As with a lot of really great modeling instructions… this one isn’t, specifically, for clay. It’s for gum paste or sugar craft. And like a lot of other instructions, they work just as well for clay. Dusky Rose, a UK cake decorating artist, has a beautiful hibiscus to make in her tutorial.
A lot of the tools are identical to what you’re likely familiar with in clay – I use fondant tools a lot – and the finishing instructions are identical if you use an air dry clay. If you’re going with oven bake polymer, bake your initial petals right there on the egg carton (if it’s the paper type like that!) for a quick setting. I’d probably bake the whole flower propped on crumpled paper or a bed of powder so the petals didn’t slump for the final baking as well.
Hibiscus model photo by Dusky Rose.Looking for air-drying clay? We highly recommend Das Air dry clay, we have been using this product for over 30 years. Check out their Das White Air drying clay
and their Terracotta Air drying clay
version for a natural pottery feel. For larger crafts we recommend buying your air drying clay in bulk