This project is part of my earlier foam clay collection. Some details may use older techniques, older measurements (including grams), or early versions of my size-based system.
I’m keeping it here for free because many people still enjoy it, but it isn’t part of the updated beginner path or the improved printable library.
This tutorial is for you if you are looking for a fun activity with your kids or if you are super new to foam clay and just want something very simple and fun so you can get to know this amazing craft material and see if this is for you. This post is stuffed with tips and tricks on how to create a successful kid-friendly craft activity and I have some great resources for you if you need help finding toys that are developmentally appropriate as well as information on how to create more activities with them for your little one to help them thrive and reach their next milestone.
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Crafting with foam clay is not just about creating cute figures; it’s like a therapy session that’s all about relaxation and pure enjoyment. Imagine the joy of squishing, molding, and creating without any mess – that’s the beauty of foam clay! It’s not just for the kids; adults can totally get in on the fun too.
So, if you’re looking for a creative outlet that’s soothing and brings out your inner artist, foam clay is the way to go! It’s a fantastic indoor activity for the whole family! No day goes by without my son asking for some squishy foam clay time. And the best part is when it dries, it does not crumble as playdough would. Not even if it’s left under the couch or forgotten in some corner. What are you waiting for? let’s get those creative vibes flowing together! 🌈✨
Tips for working with Foam Clay
- If you have a particular soft and sticky clay I suggest to let it dry just a little bit and then mix it well or you can add a different type of clay called SOFT Clay. This will take the tackiness out and give the foam the needed support to hold its shape.
- The Secret to a super smooth and wrinkle-free appearance is your palm and the right pressure. When you roll the clay between your palms don’t be afraid to really squish and roll it around. This will ensure all the wrinkles disappear. Then you lessen the pressure and shape it into its final form.
- if you are trying to save money and color your own clay, use Gel Food Colors. I find that acrylic colors will mess up the clay’s consistency and dry it out, which makes it difficult to work with.
If you are brand new to foam clay watch my beginner playlist on youtube that will go more into detail and teach you everything you need to know about foam clay.
Let’s get started!
MATERIALS YOU WILL NEED:
or purchase the complete Kit
if you dont want to color your own clay:
Budget color set (its perfect for toddler activities, not so much for creating art. Watch me use it here)
WATCH THE FULL CATERPILLAR TUTORIAL HERE:
Step 1: Color Your Clay
If you work with little ones (under 3) I suggest skip this step. If you already have my coloring kit on hand or you are wanting it more to create high quality results, then go ahead and prepare the colors before you start the activity with your little ones. For someone who is only doing this for the kids activity and not planing on using the clay to create art, I suggest to buy the pre mixed kit like this one. Its “cheap”, it gets you all the colors and it’s alright in quality. For someone who wants to use this as a creative hobby I would not suggest this for three reasons.
- you are stuck with the colors and limit what designs you can make. Yes you can mix them but what if you need more white or what if you need more yellow? You can only make as much as you have on hand in those tiny 4g bags.
- you get way less for your money. This is 24 packs of 4g of clay = 96g of clay for $10. Thats 5 times less clay than you get when you buy the large pack from my store.
- the quality is meh. It just doesn’t hold its structure as well and tends to do the melting. You need to make a support base with styrofoam or something else to succeed in withstanding gravity. Watch my video here to learn more about good and bad qualities of foam clay and which brands I find work best.
You only need 1-2 drops for each ball. By the way, you can make all green, all red, all any color caterpillar! I use this sizing chart and use the size 40mm for each ball. Only red needs 2 drops. You can get the color clay set here and refill bottles here.
Step 2: Building The Caterpillar’s Body
Once you shaped all the balls, stick them together. They wont need glue especially if you are using the clay from my store. Then shape the body into the form you want it and support it with plastic items that wont stick to the clay. (avoid fabric covered things or paper)
Step 3: Make The Legs
Roll out some black clay to about 1/4 inch and cut small pieces for the legs. Stick them onto the body in pairs. Again, no glue needed if you are working with good quality foam clay.
Step 4: Make The Face
Use a 1/4 inch dotting tool to create eye sockets. To get equal sized eyes without fuss, I use this sizing chart. The 12mm mold make the perfect size eyeballs. Roll them into balls and add them to the sockets.
Carefully roll out a thin string of black clay for the eye brows. A pointy tool helps to place them onto the face, then slight press your finger on them to secure them.
Next, shape the mouth. See what you have that makes a half moon shape or something similar. I used some clay tool and then slightly pushed it to where he looked like a happy, excited smile.
To attach the antenna, poke two holes at the top of the head and roll out thin strings of black clay. Then stick them in the holes.
Lastly, bring him to live with a sparkle in his eye using white acrylic paint or posca pen.
Finished! Now admire your cute little caterpillar
Find more ways to keep your little ones engaged:
As promised, here is one really good source I recently stumbled on that I wished I had on hand when my little one first was showing signs of a developmental delay. I started franticly researching appropriate toys and it was a stress full journey of information overload on the internet on a sensitive topic with a heavy emotional load. At least it was for me.
Early Childhood Toys has endless toy recommendation for any age and developmental stage plus tons of valuable information about early childhood development. This will save you hours of research and puts your mind at ease that you are doing the best you can to support your little ones development.
Hope this helps you spend some lovely time with your little ones or gets you started on your own foam clay journey as an outlet for your creativity. I would appreciate if you could share this post on your social media or pin it to your pinterest bord.
Looking for more foam clay tutorials? Visit the Learning Hub to explore beginner to advanced projects and techniques.
