How to Sculpt a Realistic Polymer Clay Toad Step-by-Step!

Watch the video tutorial here!

If you want to create a whimsical toad or frog out of polymer clay, this is the DIY tutorial for you! I sculpted this realistic toad to become the resident wizard of this small paper mache pumpkin cottage I made. You can read more about that project here!
Let's grab our polymer clay and supplies and get to it!

The materials you'll need are: 

• Polymer clay (I used Super Sculpey)
• Aluminum foil
• Clay tools (needle tool, round tools for texturing, craft knife, etc)
• Small glass cabochons (optional)
• Acrylic paints
• UV resin or polymer-safe glossy topcoat

If you want to make the optional mini witch's broom and hat for your toad or frog, you'll need: ​

• Toothpick​
• Rope (for broom bristles)
• Glue
• Felt (for the witch hat)
• Sewing supplies

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Step 1: Bulk Out the Toad’s Body

• Create the base of the toad body with a ball of aluminum foil. Use reference images for an accurate shape. (Check out my Pinterest board for great toad references!) The shape is similar to a pear, but a bit squashed.
• Cover the foil base with a thin layer of polymer clay and smooth it out with your fingers.

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​Step 2: Sculpt the Toad’s Lips

• Roll out thin coils of clay and attach them around the mouth area to form lips.
• Blend the edges into the body to hide the join.

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Step 3: Sculpt the Toad’s Eyes

• Roll a small ball of clay, cut it in half, and attach the halves to the top of the toad’s head.
• Blend the edges where the eyes meet the head.
• If you have them, press small glass cabochons into the center of each eye socket to serve as eyeballs. Alternatively, you could use oven-safe beads, or just paint the eyes on later.

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​Step 4: Sculpt the Toad’s Back Legs and Feet

• Shape larger sausages of clay, bending them into a toad-leg position to create the back legs. 
• Create smaller sausage-shaped pieces for the feet and attach them to the legs.
• Trim or adjust the toes as needed.
• Squish the legs onto the toad's body. Blend the upper thighs into the sculpture.

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​Step 5: Sculpt the Toad’s Front Legs and Feet

• Use shorter sausage-shaped pieces of clay with a slight bend to form the front legs.
• Create smaller foot shapes, attach them to the arms, and blend the pieces together.
• Attach the legs to the body. Blend the join into the sculpture.

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Step 6: Add Texture

• If you'd like a bumpy toad, you can create a custom texture tool. Use some round-ended tools in different sizes to make shallow impressions in a scrap of clay. Bake the tool to harden it.
• Using a rocking motion, press the texture tool into the clay of your toad's body to add a bumpy texture to the entire surface.
• Don't be too fussy about covering 100% of the sculpture. Often a scattering of texture is enough!

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Step 7: Bake the Toad

• Bake your toad according to your clay’s instructions. Once baked and cooled, remove the glass cabochons carefully with a needle tool.

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Step 8: Paint the Toad

• Give your toad a base coat of brown paint, adding lighter or darker shades for depth.
• Once the paint dries, you can either:
• Reinsert the glass cabochons for glossy eyes or use a drop of UV resin (or a glossy topcoat) to create a permanent, shiny finish for the eyes.

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• Step 9: Make the Broom
• Handle: Take a toothpick and roughen it with a craft knife to give it a rustic look. Paint it brown.
• Bristles: Fray a small piece of rope, tie it around one end of the toothpick, and secure it with glue.

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​Step 10: Sew the Witch Hat

• Cut a small piece of felt into a cone shape and sew the edges together to form a witch hat. Place it on your toad’s head for a magical finishing touch.

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And that's how you can make your own whimiscal Wizard Toad sculpture with polymer clay! I'd be thrilled if you'd check out the tutorial video below or find lots of other budget-friendly art projects on my YouTube Channel.

If you give this tutorial a try, it would make my day if you’d share it with me. I’m @JaneSawyerMakes on TikTok, Instagram, Pinterest, Reddit, Threads,  and Twitter (X). Please share and pin this article!

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