Mod Light Switch Plate

Kathy Weinberg makes a colorful lightswitch plate from polymer canes.

All About

Product Ideas

Materials and Tools:

2 oz. each color polymer clay:
- lime green
- white
- chartreuse
- alizarin crimson
metal light switch plate
polymer clay extruder
pasta machine
clay cutting blade
ruler
parchment paper
spoon
needle tool
brayer
craft knife
oven

Figure A

Steps:

1. Condition the clay and roll each color into snakes the size of your index finger. Slice the snake into random slices (figure A).

Figure B

Layer the slices randomly together to create a cylinder (figure B). Roll the cylinder so that it will fit into the barrel of a clay gun. Assemble four cylinders in this manner each using a different layering of colors.

Figure C

2. Extrude clay using a square die (figure C).

Figure D

Cut extruded clay into 16 equal lengths and stack four across and four down, making a square cane approximately one inch across (figure D).

Figure E

Use a brayer to compress the elements together reducing the cane just a little. Cut slices of the cane (figure E).

Figure F

3. Prepare a sheet of white clay rolled to the #5 setting on the pasta machine larger than the switch plate (1/2 inch larger on each side). Carefully cover the sheet of clay with thin slices of the extruded cane (figure F). Smooth the cane slices with parchment paper and a spoon, then run the clay through the pasta machine on #3 setting in one direction, then #4 in the other direction to further smooth the sheet of clay.

Figure G

4. Apply the decorated sheet of clay to switch plate, making sure not to trap bubbles between the plate and clay (figure G). Gently wrap the clay around to the back of the plate and trim the excess, leaving about 1/4 inch wrapped around the back. Working from the back, locate screw holes by poking a needle tool through them. Then, working from the front, use a pencil to clear the clay from the screw holes.

Figure H

5. Working from the back, use a needle tool to cut around the rectangular switch hole (figure H). Turn over and work from the front to remove the excess clay from the rectangular hole. Bake at 270 degrees for 30 minutes.

emil: kathy@kathyweinberg.com