[TUTORIAL] Koi Pond

EDIT:
Thank you to everyone that likes this tutorial! Due to many people asking, the resin I used was bought in Hong Kong, so I don't have the exact brand, however, some people have told me Castin' Craft works fine for the water. You can find it on Amazon and local craft stores.
Good luck! :)
Hi everyone!
Here is the longggg awaited Koi Pond tutorial. I decided to make it since many of you asked me to make one =]. Sorry if it's too long, but I figured you guys would rather have it long than have it in two parts.
Hope you guys like it! Enjoy & feel free to ask me questions if you have any.
Materials Used:
polymer clay (red, gray, translucent, green, yellow, white)
cookie cutter (circle)
resin
pebbles (found at michael's by the mission building sets)
xacto knife
rolling pin or pasta machine (either works)
brush
acrylic paint in red
black pen
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Music by: The Daydream; "Walking With You"
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Etsy: www.etsy.com/sh...
DeviantART: smallcreationsb...
Tumblr: / smallcreations (check under tutorials for more)
Instagram: SmallCreationsByMel

[@mastersadvocate]

I've watched several tutorials on miniature koi ponds, and think that yours is the nicest! I like the way you make your koi. They are so real looking!

[@madi-kb7mu]

ikr!

[@HTMLguruLady2]

Very nice tutorial. Love the "translucent look" of the fins. Very nicely done.

[@medhabiswas4609]

you are the most talented person i've ever seen!!! I just adore your art!!! I am going to make this koi pond as soon as possible!

[@SmallCreationsByMel]

Good luck and have fun! :D

[@kaylinlopez3005]

Holy 💩💩💩 she is so ducking🐤 committed to this stuff you go girl!!🙋🙌

[@nefariousvii5255]

*Trying to curs to sound mature but knowing your mom looks at your comment and video history*

[@angelgirl21luv]

Wow I am.. I just.. I don't know what to say.. It's just, soooososo detailed! Love it! You are most certainly one talented person! :D

[@SmallCreationsByMel]

Thank you so much! :)

[@jus2bmary]

Sweet, I am so in love with this video. I tried to make a pond, before this video, well let's just say pitiful. I now see all the things I was doing wrong. Thank you so much. I really wanted to make my own pond and now I can!

[@ThisFailureXOXO]

As for a tip I suggest pouring some resin in before adding a fish if you want one to look more swimming like and shows more dimension as well as adding more resin on top to add another fish and other decorations, also you can try building your pond from actual rocks instead of using a clay as a base and use hot glue to seal the openings then get to decorating. Just some suggestions to try in near future.

[@SmallCreationsByMel]

+devilishchildXD Thank you :) Building the pond with actual rocks seems like a great idea :).

[@carmen886]

This is by far the most perfect tutorial of koi fish tank on KZbin :-)

[@ClayClaim]

Really great! Thank you :)

[@mayrakopjansen2814]

I admire your creativity and patience with these miniatures Great tutorial Thanks for sharing 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍👍👍❤️

[@chromedillusion8905]

This is amazing!!!! I am deffinatly going to try it :D xx

[@SmallCreationsByMel]

Thank you! I'm glad you like them!

[@blackrainboww9970]

I... would not have the patience to glue all of the pebbles on the pond part XD But it is super cute!!

[@StudioVibe]

this would be adorable layered too. oh my gosh. like one fish on the bottom and one on a higher layer of resin. oh my goodness im subscribing. C:

[@stephaniecarrick161]

This is the best koi fish tutorial I have found for polymer clay! You just got a new fan :D

[@CoffeeKoley]

thank you! my dad is in Nashville Tennessee at the moment, and since there are no Michael's in Ireland, I have no idea what they have in the store and not online and vise versa, so thank you for letting me know! your creations are really inspirational. :)

[@YumYumDonuts575]

Your so creative and your tutorials are so easy to follow! I'm glad I found your channel. :)

[@Dragonpond]

wow that is one fantastic youtube to watch - its a lovely little koi pond indeed

[@SmallCreationsByMel]

Thank you so much! :)

[@hanamelinda8675]

wow this is very beautiful !! you are so patient, good job !!!

[@christyeut6062]

Look, I am from Greece and we haven't got craft store but I make a few things with fimo but I agree... you have talent!!!

[@carmengarcia416]

(Just sitting here with my mouth hanging open) holy cow. Can I please be you in my next lifetime? This was incredible!!!! Oh WOW! Ty!

[@SmallCreationsByMel]

Thank you so much!

[@thurmamorgan5484]

Wow,Wow and again Wow!! I love this tutorial. I have just been working on the Koi. You make it look so easy but it's really hard. I've been mixing a little of the red/orange in with the fins and really like that effect. Also am making the tail fin a little bigger. I'm having the most trouble with the dorsal fin looking natural. I'll keep working on it! You are crazy talented! Thanks so much foe sharing.

[@SmallCreationsByMel]

Thank you! I'm so glad you like my tutorial :). I'm happy to see you are having fun making koi!

[@emilys2590]

love the video make more like this! btw love the nails!!!!!!!!!!

[@SammyJ_Studios]

WHY DOES THE MUSIC MAKE ME WANT TO CRY

[@SovereignAngelProvailsHeavenly]

Every time... Every time... 😓😪😥😰😭

[@puppeteerpuppet528]

Cuz it’s sad

[@winklebeebee]

Wow this is beautiful! I really enjoy making miniatures too but I've never made anything so detailed! Totally subbing~

[@crazycuteclay9795]

This is the best one out of all that i've seen! It is soo cutee!!!

[@SmallCreationsByMel]

Thank you!

[@madi-kb7mu]

Nails on Fleek!

[@screamingpnk7875]

i loved this video it just relaxes me so much i could watch over and over again do more music like that i love it its so calm and i just enjoyed this video so much i wish i could give you a million thumbs up!!!!

[@koshka2015]

Awesome work and tutorial) Thanks' a lot))

[@foxlip3724]

I like how you made the pond and I love the calm music in this video:-) :-D

[@kaylaflint5395]

wow that looks amazing!!!

[@SmallCreationsByMel]

+Kayla Flint Thank you!

[@NinjaBunnyPro]

thanks for posting this! i saved the tutorials you have up on dA, but all just the same, in case i get confused, i can look at 2 different things now. where i'm a visual learner, it takes a few times to get something down pat & trying it a few times before i memorize it. lol

[@raebified]

Never saw the knife color technique very clever!

[@quitegrim5901]

i really like your video it's amazing :) (FYI i like it cuz the fish are underwater unlike other videos)

[@musicbysara326]

I just made a koi pond the other day; I used Mod Podge Dimensional Magic for the water.

[@SmallCreationsByMel]

Hope you had fun making it :)

[@loverofmyths]

i think it'd also be cool to do the fish on 2 different layers of resin to really make it look even more realistic. i really like this!

[@SmallCreationsByMel]

legendarymythlover That is true! I've tried that in future pieces and it does look good :). The only thing is the container can't be see through around the sides or you'll see the lines where the layers meet.

[@loverofmyths]

SmallCreationsByMel oo i didn't even think about seeing it from the outside, but that makes a lot of sense. have you put up any videos where you make multiple layers because i'd love to see it!

[@kiyahl.5543]

This is so cool!

[@SmallCreationsByMel]

I haven't found a different replacement yet. Good luck!

[@SmallCreationsByMel]

The bottles for the resin only had a normal top when I bought it so I bought the bottles with eye droppers myself and filled it up with resin.It was the easiest way for me to measure out exact measurements =]

[@imaniroberts75]

Ok I'm doing a school project and I'm making a bigger one of this but 😒 I accidentally bought "plastalina" clay that "never hardens" but I was only going to use it for the base and the support (what you use the grey for on this video) and I was just wondering if this would still work out or do inhale to get new clay (I do have Olmert clay for everything else just not for the shape of it)

[@SmallCreationsByMel]

I'm not really sure because I've never used plastalina clay. I wish I could help you :( sorry!

[@aesarahmm2]

Just use polymer clay, it hardens after u put in the oven :)

[@foogirlie85]

can you use acrylic paint for the spots on the fish? or would it not react well with the resin?

[@muratatalay215]

It's so good how am i supose to do this It's too hard and beautiful

[@sonyrivero6035]

just a beauty! very nice work!

[@SmallCreationsByMel]

+Sony Rivero Thank you :)

[@mayrakopjansen2814]

WOW they’re so tiny but so beautiful

[@mlwissing]

That is really cool! awesome tutorial!

[@rociotrevino9053]

Really cute and awesome, I am going to try it :D thanks!

[@thenumberonecrafter]

*adds to favorites*...

[@berralarkin2400]

Very good design!

[@SmallCreationsByMel]

Thank you so much!

[@kelsimeehan6613]

Hey guys Love miniature stuff

[@vunthao]

best koi pond ever :::::::::))))))))))))))))))

[@SmallCreationsByMel]

Thank you!

[@888Awesomenes888]

ive been watching many koi pond tutorials and this is by far the best! what did you use to make the little eyes?

[@SmallCreationsByMel]

Thank you for liking my tutorial on here and dA!! =] Feel free to ask questions if you have any!

[@joshg6600]

Nice and good work.

[@Liliann31]

Great job it's very beautiful you are artistic

[@fandomgirl4564]

wow! that is awesome wait not awesome. Amazing! :0. You are also very talented. I can't wait to make it with my mom.

[@SmallCreationsByMel]

Thank you! Have fun making it!

[@elixircrafts1326]

Love it!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@isabellazebedee-howard9801]

So cute!!!

[@SmallCreationsByMel]

+isabella Zebedee-howard Thank you!

[@jihan_amara8146]

yes this so cute

[@SmallCreationsByMel]

I'm really happy you liked it! =]

[@kittyzillaRKO]

Since i seen this i been looking a all the different types of koi's.. i always waned a koi fish pond so i might try to do a bigger pond with a few different koi in it when my taxes come in and on spring break from college if i'm not busy at work

[@drorahed8083]

Thank you, It's very beautiful.

[@ME-oj2wz]

adorable! I am making this!

[@yimmick]

hello! i'm super sorry for this dumb question, but did you bake the koi fishes and the lily pads before they dried? i'm a complete amateur at polymer clay so i don't really know anything.

[@SmallCreationsByMel]

sooo sorry for the super late response! Yes I did bake my fishes! The baking instructions are all on the clay packaging =]

[@ShiawaseShines]

Thank you so much! My friend is learning to sculpt and wanted to know. :)

[@liarte2064]

Nice work!! ^^

[@marianadelrio7277]

hola me gusta mucho tu koi pond pero queria saber si puedo cambiar la resina por (silicona fria) .Thank you!

[@miltonroversfootballclub4889]

Love it!!!

[@SharieSweetArts]

so pretty!!

[@SmallCreationsByMel]

:D I'm sure you can! Just practice and have patience!

[@lirazhaziza6610]

A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!! love it!! ^_^

[@Shadowfax1245]

This is so epic!!

[@slylover123]

this is one of those things that you only watch videos of because you know if you tried it in real life it would look terrible

[@alissawalters5950]

Looks great!

[@MistyKnightly]

Love your work!

[@SmallCreationsByMel]

haha Your comment made me smile. Sorry for the late response lol. My resin did not come with droppers. I actually did have to go out to buy 2 empty bottles with droppers and then transferred the resin into it lol. It was the easiest way for me to measure out amounts.

[@jasminelee4341]

Its so pretty

[@SmallCreationsByMel]

Thank you!

[@tort1045]

Never thought about the flower, nice add-on Also, what tool could i use besides a nice and one of those tools with the ball on the end??? I really want to make a river :)

[@YakeemaTaleem]

i just love this

[@swizzlander5203]

it is just like how i want . easy way of doing koi pond. Please, please and please make more vidoes.😃😃😀😊☺😁😉

[@MissArtieCraftie]

incredible

[@sharonr9742]

Amazing such patience!!! :-)

[@SmallCreationsByMel]

super glue works, but it takes longer to dry and "do not" test to see if the surface is dry with your fingers or in the middle because if it isn't dry and you touch it, it will leave a permanent imprint and make it uneven. I recommend using a pin or needle on the edge. Also, you have to pour the glue gently, or a lot of air bubbles will appear (don't mix the glue either, bubbles form super easily).

[@HEWSONNN]

That's beautiful

[@Rachelmcg1989]

So beautiful!!! Would mod podge dimensional magic work instead of resin for the water?

[@SmallCreationsByMel]

I think mod podge might not be clear enough. I'm not positive since I've never tried it personally. Just find something that is as clear as water so you can see all the details on your fish

[@ShiawaseShines]

Will you please tell us about your work surface? What are you using that does not stick to polymer clay? Thank you!

[@Chunnipi]

Amazing! Just wow its gorgeous I hope I can make one like urs too c:

[@SmallCreationsByMel]

Thank you! If you do, I hope you have fun making one! :D

[@briannhunter7202]

AWESOME THIS IS AMAZING .....SO COOL

[@SmallCreationsByMel]

Thanks so much! :)

[@rikuyanki]

Very cute! I Love it!

[@txcowgirl666]

what kind of clay do you use to make your fish and pond

[@SmallCreationsByMel]

+Carolyn Morgan I use Premo, Fimo or Sculpey polymer clay. You can find it in more craft stores. :)

[@crazylol2000]

This is amazing! Instead of resin, can I use tls? Where do you get the small and big pebbles? Did you buy them? If so, what are the brand names? Thanks

[@jfsfrnd]

Very nice :)

[@HappyLoverProduction]

While working on this did you have any problems with bubbles in your resin? Can you fix this problem with a blow tourch or a hair dryer?

[@AngelLUVZScamp]

im totally making one of these :D

[@nailbunny89]

So pretty! You have such patience. What kind of resin did you use? I use the famowood from Lowe's for my projects. It's just a simple 1:1 mix.

[@SmallCreationsByMel]

TLS might not be clear enough. Super glue might work better, it would just take longer to dry (you can add the glue in thin layers too). I got the pebbles at Michael's in the diorama aisle, I don't remember the brands since I threw away the packaging.

[@koshka2015]

Can you tell me please what kind of resin do you use? Can you suggest me the best one in your opinion? Thank you

[@SmallCreationsByMel]

I use epoxy resin. You can try the one from castin' craft!

[@koshka2015]

SmallCreationsByMel Thank you)

[@SmallCreationsByMel]

I would love to see your finished work! =]

[@SmallCreationsByMel]

I wouldn't blow torch or hair dryer it. It might cause toxic fumes. I didn't really have bubble problems. You might have over mixed your resin and if it starts to become hard, and you keep mixing it, it will cause a lot of bubbles.

[@zainshaza7638]

really awsm.. what is the resin??

[@ForgottenYume]

oh thankss! :D btw I love ur creations :D

[@mahboobkhan6235]

Excellent.

[@SmallCreationsByMel]

mahboob khan Thanks!