Silk Screened Polymer Clay Journal Cover

block of pearl Kato Polyclay
block of black Kato Polyclay
Photo EZ Screening Kit
5" x 7" spiral-bound scrapbook
gold and silver leaf
stopwatch or watch w/a second hand
dish towel
various overhead transparency patterns*
Golden acrylic paints: bone black, iridescent bright gold-fine, silver-fine
old plastic credit card
white craft glue
2" clear acrylic rod
clay blade
craft knife
pasta machine
work/baking surface (a 12"x12" or 8"x8" smooth, ceramic tile)
scissors

* Before beginning, you'll need to select original artwork patterns or copyright-free patterns and have them copied onto overhead transparency film (figure A). These can be made at any office supply store or copy center.

1. Condition all clay thoroughly before using, starting with the lightest colors first. Knead for 1 or 2 minutes until soft and pliable, or cut a block into 4 to 5 slices and run through a pasta machine on the largest setting several times, until pliable.

2. Place a piece of the light-sensitive screening material shiny side up on the black foam board included in the kit. Place the transparency with the drawing upside-down on top of the PhotoEZ film. Cover these with the clear plastic sheet and secure the layers together with the clips.

3. Expose the Photo EZ film in the plastic carrier to direct, bright sunlight for exactly 60 seconds (figure B). Cover the carrier with a dishtowel to prevent overexposure while carrying indoors.

4. Remove the Photo EZ film from the carrier and immerse in tap water for a minimum of 10 minutes. Gently swish film in water until the entire pattern has washed away (figure C). Gently use a soft brush to remove excess emulsion if necessary.

5. Place the stencil you have just made shiny side up on a clean shop towel and gently blot excess moisture. Re-expose the stencil to sunlight for a minimum of 10 minutes.

6. Three screen patterns are needed for this project. Make a paper template of the scrapbook cover that is 1/2 inch smaller than the surface area (measure up to the spiral bound edge). Draw a rectangular center section onto the template, leaving four overlapping panels around the edges (figure D). Cut the sections apart with scissors.

7. Roll a half of a block of pearl polymer clay through the third largest setting of a pasta machine. Position the stencil screen shiny side down over the black clay sheet. Lightly brayer the stencil onto the clay with an acrylic roller to make sure the film makes complete contact with the clay. Spread a generous line of black acrylic paint (thicker varieties work the best) along one edge of the stencil. Using an old credit card as a squeegee, stroke the paint over the stencil pattern from top to bottom using light pressure (figure E). Check to make sure the paint has made contact with the clay by lifting a corner of the stencil, without removing it first.

8. Once you are sure the paint has been properly transferred (figure F), set the clay aside to dry and immediately rinse the stencil with running water. Mild soap and a soft brush may be used to clean the paint from the stencil. Dry after cleaning by blotting with a soft towel. Proper cleaning of the stencils will ensure many uses. Allowing paint to dry in the stencil will ruin it.

9. Roll out a quarter of a block of black clay on the third largest setting of the pasta machine. Screen this sheet with one of the remaining patterned stencils using gold acrylic paint (figure G).

10. Roll out another quarter-block of black clay on the same pasta machine setting and apply silver acrylic paint using the other remaining stencil.

11. When the paint has dried, cut out the center and side panels using the paper template sections and a clay blade (figure H). Glue the sections onto the cover of the book with white glue(figure I).

12. Roll out the remaining half-block of black clay on the largest setting of the pasta machine. Cut this sheet in half. Place a sheet of gold leaf on one half and silver leaf on the other. Burnish the leaf onto the clay using your fingers.

13. Run the clay through the second and third largest settings of the pasta machine to crackle the leaf (figure J).

14. Cut 1/2-inch-wide strips from each sheet and glue around the outside edges of the scrapbook cover, alternating the gold and silver strips (figure K).

15. Bake the book cover 275 F for 30 minutes.

Tips:

If the book curls during baking, place a telephone book over the cover after removing from the oven. Place several more heavy books on top and allow the cover to cool slowly. This should flatten the cover. If the clay starts to separate from the cover over time, reattach with two-part epoxy.