Air Dry Clay Creature Skulls

Hello again!  I used some kids' air dry clay (mine was Crayola brand from the drugstore) to make a fun and weird little creature skull pendant.  Take a look!

Want to try something like this?  Well, here's what I did.  First, using my nearly-non-existent sculpting skillz, I molded the plain white clay into these vaguely reptilian skull beads...

I'm still not sure if they are tiny dragons, baby gators, or lizards of an identified species.  As you can see, pretty much anyone could whip these up.  Bring in a kid to help if you aren't feeling skullish.

I left them to dry overnight, and then they were ready to decorate.

I sat down with my mom and some Sharpies, and we each did a skull.  Mine:

And Mom's:

I always LOVE what she does, without being able to do anything similar myself.  I adore how our artistic styles are so different - it's like we come from different creative planets!  

Next step: I made a curlicue on the end of some craft wire, and threaded it through the skull bead.

I finished up my pendant with a little bead tucked into that depression to protect the hole, and a loop for hanging.

Then I added it to a bright glass bead necklace.  Because the critter obviously wasn't colorful ENOUGH, right?

Here's a wider shot of the full necklace:

I've already gotten some compliments on it.

I hope this inspires somebody to grab a blob of air dry clay and make a big focal bead.  It's fun and quick!  Let it dry overnight, then Sharpie at will.

Later, gators!