Materials:
Fimo or Fimo Soft in the following colors and amounts:
- five colors of your choice: - one 2-ounce package of each
- black - two 2-ounce package
- white - one 2-ounce package
Nublade Kato or another long tissue type clay blade
pasta machine or brayer
wood finials
Steps:
Conditioning the Clay
- Polymer clay must be conditioned prior to use. To condition Fimo, begin by squeezing it on all sides. The clay is very responsive to pressure and will take on an elastic feel. Roll it into a ball, then a snake. Fold it back on itself and roll a snake again. Repeat a few times then roll a thick cylinder. Cut 1/8" thick slices from the cylinder and roll through the pasta machine on a thin setting. Roll each slice and integrate into the whole. Continue until all the slices are integrated and the sheet feels supple and elastic.
- Fimo clay can also be conditioned by cutting very thin slices directly from the block and passing them through thin settings of the pasta machine. Begin with one piece, folding it in half and rolling through until it is conditioned. Add slices to the conditioned piece, folding and rolling until all the slices are integrated into the whole and the entire mass is conditioned. Tip: Occasionally, you might need to add a clay softener, such as MixQuick to expedite the process.
- Fimo Soft may be conditioned easily by slicing the block in half then rolling each half through the pasta machine. Roll them together then fold and roll, fold and roll until the sheet is soft and pliable and the surface is unblemished.
Finials
- It is best to cover painted finials. The clay will adhere better to a non-porous surface rather than to a porous (i.e. wood) surface. If you decide to cover an untreated wood finial, coat it with either Sobo glue or an oven bake paint such as Decoart Ultra Gloss Enamel paint.
- Roll a thin sheet of the primary finial color. Cut a strip wide enough to cover to the top of the finial and around the lower half. Trim edges with Nublade Kato.
- Wrap the finial with the sheet of clay, pulling gently as you wrap around. Ease the clay around the lower part of the finial. Ease the clay around the top area of the finial, trimming excess clay away when necessary. Smooth joints with fingers.
Top
- Roll a sheet of the desired top color. Fold in half to make a sheet of double thickness and roll with brayer to push air pockets out. Using a round cutter, cut a circle. Center the clay circle on the finial.
- Roll a 1/4" diameter ball of another color. Cut in half. Center one of the halves on the cut circle, flat side down. Press gently to adhere.
- Roll a thin snake of another color and wrap around the base of the cut circle.
Dots
- Roll a thin snake of the chosen dot color. Cut slices from the snake - make then the same thickness.
- Roll each cut slice into a ball. Sixteen slices were used on the featured project.
- Beginning at the top, near the cut circle, position and press four balls, evenly spaced. Position and place four balls making a second row of dots, then position and press 4 more to make the third row of dots.
Striped Snake
- Roll a thin snake of Black and of White. Roll them together on work surface until smooth. Once the black and white snake is smooth, twist the ends in opposite directions to make a "candy cane". Trim one edge and place on the neck of the finial. Wrap around and trim the other end so that they meet neatly.
Curing
- Place the finial in a 265-degree oven for 30 minutes. Allow to cool before handling.
Tip - To avoid flat or shiny spots on the finial, place a sheet of polyester batting in the baking pan and rest the finial on the batting.
Resources FimoSoft polymer clay
Available from local craft retailers.
American Art Clay Co. Inc. (AMACO)
Website:
www.amaco.com
clay tools - Prairie Craft
Prairie Craft Company/Kato Polyclay
Website:
www.prairiecraft.com
or
Website:
www.katopolyclay.com Guests Donna Kato
Artist and owner of Prairie Craft Company
Website:
www.prairiecraft.com
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