Project by Consuelo "Connie" Okdie from Spring Hill, Fla.
Although Connie had drawn all of her life, she was never able to sculpt a thing--until she saw an episode of The Carol Duvall Show and was motivated to give it another try. It was as if a switch was turned on, and not only did this outgoing and witty artist uncover a hidden talent, she found a medium that allows her to feel like she is "playing all day long." In this project, she creates a stylish drinking glass.
Materials:
pasta machine
acrylic roller
ceramic tile
polymer clay: gold, red, translucent
red and gold embossing powder
sheet of gold leaf
tissue blade
paintbrush handle, cookie cutters or wavy blade
sheet of wax paper
drinking glass
alcohol
craft knife
polyester filling
aluminum foil
liquid clay
Future floor wax
Before you begin, check out Connie's tips for working with polymer clay:
Condition all clay before beginning by rolling through pasta machine several times.
Use a separate oven thermometer with both toaster ovens and home ovens so clay is cured at the correct temperature.
Always tent clay pieces with aluminum foil. In the event of burning or over baking, this will contain fumes and/or residue.
When using clay to embellish glass, allow piece to cool completely in oven before removing to prevent breakage.
Steps:
1. Roll one sheet of each color (gold, red and translucent) approximately 3" x 6" each on a thin setting of the pasta machine (#5 setting).
2. Mix the red and gold embossing powder into the red clay by sprinkling enough on the sheet to lightly cover one side, then fold clay in half and run through the pasta machine until the embossing powder is completely mixed into the clay. This adds a bit of more color. Roll back to 3" x 6".
3. Stack the three sheets of clay and a sheet of gold leaf on top of each other in the following order: red, gold, gold leaf, translucent. Compress the stack using the acrylic roller to ensure there are no air bubbles.
4. Cut the stack in half using the tissue blade and then place one half on top of the other.
5. Place stack on the ceramic tile and compress with the roller again; then cut in half again and place one half on top of the other again. Repeat one or two more times; then compress with the roller so that the clay adheres to the ceramic tile.
6. Texture/cut into entire stack of clay using paintbrush handle, cookie cutters, wavy blade or anything that will either cut through or can be pushed through the stack of clay and then removed. After texturing, push clay stack back together with your hands, making sure it is secure on the ceramic tile.
7. Use the tissue blade to cut slices of clay as thin as possible from stack and place on sheet of wax paper. Note: Stack can be put into refrigerator for 10 minutes if it’s too soft to cut.
8. Clean the wine glass with alcohol. Apply clay slices to the glass by starting at the base. Next cover the stem and finally cover the glass itself, making sure to stop about three-quarters of the way up the glass. Do not cover the glass where it comes into contact with the mouth.
9. Cut scalloped areas out using a craft knife.
10. Place glass on a bed of filling on a ceramic tile, tent with aluminum foil, and bake at 275 F degrees for 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool completely in oven before removing.
11. To make the gold trim, roll two long snakes of gold clay. Twist snakes together. Spread a small amount of liquid clay on the edges of clay baked onto the glass; then place twisted gold trim on this area and press gently into place.
12. Roll shorter pieces of twisted gold clay into circles and place one circle on each scallop point. Bake again for another 15 minutes at 275 F degrees and let cool.
13. Seal with floor wax, applied with cotton swabs.
E-mail: woodchuckmuldoon@tampabay.rr.com
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