Bear Ornament

You Need:

• Toothpicks
  
• Black peppercorns
  
• Paper clip
  
• Wire or hairpins
  
• Small pointed knife
  
• Foil
  
• Spatula
  
• Baking sheet
  
• Polyurethane varnish (optional)
  
• For baker's clay (12 to 14 pieces):
  - 1 cup (250 mL) all-purpose flour
  - 1/2 cup (125 mL) salt
  - 1/2 cup (125 mL) water
  

To Make:
Mix together ingredients for clay to form a soft dough. Working on a floured board, knead until smooth, about 8 to 10 minutes. Clay is very workable and can be easily bent, pinched or moulded into desired shapes. All pieces are flattened to between 6 mm (1/4-in) and 13 mm (1/2-in) thickness. To attach pieces, moisten with a little water.

Lift finished figures onto foil with spatula and place on baking sheet. Bake in 250F (120C) oven for 4 to hours or until thoroughly dry. Finish with varnish if desired.

Bear

1. Body: Roll a 4 cm ball into a 10 cm teardrop shape. Flatten. Pinch pointed end slightly to a finer point for nose. Make cut for mouth.

2. Legs: Roll 2 pea-size balls into 13 mm lengths. Do not flatten. Attach to underside of body for bottom legs. Roll two 2.5 cm (1-in) balls into 5 cm (2-in) teardrop shapes for top legs. Flatten slightly and attach to body so they are supported by bottom legs. Bend tips of all legs forward to form paws.

3. Head: Press in peppercorns for eye and nose. Make a tiny teardrop shape for ear and attach to head.

4. Moisten and insert wire loop into top of body.

For more Inuit ornaments click here.