Shoebox: Clay Goblet Crafts, Beaded Hula Folks

The first item was from Linda Stimpson of Reseda, Calif., who first sent in a photograph of a beautiful rose that she had made over a wine glass. Inside the glass she put a tea light to illuminate the flower. It looked beautiful in the picture, but we wanted to see the real thing, which Linda was kind enough to send. We found that the picture did not lie. It was lovely. But Linda's generosity did not stop there. She sent in complete instructions which are printed at the end of this copy.

Rose Shaped Luminary

10 oz. translucent polymer clay
14 oz. wine goblet
pasta machine
2-1/2" diameter cookie cutter
3" diameter cookie cutter
embossing foil
large-tip embossing tool
metallic leafing pen
extra-strength glue
tea candle

Steps:

1. Condition the translucent polymer clay on past pasta machine. Roll out a sheet of largest setting.

2. Using a cookie cutter, cut out circles. Repeat until you have10 small circles and 30 large circles. (You will have extra circles just in case you goof.)

3. Hold one circle near the center and, with thumb and forefinger of free hand, gently massage clay to thin center.

4. Fold in half, leaving one half of circle open to form a petal and creating a "spine" on lower half. This gives stability to the petal. Gently pinch open edges to soften appearance. Bend edges away from fold to shape petal.

5. Place petal on goblet so that half of the petal extends above rim. Gently shape petal to goblet to attach and carefully remove excess clay from glass. Make sure the remaining clay that is touching the glass is very thin to ensure translucence when candle is lit.

6. Repeat this process with small circles, placing four petals on the first row. Second row is the same process with petals between each of the four petals on the first row. After this, use large circles in the same manner until the goblet is covered and you have the look you want.

7. Bake following clay manufacturer's directions for 20 minutes, and allow cooling in the oven.

8. Using leafing ink pen, accent edges of petals if desired, and then use embossing foil to cut the shape of the leaves, using large tip embossing tool to vein leaf. Glue to bottom of flower with extra-strength glue.

Linda may be contacted through her E-mail address: Linda@fireroses.com

Depending on the size of your glassware, you need at least 12 ounces of translucent polymer clay. Take at least 4 ounces or more and run through the pasta machine at lease 25 times on number 7-6. Fit the clay around the glass, molding it to fit the glass, making sure to pop any air bubbles with a pin, and smoothing it out until the glass is smooth. Sometimes you can roll the glass to smooth out parts of it. Roll out a snake, wrap it around the stem, and decorate the bottom round part.

The flowers are made with cut-out clay molds and cookie cutters, which can be purchased at your local craft store. The glasses can be bought ant any discount store or use your old mismatched ones. You can make fancy flowers, grapes and grape leaves, birds and angels. The angel face is a mold and the dress a folded strip of clay. Make her arms and attach after putting on her wings. Attach all other parts. Add stars and glitter and paint with your pearlescent powders. Bake at 250 F degrees for 20 minutes. After it is cooled, seal with an air-drying satin glaze made for polymer clay. Insert a small glass votive and a candle.

You can also add beads for centers on the flowers. The angels halos are beads hooked together.