Frog Tic-Tac-Toe Tutorial

We're officially in the beginning of summer and the kids are out of school. This cute frog-themed tic-tac-toe project will keep them busy during the crafting process and for hours after while playing!

  Frog Tic-Tac-Toe

What you’ll need:

• 1/2 pack of dark blue clay
• 1/2 pack of dark green clay
• 1/2 pack of orange clay
• 1/4 pack of brown clay
• 1/2 pack of lighter green clay
• Needle point tool
• Tissue blade
• Extruder with circle insert
• Circle cutter ( 3/4 inch in size)
• 18 small seed beads (yellow or black -- for eyes)

 Directions: 

 
1. Condition each color of clay and roll out on the first (thickets) setting of your clay machine.

 
2. Take the blue clay and free-form cut into a pond shape—be sure to keep approximately 4-5 inches in diameter all the way around your pond.

3. Smooth edges of your pond and set aside.

 

4. Pack the brown clay into your extruder and create approximately 24 inches of rope. Note: this is used as the dividers on your game board.

 

5. Gently place the brown extruded clay in a tic-tac-toe pattern across your blue pond anduse the tissue blade to cut pieces.

6. Once measured and cut, you can gently apply pressure to attach the brown clay to the blue pond—set aside when done.

 


7. Place the conditioned dark green clay on your work surface and place a piece of plastic wrap over the top.

8. Using your circle cutter, cut 9 circles out of the dark green clay for lily pads.

9. Remove them from your work surface and set aside.

10. Now place the light green conditioned clay on your work surface and place a new piece of plastic wrap over the top.

11. Using the circle cutter, cut 5 circles.

12. Remove the excess light green clay and release the circles from the work surface so they are movable.

 

13. Using your tissue blade, cut the light green circles in half.

 
14. Then cut one half of the light green circles in half again (you should end up with one 1/2 piece and two 1/4 pieces from each circle).

 

15. Take each 1/4 piece and roll loosly into a cylindar then cut 1/3 off (you should end up with 6 pieces that are approximately 1/3 length and 6 pieces that are approximately 2/3 in length -- see image).

16. Roll the 1/2 size pieces and the 1/3 size pieces into small balls -- roll the 2/3 size pieces into tear drop shapes.

17. Shape the larger light green balls into a tear drop shape (larger on one end, skinnier on the other).



18. Place one large tear drop piece of clay in the center of a dark green lily pad (the dark green circles).



 

19. Then place two smaller tear drop pieces on either side of the large one (placing the frog's legs on either side of its body).








20. Next, place one of the small circles in front of the small tear drop leg for the frog's foot (do on both sides).

21. Use the needle point tool to imprint two indentation on each foot that will resemble webbed feet.

22. Continue doing this until all the green frogs have been assembled onto a lily pad.


23. Finally, place two seed beads on top of the frog's body to make eyes.


24. Repeat steps 13 through 23 with the orange clay to make 4 orange frogs.



25. Once your pond and all the frogs have been assembled, place them in the oven at 275°F for about 25-30 minutes.


26. Let cool.        

Be creative as you make your frogs, lily pads, and pond. But don't forget to challenge your friends to frog tic-tac-toe!

The inspiration for this tutorial can be found at Parents.com blog.