Join me on a crafty staycation!
One of my favorite things to do is go on vacation but it isn’t going to work out this year. To make the best of it I’m planning an arts and crafts staycation. What could be more fun than to spend time creating. Since sculpting clay is so forgiving and versatile, I’m also planning to pick up some more polymer clay sculpting tools. My latest obsession has been to make jewelry from the clay so some rubber stamps and some new bricks of Kato Polyclay
are on my list. There are many brands but I have found that Kato is the strongest for delicate work. Craft stores, Big box stores and Amazon usually carry all of them. The pendent pictured has an impression of some illegible vintage script which makes it look like an antique artifact.
First condition the clay with a roller or a pasta machine
Roll out a sheet then form a portion into an irregularly shaped ball
Always put a resist like corn starch or water on
the stamp before pressing it into the clay
Push the
stamp directly down into the clay
Insert a straw or other tool to make a hole for the necklace
Now’s the time to turn it over and sign the piece with a toothpick or other tool
Bake the pendent on some parchment paper according to the manufacturer's directions in a toaster oven
that is dedicated to non food crafting
After cooling, rub some dark acrylic paint over
the surface
Immediately wipe off most of the paint leaving some of it down in the crevices
If desired after the paint is dry, use some sandpaper or a Dremel rotary tool to polish the piece.
Have a wonderful staycation and be sure to comment with pictures of your designs.
