syndee holt* from Polyform Products' the Sculpey People, demonstrates how to make holiday ornaments with polymer clay to create a lace pattern on top of a simply colored glass ball
(figure A).
Materials:
light-colored clay such as Sculpey Premo (white and translucent), which is available at craft and art-supply stores
manual pasta maker to flatten clay (A water glass or roller will also work.)
clay blade to cut clay
Christmas-tree ornaments (Use old, worn-out ornaments and give them new life.)
Steps:
- Roll out half the package of white clay to a little less than 1/8-inch thick, equivalent to setting No. 2 on pasta machine (figure B). Repeat the process with the translucent.
- Cut matching rectangles out of each color and roll up to form a jellyroll (figure C).
- Reduce the size of the jellyroll by alternately squeezing, rolling and pulling on the roll. Reduce to about 1/4-inch thickness. Cut in half and reduce a portion down to 1/8-inch diameter. Set aside.
- Form a cylinder, using the remaining portion of translucent clay. Wrap this cylinder with a 1/8-inch thick (No. 1 setting on pasta machine) layer of white clay. Butt the edges of the clay against one another, but DO NOT overlap them. Reduce to the size of the jellyrolls, creating at least two different diameters of the roll.
- Cut very thin slices of these rolls and apply to the top edges of the ornament (figure D), creating a lace-type pattern. Use all the various sizes of "cane" that you have built to create the pattern.
- Press the canes into position by placing a piece of plain paper over the area and pressing/rubbing them into place. A piece of cellophane works well for this, but plastic wrap does not.
- Bake as directed on the clay package, then decorate the tree.
Tips
- Experiment with the pattern of the "lace" on the ornament before baking it so that the clay may be removed and repositioned.
- Make sure to "work" the polymer clay before using it to get the plastics in the product ready to use.
* This guest has requested that her name appear in lowercase letters.
Resources Polymer Clay for the First Time: Syndee Holt
by syndee holt (ISBN: 0806968273)
Sterling Publications, 2000
Order this
title.
Sterling Publishing Co. Inc.
Website:
www.sterlingpub.comGranitex and Premo Sculpey polymer clay
It's available at local craft and hobby stores.
Polyform Products Inc.
Products available at craft and hobby stores.
Website:
www.sculpey.com
Guests syndee holt
Representative, Polyform Products
E-mail:
syndeeh@msn.com
Website:
www.sculpey.com
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