DIY
Mom and Me
F I G U R I N E S
BY HEATHER M. ROSS
This craft is not recommended for children younger
than 3 years old.

YOU WILL NEED:
4-ounce packet of Crayola Model Magic
3 or 4 colors of acrylic paint
(including hair, skin and clothing colors)
Paintbrushes (including a fine tip)
A cup of cold water and a paper
towel for cleaning brushes
2 toothpicks
STEP 1: GETTING READY
Gather all of the above supplies and clear a space
on the countertop or table. For the Model Magic
clay, you’ll want a smooth, clean and hard sur-
face to make rolling easier. Do not open the
paints yet.

STEP 2: DIVIDING UP THE CLAY
Divide the clay so that the “mom” piece is twice
as large as the “child” piece. Any children par-
ticipating in the craft can start working with the
child piece to get familiar with the clay. Next,
take one third of each piece and separate it from
the main lumps, as pictured. These small seg-
ments will become the fi gurine heads.

STEP 3: THE HEAD
Mold the head segment into a ball shape with
your fi ngers. Then, roll it in your palms or
against the hard surface to smooth out any odd
pinches or lumps. When you have a nice sphere,
set it aside.

STEP 4: THE ARMS
The arms will be simple. For this step, you’ll
want a long, thin piece of clay. Take a piece about
10 Washington FAMILY
MAY 2023
half the size of the clay used for the head and roll
it fl at on the table until it resembles a worm. If
your worm ends up too short, roll it until it is
longer. If your worm appears too long, you can
either mash it up into a ball and roll it again or
pinch some of the clay off the ends.

STEP 5: THE BODY
Mold the main body piece to be a long tube. If
you want your fi gure to wear pants, divide the
bottom part to about halfway up the body piece.

Then, roll each “leg” between your fi ngers to
give it a rounded shape.

STEP 6: THE HAIR
Depending on how much hair you or your child
have (and the style of hair), you will need diff er-
ent amounts of Model Magic. Mold the hair into
shape around the “head” piece, but leave space
for the neck. If your fi gure has longer hair, it will
add stability to the fi nal fi gure.

STEP 7: ASSEMBLY
To assemble your fi gure, place the arm segment
behind the main body so the sides are equal
lengths. Then, press to blend the pieces. To
attach the head, use the toothpick to push one
end into the body piece where the neck would
go and the other end into the “head” piece. No
part of the toothpick should be visible. Press
any pieces of the hair not against the head to the
body for added stability. Before setting your fi g-
ure out to dry, stand it up and gently press the
“feet” to the fl at surface.

STEP 8: DRYING
If your fi gure doesn’t stand on its own, prop
it up against something so that it dries in the
vertical position. Allow at least 24 hours for
the Model Magic clay to dry completely.

STEP 9: PAINTING
Once your fi gurines are dry, use the fi ne-tipped
brush and paint for details and edges. When
changing colors, rinse the brush in cold water.

(Hot water can melt the glue and cause bristles
to fall out and get stuck in your work.) Allow the
paint to dry.

Ta-da! 1
CLAY PHOTOS: HEATHER M. ROSS; PAINTBRUSH: LOOPALL
ake a memory this Mother’s Day
with a craft that’s fun for all ages.

This month, make painted fi g-
urines of both parent and child
using a kid-friendly clay substi-
tute that’s easy to handle. The
completed fi gurines can be used as dolls or
decorations!



FAMILY FUN
Pet-Friendly Outings in
the DMV
BY HEATHER M, ROSS
P ets are an important part of the family, but unfortunately, they’re often left behind when
we go out. Luckily for them, the DMV is the place to be for pet-friendly dining, parks,
painting and playing. Here are six ways you can get the whole family involved and cele-
brate the love and companionship our furry friends give.

Crumbs & Whiskers
VGAJIC / E+ / GETTY IMAGES PLUS
3109 M St. NW, Washington,
D.C. | 11 a.m.–7:30 p.m. Monday,
Wednesday and Thursday;
11 a.m.–8:10 p.m. Friday;
9:40 a.m.–8:10 p.m. Saturday
and Sunday
Dogs get a lot of attention when
it comes to animal-friendly
public spaces, but there’s room
for a family of cat lovers, too.

Crumbs & Whiskers rescues and
helps find homes for homeless
cats—and raises money for
charity! Book your tickets in
the morning
for playful
kittens or later in the day
for a more cuddly experience.

See who’s up for adoption
ahead of time by visiting
crumbsandwhiskers.com Dog-Friendly Dining
529 E. Howell Ave.,
Alexandria, VA | 5-9 p.m.

Monday through Thursday;
5–10 p.m. Friday;
11 a.m.–10 p.m. Saturday;
11 a.m.–8 p.m. Sunday
Washington, D.C. has hundreds
of dog-friendly restaurants to
choose from, but how many
of them also have an off-leash
indoor and outdoor dog park?
Barkhaus is a dog-friendly
bar and restaurant that also
offers a doggie daycare ser-
vice for members. If you plan
on bringing your dog with you,
make sure your dog is registered
with proof of vaccination. brews-
kisbarkhaus.com Dawson Farm Park
312 Ritchie Parkway, Rockville,
MD | Sunrise – Sunset
Visit this historic 7.2 acres with your
pets and family to enjoy a nature trail,
park benches, paths, picnic tables
and playground equipment. This
park is an ideal destination to
relax, get fresh air and learn as you
read the many interpretive signs
around the historic granary and
barn. Just remember to bring a
portable water dish and any other
comfort supplies your furry friend
might need!
rockvillemd.gov/Facilities/ Facility/Details/Dawson-Farm-
Park-13 May Flowers: Small
Dog Play Group
1818 2400 R St. NE,
Washington, D.C. | 10 a.m.–
1 p.m., May 20
While a day in the dog park is a
fun family outing, it can be over-
whelming for smaller dogs who
just want their share of the space.

Join other families and small-dog
owners for a leashed stroll through
the Arboretum and a picnic! All
dogs attending must be under
25 pounds and fully vaccinated.

meetup.com/dmv-smalldog-dc/ events/287728010
Walk in the Park
2901 20th St. NE, Washington,
D.C. | Sunrise – Sunset
There’s lots to love and lots to do
as a family at D.C.’s largest dog
park. The Langdon Dog Park is
an 11,500-square-foot off-leash
park with spaces for dogs of all
sizes and dog water fountains.

The park’s play space has gravel,
grass and stumps so your furry
family member can climb, roll
and run. For humans, there are
plenty of benches for when you
want to take a minute to enjoy
the outdoors—or for when
you need to catch your breath.

wagwalking.com/lifestyle/parks/ langdon-dog-park
Paint Your Pet:
Pop Art Workshop
1121 King St., Alexandria, VA |
11 a.m.–1 p.m., May 13
Some of them hiss, some bark
and some meow. Pets come in all
shapes and sizes. Learn how to
paint your pet, no matter what
they look like, in a pop-art style
with Alexandria-based acrylic art-
ist Kellie Sansone. If you can’t
make it to the event in person,
you can order a pop-art paint kit
for your family online. Tickets for
this event are $70. kelliesansone-
creates.com T
WashingtonFAMILY.com 11