Polymer Clay Altered Art Journal Cover

Part puzzle, part collage, this clay book cover makes an excellent gift or personal keepsake sure to become a treasured heirloom.

Materials:

Kato Polyclay 1/2 blocks: black, gold, pearl, copper
Kato Liquid Polyclay Medium
blank journal or sketch book
Lisa Pavelka Texture Stamps: "Victorian Lace" (set 1), Love Letter (set 2)
Heart in Hand inkjet water decal sheet
Heart in Hand Poly Bonder glue
Kato Acrylic clay roller
Delta Ceramcoat acrylics: Autumn Brown #2005, Green Isle #2008, Antique Gold #2002
Ranger Perfect Pearl mica powder: Sunflower Sparkle
Limited Edition findings: old keys, charms, watch parts, etc.
Hammerhead two-part epoxy
scanned personal photos or copyright-free images from Dover or clip art CD's
large ball-tip stylus
craft knife
clay-dedicated pasta machine
small flat natural-hair paintbrush
ruler
card stock
pencil
scissors
work/baking surface (smooth, ceramic tile)
baby wipes

Condition all clay thoroughly before using, starting with the lightest colors first. Knead for a minute or 2 or cut a block into four or five slices and run through a pasta machine on the largest setting several times until very soft and pliable.

Steps:

1. Lay the book you wish to cover face down over the sheet of card stock. Trace around the edges with a pencil and cut out. Trim away 1/4 inch of the card stock template from the binding edge of the paper (figure A). This will ensure that the spine of the book can open and close easily after adding the clay.

3. Roll out two sheets of pearl clay on the fourth-largest setting of your pasta machine. Each piece should be slightly bigger than the two templates you've selected.

4. Cut out two images copied onto a waterslide decal sheet made on an inkjet printer or from a preprinted waterslide decal collage (figure C). Be sure to copy anything with lettering backwards so that it will appear right when transferred.

5. Lay a selected image face down over one pearl clay sheet (white clay may also be used) from step 3. Burnish the transfer onto the clay with your fingertip, making sure there are no air pockets trapped between these two layers.

6. Dab water onto the paper backing with your fingertip (figure D). When the entire backing is saturated, wipe away excess water with a paper towel. Allow the dampened paper to sit for several seconds.

7. Carefully slide the backing paper off and away from the transfer. Push any air bubbles that may have formed out toward the transfer edges with gentle pressure (figure E). Texture the surrounding clay area with a large ball tip stylus.

8. Place the selected template sections over the center of each textured and transferred clay sheet. Cut around the outer edge with a craft knife and remove the excess clay.

9. Create the remaining sections of your cover using one or more of the techniques described below.

10. Roll out a sheet of black clay on the third-largest setting of the pasta machine. Place the Victorian Lace stamp (or other highly detailed and deeply etched, unmounted stamp) face down on the clay. Roll the acrylic clay rod over the back of the stamp with one firm pass (figure F). Repeated rolling will cause a shadow impression to occur.

11. Remove the stamp. Place a card stock template over the embossed clay and around the outside, removing excess clay.

12. Lightly dab gold mica powder onto the raised surface of the embossed clay (figure G).

13. Roll out gold clay on the fourth-largest setting of the pasta machine. Ink the Love Letter stamp with the pigment pad. Carefully lay the inked stamp over the gold clay sheet. Roll over the back of the stamp lightly with the acrylic clay rod with one pass only. Carefully lift the stamp away from the clay to prevent smudging (figure H). Allow the ink to dry thoroughly. Drying time will vary depending on humidity and temperature.

14. When the ink has dried, cut out the clay section(s) using the selected template piece.

15. Roll out copper clay through the fourth largest setting of the pasta machine. Trim to size using one of the card stock templates. Dab gold, green and brown acrylic paint over the surface of the clay, letting some of the copper color show through (figure I). Application should be bumpy and uneven. Allow the paint to dry.

16. Brush a layer of liquid clay medium over the surface of a fabric-covered journal. For paper journals or blank books, adhere the clay panels using Poly Bonder glue. Assemble the clay sections as shown in your template (figure J).

17. Brush a thin layer of Liquid Medium over the clay transfer sections to seal and protect the transfer decals. Extend the liquid clay up and over the transfer edges.

18. Press embellishments into the painted, powdered or stamped clay sections as desired (figure K).

19. Bake the clay-covered book at 275 F degrees for 40 minutes.

20. When the book has cooled, pry out the embellishments using the tip of the craft knife. Reattach these using a two-part, five-minute-setting epoxy.