Project designed by Barbara McGuire.
Materials:
Fimo polymer clay - white, pumpkin, and sparkle black colors
Claystamps
NuBlade - one stiff and one flexible
cornstarch
craft knife Sanford Prisma Color pigment colored pencils
pencil sharpener
eraser
Armorall vinyl protective finish
Fimo Laquer
pin back
Super glue
Steps:
1. Condition the clay, and roll it into a flat sheet. Press the clay through the pasta machine on setting number three or four.
2. Coat the white clay with a light surface of cornstarch.
3. Pick up the white clay and push it into the relief stamp (figure A). Gently press the clay to get into the detailed and pointed areas. Don't impress the edge of the stamp (unless it's intentional) because it will make a line.
4. Pull the clay from the stamp, and place it on the work surface. Trim the embossed clay to any desired shape (figure B) then place it on a conditioned piece of pumpkin colored clay (figure C). Cut the pumpkin colored clay into any desired pin shape. You can use a template made in advance, such as a 2" x 2" square or try varying the shape adding arches and angles. To cut an arch, use a flexible blade, and bend it into a curve. Bear down with the blade, and cut the clay (figure D).
5. To border the pin, place the trimmed embossed piece on another color of sheeted clay (in this case the color was sparkle black). Cut closely to the edge to give it a stepped or raised look. If the edge is uneven, straighten it with your blade or smooth it with your finger. Note: The stone clays need smoothing because they have fiber in the clay.
6. Vary the shape that you are cutting to give the pin extra style. For example, arch the first layer and square the second layer.
7. Bake the piece at 265-degrees for 20 minutes. Allow the piece to cool.
8. Once the piece has cooled, you can start coloring it with the pencils (figure E). At first, the image may seem like it is looking like a cartoon, but don't worry, just get the basic color block down. Start with the lightest colors and progress to the darker colors. Cover the entire image, placing color in contrasts, light and dark. Then, go back and complicate the color by adding tiny bits of additional color. Outline the shapes in deeper colors, and repeat some of the subtle colors to give unity and repetition. Don't worry about the stark pencil lines, the finish will melt these together. What you may see now will not be the finished look.
9. Color the background if desired. Complicate the background by adding layers of light and dark colors. Remember the same formulas as for mixing paint apply here. For example, yellow and blue make green.
10. At this time, you can choose to wipe the colors flush with a tissue for a pastel look, or you can smear the color with your finger or a rubber tipped tool like the color shapers. Create another look by leaving the colors untouched, then spraying with protective finish (see the next step). The protective finish will "melt" the colors.
11. Place the clay piece in a box, and spray the finish. You can also apply the finish with a soft cloth as directed. If you like, smear the colors together. The finish will puddle on the piece. Wait 30 minutes before applying another coat of finish. For the last finish, bake the piece in the oven on 265 degrees for 15 minutes.
12. Coat the piece with the protective Fimo varnish.
13. Glue a pin back on the reverse side of the clay piece using Super glue.
Resources Foundations in Polymer Clay Design
by Barbara E. McGuire (ISBN: 087341800X)
Click
here to order this title.
Krause Publications
Website:
www.krause.com
Creative ClayStamps duo-relief rubber stamps
Art-Forward
Website:
store.barbaramcguire.com
Guests Barbara McGuire
Art-Forward
Website:
www.barbaramcguire.com
Also in this Episode
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