This is how I make Poppies out of clay.  Any clay will work as long as its soft and wet enough.

What you will need:

1. Clay
2. Craft knife
3. Old comb
4. Pointy implement (sharp pencil will work)
5. Stamp for impressions on clay (not necessary)

Making the Center

1. Create a sausage shape and flatten the end:

2. Using a craft blade or similar, create a star shape with 5 lines:

3. Create the following pattern in each section by pushing the blade into each triangle section:

4. Using a pointy implement create a small hole in the center:

5. Next roll out a sausage of clay and flatten one edge:

6. Use an old comb to create the stamens:

7. Wrap the strip of clay around the center a couple of times:

Making the Petals

1. Create 4 petals.  Create the following shape by starting with a triangle shape and flattening it in the palm of your hands:

2. Flatten the edges of the shape excluding the bottom part:

 

3.  Using a textured stamp press lightly to create the petal wave marks: (you could do this on both sides)

Putting Flower Together

1. Get your center and put the first two petals around the center like below:

 

2. Use your fingers to make the petals bend over slightly at the ends:

3. Then add the other two petals like below:

Then you could create a stem with the under clay.  I have used this poppy to go on one of my flower ladies:

Voila! 

To see what Poppy flower people I have for sale, click here.

Below is a video of me making a poppy out of Bone China Clay: