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WELCOME!

Hello everyone! I am thrilled to have you visit with me and I hope you enjoy your stay. I absolutely love company, sharing, and making new friends so I hope you find something here that inspires, motivates, or just pleases you in some way.

Of course, I love to visit and be inspired also. So if I don't already drop in on you, please let me know where I can find you and I'll hop on over to see what you're doing or to just say "hi".

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In the meantime, relax and make yourselves at home... you're family here!!!

I'll be seeing you!


Friday, May 20, 2011

IMAGINE IT! CREATE IT! - A POLYMER CLAY HOME DECOR PROJECT

Hello everyone!  Hope all's well!  Wow, just see what I've prepared for you today that's my DT project also over at Pam's!  It's really a very long tutorial but that's because I'm taking you step-by-step what I did, but it's really easy.

This project is just as the name implies as I actually imagined and created it as I was doing it.  I've never really worked with clay before so I wanted to play around with it to see what I could come up with.  I didn't have time to put together a cut-file project and couldn't think of any paper craft, so I decided you'd have to bear with me on this trial project; however, I love the results and I think you will too.  Now don't worry, it really is very easy.  And trust me, if I can do this, you can too.  Here is my completed home decor project:


I have no clay tools at all, so I used common items to complete this project entirely from scratch -- NO CLAY TOOLS!!!  This really is a picture heavy tutorial so let's get started.

Materials I used:
  • Sculpey Oven Bake Clay
  • Pearl Ex Powdered Pigments
  • Large Background Stamp
  • Cherub ornament shown below used for mold and molded item ( I found this on sale for $1 at Walmart)
  • Item used for frame/cutting (I used one of Buster's empty dog food plastic containers shown below to outline my frame because I liked the octagon shape and the scallop cookie cutter for my molded cherub shape; however, cookie cutters, die cuts or actual shape cutters can be used)
  • Plastic bottle or rolling pin ( I used my Crafters Pick Ultimate Glue bottle)
  • Mister (containing water)
  • Plastic knife
  • Small paint brush
  • Drinking Straw
  • Spatula



















NOTE:  Before I began I had ready a sheet of freezer paper covering a small baking sheet to hold my clay mold and clay items which were going into the oven to be baked.

I began by making the mold for the cherub by taking a thick chunk of clay as tall as the cherub and a bit wider around than the cherub:

Using the bottle of glue as a rolling pin I smoothed out the top of the clay and misted it with water before firmly pressing the cherub into the clay (some people use talc to keep the clay from sticking but I found water worked best for me):


After pressing the ornament into the clay, I carefully removed the cherub from the clay mold by gently lifting it along the edges of the clay lifting it out.  Here's what the mold looked like:


I placed the mold on the freezer wrap lined pan and baked it for 20 minutes at 275 degrees (always check time/temperature on clay package); I let clay cool about 30 minutes.

Once the mold was cool,  I took a chunk of clay and flattened it out large enough to fit over the depressed image in the mold  (this piece of clay should be just thick enough to not punch a hole into when pressing into it with your fingers):

Again I smoothed out the top of the clay chunk and mited the mold before placing the clay on top of the mold:

Very gently and carefully so as not to tear the clay -- but firmly -- I pressed the clay into the mold using my fingers and thumbs to get a good impression:


Lifting from around the edges (the same as with the cherub) I removed the clay and here's the impression I got from the mold:


NOTE:  Because I did this as I went along, as an afterthought I used the scallop shape cookie cutter (shown in the picture above of the materials I used) to cut away the excess clay around the edges of the cherub image so it didn't look so rough; because it was a last minute decision I didn't get a picture of it -- sorry.  However, you'd do the cutting around the edges using the cookie cutter just as you would on cookie dough.  You'll see on a following picture what it will look like with the edges scalloped.  Hey, I did say this was a trial project!!!  LOL!

Moving on, I took another chunk of clay enough for my frame (the plaster container); again smoothing, flattening (to about the thickness of a nickel), and wetting the top of the clay; I laid the container on top of this piece of clay and pressed down firmly:


Using the plastic knife I carefully sliced away the extra/excess clay from around the image of the frame:


Here's the impression I had once I'd sliced away the unnecessary additional clay:


I then took my background stamp (I've colored the stamp so you'll be able to see the impression), misted it and placed it on top of the clay frame pressing down gently but firmly to get a good impression on the clay:


Now the fun really began for me!  Using the spatula I carefully lifted the cherub image and centered it on the frame.  Using the end of the paint brush I punched holes into each scallop for decoration and used the straw to punch a hole where I was going to string a tassel:


Using several colors of pigment powders as paint, I started painting the clay until I achieved a color I liked:




Using the spatula I carefully lifted my image/frame and placed it on the freezer paper on the pan, then baked it at 275 degrees for 20 minutes.

Once the clay image had cooled, I decided rub black ink around the edges and to use my index finger to spread some gold Stickles all over the image completely covering it and allowing it to dry.  This is what it looked like:


This is actually the finished piece!!!  Now of course you've noticed I didn't put a tassel through the hole at the bottom as I'd planned; again, as an afterthought, I changed my mind and decided to glue a wire holder for the computer generated words "Imagine" and "Create" before placing the image into the wooden frame.  If you'd like to know how I did the wire, it was easy.  I cut off a piece of 20 guage wire about 4 inches long; using round nose pliers I held the pliers with my palm and fingers facing up before grabbing the very tip end of the wire with the pliers:


Slowly turning my wrist I curled the wire until the tip end and the length of the wire were touching:


At this point, afrer curling the other end with the pliers,  I could take the loops between my thumb and  index finger to continue curling, bending and/or manipulating the wire until I got the shape I desired.  That's it!!!

Now I really have no experience at all working with clay and this really is my first completed clay project, so like I said if I can do this on a first try, you can too.  Clay doesn't have to be hard or intimidating -- jusr play with it!  Anyway, I hope you like this and are inspired to try doing one yourself!  And don't forget to let me see how your's came out!

Thanks for stopping by and...

I'll be seeing you!

25 comments:

Sheila aka SassyLady said...

Audrey this is just amazing. I have never tried working with this medium and your tutorial makes you want to jump in and give it a try. Gorgeous! TFS

papillon digital design said...

All I can say is WOW WOW and WOW! TFS
Hugs
Pam

Angi Barrs said...

WOWZA...This is gorgeous and very artistic. You are so creative Audrey! :)

Dawnll said...

Unbelievable! Girl you are always amazing me with the way your mind works.
Wow this is such a great presentation piece.
A real angel you are

jen said...

Audrey this is super fantastic!!! Awesome job!! I love it. TFS
Thanks for stopping by my blog...I have missed seeing you and your creations..
hugs,jen

Rhonda Emery said...

wow this is just so beautiful looks like it came out of a expensive store. you got great talent my friend. glad you are back and sharing. hugs

Besthobbyeva said...

Wow, wow, and wow! This is amazing. I have always been afraid to use clay. You did this project justice! Just beautiful! Thanks for the instructions!!! Have a wonderful weekend!

Best,
Laurie

Unknown said...

Audrey!!! This is FABULOUS. I love clay and this is one to try. Thanks so very much for sharing another of your God given talent
Hugs
Brenda
Http://createbyburffrau.blogspot.com

Barb Turpin said...

Love the sweet little cherub...thanks for the tutorial!

Unknown said...

Wow Audrey!!! This is gorgeous!!

Stephanie Dang said...

Wow Audrey! This is amazing! :) Thanks for always sharing with us and for the steps too! Maybe one day- I shall give this a try too when I have more time!

Sandy from Ukiah said...

Oh Audrey, I don't even know what to say.. this is just so AWESOME...and I can't believe that it would be easy to do.. Is there anything you can't do... SO GORGEOUS... hugs

Jean said...

Audrey, this turned out beautiful!

Anonymous said...

Just a quick note to let you know that a link to this post will be placed on CraftCrave in the Cutting category today [21 May 02:15am GMT]. Thanks, Maria

ScrapCrazyyyy! said...

I want to say you are simply amazing, but there's nothing simple about your creations! This is AWESOME! What else can I say?

The cherub reminds me of a porcelain cherub my grandmother bought me. It was one of the last things she bought me. :-) The background paper reminds me of my brother. Great memories!!!

You did a great job on this!!!! Sooo happy you are back! hugs!!!!

Eva

Tammy said...

Just beautiful as can be...I love the whole tutorial...the end project is just stunning. Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Smiles...always,Tammy

Carol L said...

Oh Boy!!! That looks amazing and like a lot of work :0). Only you can come out with such great ideas! How sweet was from you to stop by my blog and give me such nice welcome (the sweetest!!) I'm glad to be back :0). I hope to you have a blessed weekend!

Hugs, Carol L.

Cricut Couple said...

Boy Audrey, This is really great! I used to do lots of clay projects, but haven't had time in quite a while. I may have to pick it back up some. Thanks so much for the inspiration! I have never through of using a rubber stamp that way! Just Wonderful!!!

Charlotte said...

Audrey, This is just so pretty. You made a wonderful tutorial. This is a great project and I think when I get out of school this summer I will try this. I always love to try something new. I would never have thought to use the rubber stamp on it. Fantastic ides.

I can't wait to see you I have my airline ticket. I will be arriving there June 29th and departing July 6th.
Charlotte

Nana Donna said...

Audrey, what a fabulous project and your instructions are wonderful. I played with the clay many years ago and it is fin. Love what you did.
So glad to have you back around, and thanks for the love you left on my blog
Hope your DH is feeling better

Sherry Goodloe said...

what a great tutorial! you put a lot of work into it. thanks for sharing. nice meeting you.

Debbie said...

Beautiful Audrey!!! Great tutorial!!

Unknown said...

OMG, you continue to blow me away! What a gorgeous project. Time to pull out the clay! Thanks friend, Mary

shari said...

Audrey, I've never used the clay but now that I see it's pretty easy I'll have to try it. Your framed cherub is beautiful. Thanks for the great tutorial. Shari (cricutrookie)

MsJay said...

I am really liking this project. I have never worked with clay before, and you make it look so easy. Thanks for the tut.