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Polymer Clay Skull Belt Learn the techniques for creating this polymer clay skull belt. From "Craft Lab" episode DCLB-240

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The finishing touches are applied to this unique polymer clay skull belt.

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Materials:

2 oz. bottle translucent Liquid Sculpey
4 strips of black leather: 3-1/2" x 9"
18 feet of 1/8" wide black leather lacing
black oil paint
1 sheet of paper
E-6000 industrial craft glue
mallet (for leather work)
punching pad (for leather work)
small diamond shaped leather punch
small glass dish or wax lined paper cup
Sculpey Super Slicer clay blade
scissors
ruler
paper towels
3" x 5" index cards

Steps:

1. Spread a thin coat of liquid clay on the back side of the fuchsia clay piece.

2. With your slicer, score the center of one of the silver ovals, but only where it will be hidden under the fuchsia oval. Press the fuchsia oval onto the center of the larger silver oval. The fuchsia oval should be positioned vertically, and the silver oval should be horizontal.

3. Press the fuchsia oval in place to adhere the ovals together.

	Figure A
	Figure B

4. Spread a thin coat of liquid clay on the back of one of the skulls and adhere to ovals. Repeat this step so that all three skulls are attached to the fuchsia and silver ovals (figure A). Fold a 3" x 5" index card into thirds width-wise and tape it so it makes a slightly curved baking armature (like an almost flat cylinder). You will need three medallions for the belt.

5. Bend the first silver oval slightly in the center (with the skull centered vertically), and place the oval over the curved card armature on the baking tray. Repeat for the other two pieces. Bake all three skull pieces for 45 minutes at 275 degrees. Allow clay to cool.

6. In a small glass dish, pour one tablespoon of translucent Liquid Sculpey. Add a pea-sized dab of black oil paint and mix in completely with your skewer. Spread a thin coat of the black liquid clay over the entire surface of the skulls, and the fuchsia and silver ovals. Wipe off the excess liquid clay with a paper towel (figure B). When all three skull and oval sections have been antiqued with the tinted clay, place them back on the index card armatures and bake for 10 minutes at 275 degrees.

Figure C

7. Mark the punch holes. Cut out leather oval using this pattern.

8. Take the first oval and place it on the leather-punching pad. Tap on the back end of the leather punch two to three times until you have punched through the leather completely. Repeat the punching for the other five holes on the first oval. Repeat punching for all seven leather ovals.

9. Spread an even coat of E-6000 glue on the entire surface of the back side of the first clay oval with a skull. Center the clay oval over the front side of the leather oval between the punched holes (figure C); and press in place. Repeat for the other two clay ovals with skulls. Cut 6-foot strands of 1/8-inch thick black leather lacing.

Figure D

10. String the strand through the center hole on one leather oval that has a skull — string from top to bottom. Bring the leather lace under the clay medallion, and back up through the center hole on the other side (figure D).

11. Add one silver tube bead. Repeat stringing all the way around.

12. For both of the side laces, the lace will go top to bottom, across the back, and bottom to top for all of the leather ovals (including the ones with the skulls), with a bead in between each oval. Once all the ovals are laced together and the beads are added, tie a knot near the beads on either end of the belt. String a bead on to each end of the lacing, tying a knot below the bead to keep it in place.

Tip: You can adjust the length of the skull belt by adding or subtracting ovals, and by adjusting the lacing. You may need to shorten the ends of the lacing when you add the beads to the ends.

Enjoy wearing your polymer clay skull belt!

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GUESTS :

Ann Mitchell
Ankara Designs
Website: www.AnKaraDesigns.com