Faux Ivory Vessel

Steps:

1. Condition the white, ivory and translucent polymer clay by running them through the pasta machine several times. Prepare four rectangular sheets of each color in four different thicknesses. Build a stack using all the sheets, alternating colors and thicknesses.

2. Roll the stack with an acrylic roller to compress it and push out air bubbles.

3. Cut the stack in half and stack one on top of the other. Compress, cut and stack it again. Reduce and reshape the stack into a long rectangle. This completes making the faux ivory cane.

4. For the turquoise-color clay, condition the blue, white and yellow colors of polymer clay together in the pasta machine to get an even shade of blue green.

5. Break the blue-green clay into chunks and put it in a mini food processor.

6. Process the clay until it resembles cottage cheese. Set aside.

7. For the coral color clay, condition a small amount of translucent clay finishing with a sheet at the thickest setting of the pasta machine.

8. Brush or sponge on the different colored inks sparingly to get the desired coral color or try different shades. Set this aside and let dry completely.

9. Prepare a background sheet of clay large enough to cover the glass armature.

10. Cut the faux ivory sheet into thin slices.

11. Cover the background sheet with the thin slices. Roll the covered sheet with an acrylic roller.

12. Put the sheet through the pasta machine one or two times to smooth out the surface at the two thickest settings. Trim away the bottom edge of the sheet but leave the top as it is.

13. Powder the back of the sheet with cornstarch to prevent the clay from sticking to the glass armature. Press it around the glass and cut it to size using a cutting blade.

14. Join the seam using your fingers and a knitting needle.

15. Carefully place the covered glass on the leftover piece of faux bone sheet that has been turned upside down. With the needle tool trace around the bottom lightly. Go around one time more cutting completely through the clay.

16. Remove the bottom circle and attach it to the sides using the knitting needle and your fingers to form a nice looking join.

17. Cut two leaves from the excess sheet of clay using a leaf cutter. Place them at the top edge of the vessel and shape them using the knitting needle.

18. Decide the front section of the vessel and cut out the designs for the inlays. Use a rectangle cutter and a smaller triangle cutter.

19. Insert tiny pieces of the turquoise and gently press them onto the glass to fill the cut out space. The turquoise does not have to be flush with the surface.

20. The coral sheet should be the same thickness as the wall of the vessel. If it is not, roll it a little with the acrylic roller to the same thickness.

21. Cut out the shapes and carefully insert them into the open holes on the vessel. Cut a circle below the turquoise rectangle and insert a circle of the coral sheet.

22. Bake at the recommended temperature and time for the clay you are using leaving the glass inside for support.

23. Carefully remove the faux vessel from the oven and remove the glass while it is still a bit warm.

24. Let the vessel cool down completely before the next step.

25. Using an old toothbrush, brush burnt umber paint over the entire vessel being sure to push the paint down into all the crevices, especially the ones in the turquoise.

26. Rub red dirt into the turquoise for a really cool look.

27. With a damp sponge or slightly wet paper towel wipe off the excess paint but be careful not to take too much off.

28. Rub a little paint on the inside of the vessel.

29. Put the faux ivory vessel back in the oven for about 10 minutes to set the paint. Do not reinsert the glass this time. Let it cool completely again

30. Sand with wet-dry 400- and 600-grit sandpaper.

31. Buff using a muslin wheel on the buffer or a pair of old blue jeans and elbow grease.

Jeanette Kandray can’t get enough of kids or polymer clay. She was introduced to polymer clay through her local fiber group. She intended to just make a few buttons for her handmade clothing, but pretty soon she was making a lot more than buttons!

Website: www.polymerclayjk.com