Project designed by Barbara McGuire.
Materials:
three blocks of Fimo Stone Turquoise
Sparkle Mesh wire form
ballpoint embossing tool
drawing - to use as plate design
tracing paper
opaque paint marker or metallic paint markers
pre-made polymer clay canes
roller
work surface
NuBlade or sharp, stiff blade
pasta machine
oven
manicure sanding block
Steps:
1. Draw or trace any design onto tracing paper. Use a computer scanner or copy machine to reduce or enlarge images. The final drawing should be small enough on the page to accommodate a 1/2" border around it. Cut the drawing with a 1/2" border to use as a template for the plate size and design.
2. Place the template or drawing on the wire mesh then fold the mesh onto the template along the borders. Cut the mesh with scissors, cutting through the fold, very near to the edge. Discard the cutaway edges. It doesn't matter if the size of the mesh is a bit small because the clay will cover mesh on the plate.
3. Condition the clay and roll it into two flat sheets. Roll one sheet to a thickness of #4 setting on a pasta machine and the other to a thickness of #3 setting on a pasta machine. Make the sheets large enough to accommodate design template with 1/2" border area.
4. To prevent the clay from sticking, dust the work surface with cornstarch. Place the #4 thick sheet of clay onto the dusted surface then press the cut mesh into the clay using an acrylic brayer. Trim the clay just past the border of the embedded mesh.
5. Place the #3 thick sheet of conditioned clay on the work surface. Place the sheet of clay with the embedded mesh on top of this sheet, sandwiching the mesh between the two pieces.
6. Roll the sheets together carefully using an acrylic brayer, trying not to trap in any air bubbles. Trim the clay to the size of the mesh and turn it over.
7. Position the design template onto the mesh embedded polymer clay sheet then trace the design onto the clay using a round ballpoint pen or embossing tool. Bear down with enough force so you will be able to see the lines on the clay once the paper has been removed.
8. Remove the paper design template then trace over the lines in the clay again using a ballpoint embossing stylus. Make the lines as deep as desired. This might create little curls of clay scrap. If so, pick them off after baking. Pull the stylus toward you with even pressure.
9. Choose a pre-made cane that complements the design. Reduce the cane to a 1/4" diameter then slice it into disks. Decorate the border of the plate with these disks by pressing them gently onto the surface to secure them in place.
10. Once the plate has been decorated, pull the plate edges upward or downward to add a little flare.
11. Bake the plate for 20 to 25 minutes in a 265-degree oven. Allow the plate to cool completely.
Resources Foundations in Polymer Clay Design
by Barbara E. McGuire (ISBN: 087341800X)
Click
here to order this title.
Krause Publications
Website:
www.krause.com
Guests Barbara McGuire
Art-Forward
Website:
www.barbaramcguire.com
Also in this Episode
)
