLS

Get a glass jar with a cork on it, so if you want to add an eye pin you can insert it on top. Any size bottle is okay, that is if you can handle making whatever size ornaments.

Get a glass jar with a cork on it, so if you want to add an eye pin you can insert it on top. Any size bottle is okay, that is if you can handle making whatever size ornaments.

Get brown clay which can cover 1/5 the bottom of the jar. This will be the 'soil'.

Get brown clay which can cover 1/5 the bottom of the jar. This will be the 'soil'.

Roll the brown clay out and cut the snake into pieces. Take each piece and start dotting it, creating the soil texture.

Roll the brown clay out and cut the snake into pieces. Take each piece and start dotting it, creating the soil texture.

Place the brown textured piece into the jar.

Place the brown textured piece into the jar.

Using a dotting tool, flatten the brown piece to the bottom of the glass jar. However, make sure you don't use too much force or else it'll lose its texture.

Using a dotting tool, flatten the brown piece to the bottom of the glass jar. However, make sure you don't use too much force or else it'll lose its texture.

As seen from the bottom of the glass jar, the 'soil' has retained its texture.

As seen from the bottom of the glass jar, the 'soil' has retained its texture.

Now take some white clay and roll it from the centre outwards. This is to create the 'bone'.

Now take some white clay and roll it from the centre outwards. This is to create the 'bone'.

Using a needle tool, shape out the bone.

Using a needle tool, shape out the bone.

Ensure that the bone is able to fit into the glass jar. It should be the imagined size.

Ensure that the bone is able to fit into the glass jar. It should be the imagined size.

Take another white clay and as before, roll it outwards. This is going to form the 'stalk' of the mushroom.

Take another white clay and as before, roll it outwards. This is going to form the 'stalk' of the mushroom.

Cut one end of the snake, this is the stalk.

Cut one end of the snake, this is the stalk.

Take some red clay and mould it into a hemisphere. Roll out white clay into a thin snake and slice circles which will then be placed on the mushroom 'cap'.

Take some red clay and mould it into a hemisphere. Roll out white clay into a thin snake and slice circles which will then be placed on the mushroom 'cap'.

The finished mushroom cap. Ensure its able to fit through the mouth of the glass jar.

The finished mushroom cap. Ensure its able to fit through the mouth of the glass jar.

Using a dotting tool, invert the mushroom cap and do as shown, creating its shape.

Using a dotting tool, invert the mushroom cap and do as shown, creating its shape.

Bake your bone, stalk and cap.

Bake your bone, stalk and cap.

Add the bone, ensure it's pushed into the layers of soil and grass. Then the stalk. To place the mushroom cap on the stalk securely, add a bit of TLS into the underside of the cap.

Add the bone, ensure it's pushed into the layers of soil and grass. Then the stalk. To place the mushroom cap on the stalk securely, add a bit of TLS into the underside of the cap.

Finally, bake the jar (without the cork) according to the instructions found with the clay. With some imagination of your own and confidence, you can create whatever world in a tiny glass jar :D

  • Glass jar with cork
  • Brown clay
  • Green clay
  • White clay
  • Red clay
  • Needle tool
  • Dotting tool
  • Blade
  • Opt. Eye pin
  • Oven
  • Translucent Liquid Sculpey