When I created my Ursula-inspired dragon at the end of May, I thought it would be fun to break a tutorial out from it, so I put together a smaller one on how to create your own octopus tentacles from polymer clay. They’re created individually and then you can blend them onto whatever you’re using them for. In my case, I was blending them onto a dress for my Ursula-inspired dragon.
Supplies:
- Polymer clay in your choice of colors. You’ll want at least 2 colors, 1 for the tentacle and 1 for the underside/suckers.
- Roller (or pasta machine if you have one)
- Exacto knife/blade
- Ball tool–I ended up using 2 sizes, a small-medium one for the larger suckers and a small one for the smaller suckers, but this could definitely be done with 1
- Blending tool (optional–this is if you’re going to be attaching these to something)
Step 1: Make your base tentacle
With the color of clay you’ll be using for the tentacle, roll out a tapered snake. Depending on what kind of tentacle you’re going for, that will affect what kind of tapered snake you create. I wanted mine long enough but on the thicker side, but you may want your tentacles to be thinner! Roll to your desired thickness and length.
Tip: If you’re going to make tentacles that are longer, you may want to look at putting in an armature to help give them support. Mine were fairly short, so I kept them as solid clay, but you could use something like rolled up aluminum foil or, if they’re thinner, wire, at the center of each tentacle.
Once you have 1 done, you’ll want to repeat for the others you are creating so you can make them all about the same size. I made 6 total tentacles for Ursula since that is how many she has.
It was at this point I chose to start adding these pieces to my dragon, blending them to the “dress” my Ursula-inspired dragon is wearing. You can also add these later at any step too (for example, after you add the underside, or after you’ve finished adding the suckers).
Step 2: Prepare the underside
The underside of the tentacle is going to be a different color to help it stand out from the rest of the tentacle. Roll a thin sheet of this clay out (on a pasta machine with settings 1 being very thin and 7 being thick, I rolled mine down to a 3 or 4). Trim up all 4 sides to make the next step easier.
The sheet you end up with should be just about the same length as your tentacles are as this piece will run along your tentacle from base to point.
Step 3: Cut out long triangles
I found this was easiest to do with a long craft blade. Decide the best length and width for your triangles. You’ll want to cut the same number of triangles as you have tentacles.
Step 4: Assemble your tentacles
Place the triangle on your tentacle. The widest part of the triangle will match up with the base of the tentacle, while both pieces should taper off together.
Press the triangle down firmly to make sure everything is adhering properly and that there are no air bubbles.
Step 5: Prepare the suckers
For the suckers, you’re going to take the color you used for the triangle (unless you want to add a third or multiple colors to your tentacles), and roll out small balls of clay. I used “bigger” balls of clay toward the base of the tentacle, switching to smaller balls toward the tip.
Step 6: Add the suckers
Once I’ve rolled out the pieces I need, I stick them on the tentacle, starting at the base. I press the ball tool into the middle of each ball, indenting it. Not only does this create our sucker shape, but it also helps adhere the sucker to the tentacle. Keep repeating this up along the tentacle until it’s covered to your satisfaction.
Now you should have a fun set of tentacles! Here’s how my project turned out when it was all finished.
