Project by Rebecca Russell from New York, N.Y.
Although Rebecca is a pastry chef by trade, she spends quit a bit of her time baking something non-edible--polymer clay. She shares how to make one of her specialties, a hula bride and groom wedding cake topper, in this fun segment.
Materials:
polymer clay
pasta machine
wax paper
wire
aluminum foil
petal dust
Sobo glue
gold paint
pre-painted and drilled base
Steps:
1. Condition clay. Kneed and roll through pasta machine several times. Tip: Roll between wax paper or plastic sheets to keep the clay clean.
2. Form the legs, feet and arms around wire. The wire runs through the legs, torso and head into predrilled holes in the working base.
3. To make the torso, roll a pear shape to attach the legs onto, or make an aluminum foil core and cover with a pre-rolled sheet of clay. Attach legs to torso.
4. Roll a ball of clay for the head. Create a face using a chisel, your fingers, or other clay tools. Paint the cheeks with petal dust.
5. Bake at 265 F degrees for 30 minutes. Bake on an insulated sheet pan or ceramic tile covered with foil. Allow to dry.
6. Paint the head with Sobo glue. Roll hair and cut with a circular cutter and add texture with tools. Place on head(s).
7. To make the grass skirt: Paint the contact spots with glue and press out the "grass" using a clay gun.
8. Create a flower lei for the bride and lei leaves for the groom. Form the flowers with a flower and leaf cutter tool. Glue on.
9. To make the dog: Create a pear-shaped torso, cut in a thigh, create four paws and a smaller pear shape for the head. Make a pink tongue, ears and flower collar. Add a tag painted gold if desired.
10. Bake again at 265 F degrees for 30 minutes. Allow to cool
11. Glue to pre painted and drilled base (score feet bottoms).
Website: www.rebeccarusselltoppers.com
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