Using polymer clay, guest Donna Kato takes an inexpensive wood picture frame and turns it into a beautiful earring organizer. To decorate the frame, she designs and molds patterned clay canes, slices and applies them to the frame, then inserts a piece of window screen material as the hanging device.
Materials:
Fimo clay
- three packages of soft red (will cover a medium size frame)
- one package each of soft blue, soft yellow
Sobo glue or Ultra Gloss enamel paint
pasta machine or brayer
window screen to fit the frame opening plus one inch extra on the top, bottom and sides
bamboo skewers
Cool Gloo or hot glue
Preparation:
Polymer clay must be conditioned prior to use. The easiest way to condition Fimo is to begin by squeezing it on all sides. The clay is very responsive to pressure and will take on an elastic feel. Roll it into a ball, then a snake. Fold it back on itself and roll a snake again. Repeat a few times then roll a cylinder. Cut 1/8-inch thick slices from the cylinder and roll through the pasta machine on a thin setting. Roll each slice and integrate into the whole. Continue until all the slices are integrated and the sheet feels supple and elastic.
Steps:
- Remove the glass and the back from the frame since these items will not be used for this project.
- Paint the frame with Ultra Gloss enamel paint and set it aside to dry (figure A).
- Roll conditioned Fimo soft into a sheet 1/16 inch thick. Cut into slices as thick as the front of the frame. Press clay strips firmly to the frame front. Eliminate any air pockets by pushing out or piercing with sharp tool.
- Striped slab: Mix one-fourth of a package of yellow with one-sixteenth package of red to make orange color clay. Roll through pasta machine on thickest setting (figure B). Roll an equal volume of red through pasta machine on thickest setting. Place one sheet atop the other and trim the sides to form a square or rectangle. Roll this squared off sheet through the thickest setting.
- Divide the sheet in half and stack, maintaining the alternation of colors (figure C). Cut in half and stack again, twice. You now have a slab with 16 alternating color layers.
- Roll a two-inch long, 1/4-inch diameter cylinder of blue. Cut 1/16-inch thick slices from the striped slab and wrap around the blue cylinder so that the stripes run parallel to the length of the cylinder. Roll lightly to smooth the sides.
- If necessary, reduce by rolling to a diameter of 1/4 inch.
- Cut slices 1/8 inch thick and arrange on the frame (figure D). Once you are satisfied with the design, press firmly to the clay on frame.
- Roll 1/4-inch diameter balls of yellow. Cut in half and place one half on each of the slices.
- Bake for 20 to 30 minutes at 265 degrees. Allow to cool completely before handling.
- Fold the edges of the screen so that it fits the opening. Using glue, attach the screen in the frame (figure E). Let dry.
Resources Cool Bonder 2000 Deluxe Cool Gloo System
QVC, Inc.
c/o Customer Service
Website:
www.qvc.com
Cool Gloo glue gun and cartridges - Bond
Bond Adhesives Co.
Newark, NJ
US
Phone: 973-824-8100
Toll Free Phone: 800-879-0527
Fimo polymer clay, Marxit Kato, NuBlade Kato - Prairie Craft
Prairie Craft Company/Kato Polyclay
Website:
www.prairiecraft.com
or
Website:
www.katopolyclay.comDecoArt Ultra Gloss acrylic enamels
DecoArt Inc.
Website:
www.decoart.com
The Art of Polymer Clay: Designs and Techniques for Making Jewelry, Pottery and Decorative Artwork
by Donna Kato
Watson-Guptill, 1997
Order this title from Amazon.com.
Prairie Craft Company/Kato Polyclay
Website:
www.prairiecraft.com
or
Website:
www.katopolyclay.comSobo glue
Available at local craft retailers.
Delta Creative
Website:
www.deltacreative.com
Guests Donna Kato
Artist and owner of Prairie Craft Company
Website:
www.prairiecraft.com
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