Project designed by Maureen Carlson.
Materials:
FIMO classic polymer clay
- white
- terra cotta
- black
- leaf green
- red
- mother of pearl
- golden yellow
- colors of choice for flowers, book cover, quilt, coffee mug
Mix Quick kneading medium - one package for every six packages of clay
FIMO Metallic silver powder
acrylic paint - dark brown, yellow, white
8-1/2" x 11" sheet of white paper
assorted small shells
charms
stones
real leaves
pasta machine, roller or brayer
clay cutters - optional
paring knife
assorted knitting needles, darning needles, sharp needles
large clay tile or baking sheet
baby powder or cornstarch
aluminum foil
small rock
piece of broken bark or twig
old toothbrush
oven
Steps:
1. To make bark-colored clay for the tree, break or cut five parts white, one part terra cotta and a third part black clay into small pieces. Condition the clay, adding Mix Quick as needed for softness and pliability.
2. Crumple foil into the basic shape of the desired tree (figure A). If the tree design has limbs or branches, begin by forming wire into the tree shape, then cover with foil. Shape a chair seat, small caves, crevices and indentations into the foil. Roll the foil with a rod or brayer to smooth the surface. Add a final layer or two of foil, pressing firmly to make the surface as smooth as possible.
3. Flatten a sheet of the clay mixed in step 1 on a pasta machine on setting 1 or to 1/8-inch thick if rolled with a rolling pin or brayer. Lay the clay sheet on a piece of white paper. Set the foil tree in the center of the clay base. Trim around the base of the tree, leaving the clay sheet slightly larger than base of tree.
4. Flatten more sheets of the clay mixed in step one and lay the sheets over the foil (figure B). Use thumbs to blend and smooth the seams until all the foil is covered, adding extra layers as needed. Stretch some pieces of clay into the shapes of the ridges and roots. Press leaf green clay around tree to simulate moss or grass.
5. Distress the clay surface to simulate bark texture, using needles, broken pieces of bark and twigs. Scrub the "grass" or "moss" with a toothbrush to create a brushed surface.
6. Embed small stones, shells, twigs and charms into the clay as desired (figure C) to make the tree a collage of symbols for those things that are important to you. Make sure that the items will bake safely in a 265-degree oven.
7. To make a quilt, choose a base color of clay for the quilt. Condition the clay and flatten at a #3 setting on a pasta machine or to 1/16 inch thick if using a roller or brayer. To add designs, use millefiori slices, clay applique patterns made with miniature clay cutters, flat clay pieces placed in a crazy quilt pattern, designs made from thin ropes and tiny dots of clay (figure D). Press the "quilt" with a piece of fabric or with texture sheets to create a fabric texture. "Stitch" the quilt with a sharp needle by poking, then dragging, poking, then dragging the needle (figures E). A pouncing tool (tiny, toothed wheel) may also be used.
8. To make a vine, condition leaf green clay. For vines, roll thin ropes and press them onto the tree. For leaves, roll balls of green clay approximately one-third the size of the desired leaves. Roll the balls into a teardrop shapes, then flatten them between palms. Press the leaf shape onto the back of a real leaf for texture. Remove the clay leaf from the real leaf and use a needle tool to press the clay leaf onto the vine.
9. To make flowers, roll a desired color of clay into 1/2-inch balls. Roll each ball into a cone shape. Press a brush handle into the large end of the cone, then roll the handle against the edges of the clay until a trumpet shape results. With the flower still on the brush handle, press leaf-shaped pieces of green clay around base of the flower, then press the flower against the vine (figure F). Remove the flower from the brush handle.
10. To make potted flowers, mix equal parts of terra cotta and red clay. Shape the flower pot from a solid piece of foil. Cover the foil pot with a sheet of mixed terra cotta and red clay. Roll and press the pot against a work surface to shape the sides and bottom. Press terra cotta clay over the top of the pot to cover the foil. Cut a flat strip of red and terra cotta mixed clay to wrap around top of the pot to form edge of pot. Press the pot in place against the tree. Form flowers and leaves as in steps 8 and 9. Cut green wires to desired lengths for stems. Form a tiny hook at the end of each stem. Insert the hooked end of the wire into the center of each flower. With a sharp needle tool, poke holes into the "dirt" in the pot. Press the stems into the holes.
11. To make a book, condition white clay and flatten it to the desired thickness for the book. Cut the book to the desired size. Use a knife to cut in marks on the sides of the clay for page edges. Choose a color of clay for the book cover. Flatten it to 1/16 inch thick. Cut a rectangle of clay that is slightly longer than the book and slightly more than twice as wide. Wrap this cover around the book, keeping the edges straight. Press the back of a knife along the binding of the book to create a ridge. Position books in the tree or onto a piece of paper to bake separately.
12. To make a bowl (figure G), form a solid bowl shape slightly taller than the finished bowl from foil. Cover the foil with scrap pieces of clay. Smooth with fingers. Bake the foil bowl shape at 265 degrees for 30 minutes. Mix together mother of pearl clay and a small amount of the clay mixed in step 1. Flatten the mix to 1/16 inch thick. Coat the sheet of clay with a light dusting of powder or cornstarch. Press the clay over the bowl to form, trimming the top edge with a knife to create a smooth bowl shape. Bake the bowl on the form at 265 degrees for 30 minutes. Let the bowl cool then remove from it from the form. Fill bowl with "food" of your choice made from clay. Bake again.
13. To make a spoon, scissors or other utensils, condition clay in a color of choice. Form the clay into a desired shape. If the finished shape needs to be curved, as for the spoon, lay it over a rolled piece of paper towel. To make a straight utensil such as scissors, bake the two halves separately on white paper then glue the two pieces together after they are cool. For a metal effect, brush on metallic powder in desired color before baking.
14. To make a coffee mug, condition a small ball of clay in a color of choice. Roll it into a short tube shape. Using a brush handle, hollow out the inside of the tube by rolling the tube against the work surface. Press the bottom of the mug against the work surface to make it smooth and flat. While holding the mug on the brush handle, press a tiny rope of clay against side of mug for a handle. Bake the mug and let cool. Fill the mug with "coffee" or "tea" (brown clay) and bake again.
15. To add pictures, make photocopies of desired pictures. Flatten a piece of light-colored clay to the desired size and thickness. Press the photocopies onto the clay surface, print side down. Smooth all parts of the copy firmly onto the clay, using the edge of a dull knife or blade. Bake the clay piece and paper together. Cool, then remove the paper.
16. For a strong tree, bake the tree at the longest time and hottest temperature recommended on package of clay. Cool the tree while it's in the oven.
17. To "antique" the tree and accessories, dilute acrylic paint to the consistency of a thin cream. Paint a small section of the tree then using a paper towel immediately wipe away the paint. Add more paint if a heavier effect is desired. Continue painting around the tree. If you wish parts of the tree to be a different color, such as the seat or the caves, add washes of black, yellow or white paint to those areas.
18. Add a doll or a handmade clay character to sit in the tree.
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