Lisa Pavelka designed and demonstrated this mosaic book cover.
Materials:
block each Premo Sculpey polymer clay
- cobalt blue #5063
- green #5323
- fluorescent green #5521
- orange #5033
- cadmium yellow #5572
- white #5001
2 blocks black Sculpey III polymer clay
book to cover
Duro Quick Set two-part epoxy
mosaic design
tracing paper
pencil
lightweight cardboard or heavy card stock
scissors
two 8" square or larger smooth ceramic tiles
pasta machine
craft knife w/clay blade
12" acrylic rod (or 12" PVC pipe)
fine tip tweezers
Liquid Sculpey and paint brush (optional)
Steps:
1. Make a blend of light blue clay by mixing a quarter of a block of blue and a quarter of a block of white.
2. Condition (knead by hand, or cut and run slices through pasta machine until soft and pliable) and roll out half blocks of all colors (including light blue mix) on fourth largest setting of pasta machine. Lay these sheets onto a ceramic tile, taking care not to let air pockets form underneath (figure A).
3. Score lines into each sheet, vertically and horizontally, approximately 1/4 inch apart, to form small clay squares (figure B). Bake in a 270-degree oven for 20 minutes. When clay sheets have cooled, slide clay blade underneath to lift from tile and break sheets apart at score lines to make mini clay tiles (figure C).
4. While clay tiles are baking, trace around outside of address book cover onto cardboard or card stock with a pencil. Cut out template and set aside.
5. Copy your mosaic pattern onto white bond paper. It may be helpful to color the pattern with pencils to use as a guide when laying the tiles (figure D). Transfer your pattern onto tracing paper.
6. Condition and roll out two blocks of black clay on the largest setting of the pasta machine. This will be your "grout." Set the clay sheet on ceramic tile. Place the cardboard template on top of the clay and cut around the outside edge with a craft knife. Remove excess clay. (Note: If the book to be covered is larger than the sheets of clay from the pasta machine, roll two or more sheets. Trim a straight edge along one side of each sheet and edges sheets together to form a larger sheet. Blend the adjoining seam together with fingers.)
7. Place the tracing paper pattern over the clay and cut through the drawn lines with a craft knife. Remove the tracing paper (figure E).
8. Starting from the center of the black clay, lay mosaic tiles following the pattern line. Lay a few tiles at a time and press them into the clay with the tip of your finger or the blunt end of craft knife (figure F). Note: Many tiles will need to be cut with the craft knife to fit into corners, etc.
9. When all tiles are laid, roll an acrylic rod or piece of PVC pipe over the surface to completely seat tiles into the clay "grout." It's not crucial that the surface be entirely level--in fact, a somewhat uneven surface lends to the handmade charm of this piece.
10. Note that as tiles are pressed in, the size of the mosaic will expand. After the tile setting is complete, place the cardboard template over the mosaic again and trim excess clay from around edges. This may necessitate the removal and trimming of outer tiles to fit within trimmed area.
11. Optional Step: These mosaics are very durable. To add to the mosaic's strength, brush on a very thin layer of liquid polymer clay. If mosaic appears somewhat milky after baking, lightly sand with a wet piece of 1000-grit automotive-grade sandpaper. Sponge off residue and hand buff with a cotton cloth or piece of denim.
12. Bake mosaic on ceramic tile at 270 degrees for 40 minutes. Once the tile is completely cool, carefully slide the clay blade under mosaic edges until the entire sheet separates from the tile. Mix epoxy, and glue the mosaic to the surface of the book. Allow epoxy to cure a full 24 hours before using the book.
Resources Premo! Sculpey polymer clay
Polyform Products Inc.
Products available at craft and hobby stores.
Website:
www.sculpey.com
Guests Lisa Pavelka
Artist/Designer
Heart in Hand Studio
Website:
www.heartinhandstudio.com Also in this Episode
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