| Votives and Switchplate Covers |
From "DIY Crafts"
episode DIC-147 |
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Clay designer Karen Franklin of American Art Clay Company Inc. adds polymer clay Designer Squares® and clay canes to votive candleholders and switchplate covers for a designer look. She also presents helpful tips on enlarging and reducing canes and clay designs. Each 1" by 1" by 1 1/2" Designer Square may be sliced right out of the package or changed in size, then sliced, to achieve a more colorful design. Patterns include Tea Rose, Dolphins, Happy Face, Flower Bouquet, Teddy Bear, Pink Pearls, Frog, Double Begonia, Bee in Flower, Yellow Poppy, Purple Aster and Flower Garden. Materials:
Glass votive candle cups
Polymer clay Designer Squares
Work mat (or any smooth surface)
NuBlade® clay blade
Marxit® ruler
400- and 600-grit sandpaper
Brayer
Talcum powder
Small knife
Pasta machine (Note: After a pasta machine has been used to condition clay, it cannot be used in food preparation.)
Fimo® gloss or matte lacquer
Tips on Reducing Canes: - Always hand-warm canes thoroughly for 5 minutes or more to ensure that they're softened.
- Begin working the cane between your fingers from the center outward, in opposite directions with each hand.
- Rotate the cane one-quarter turn as you work.
- Use a brayer to roll the sides of the cane, rotating one-quarter turn as you work (figure A).
- Alternate working with hands and brayer until the cane is as small as desired. While working, make certain to go slowly and consistently so the design in the cane does not become distorted (figure B).
- Slice pieces as desired for your project.
Votive Candleholders - Begin by enlarging Designer Squares. Warm Designer Squares in your hands for 5 minutes or more to ensure the cane is softened.
- Using the NuBlade, cut three slices from the cane, each approximately 1/4" thick (figure C).
- Warm each slice between your fingers to ensure that it is soft.
- Begin pressing each slice between your fingers to even out the cut.
- Roll several times with the brayer, working in both directions on the slice. Turn the slice over and repeat (figure D).
- Insert the slice horizontally into the pasta machine, using the #5 setting. This increases the size of the slice in one direction (figure E).
- Reset the pasta machine to #4, and insert the slice vertically. This will enlarge the slice in the other direction (figure F).
- Reset the pasta machine to #3, and once more insert the slice vertically. This should produce an ideal slice for the small votive cup.
- Place the first slice on the votive cup, trimming the sides straight. Smooth the surface carefully with your fingers to remove air bubbles.
- Apply the second and third slices to cover the entire votive. Match the side seams closely but do not overlap them (figure G).
- Trim the excess from the top and bottom.
- Using your hands and the brayer, smooth out rough spots and seams. If an air bubble occurs, slice into it to eliminate it. Smooth again (figure H).
- Make a small clay snake, using three colors of clay and turning them to mix the colors into a candy-cane stripe. Place the snake around the top of the votive holder, butting the ends and trimming the edges until they're smooth (figure I).
- Bake on a cookie sheet in a 265-degree oven for 25 to 30 minutes. Remove and let cool.
- Using 400-grit sandpaper, wet and sand the surface under running water or in a bowl of water. Wet and sand again, using 600-grit sandpaper.
- On darker colors of clay, this may produce a cloudy effect. If so, bake the piece again for about 10 minutes, and the cloudiness will disappear.
- An optional final step is to coat the piece with gloss or matte lacquer.
Switchplate Cover Materials:
Ceramic switchplate cover
Parchment paper
Polymer clay Designer Squares
Work mat
Small knife
NuBlade clay blade
Marxit ruler
- Warm Designer Squares in your hands for 5 minutes or more to ensure that the cane is softened.
- On parchment paper, trace a pattern of the area of the switchplate that will be covered (figure J).
- Slice canes approximately 1/16" thick (figure K).
- Warm each slice to ensure it is soft.
- Press each slice between your fingers to even out the cut.
- Place all pieces on the pattern to cover the switchplate, pressing the pieces together as you go (figure L).
- Smooth any rough areas with your fingers and a brayer (figure M).
- Turn the parchment paper upside down, and transfer the slices to the switchplate from the pattern (figure N).
- Smooth again to make certain seams don't show and the surface is even. With a small knife, trim any excess from the edges of the switchplate.
- Bake at 265 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and let cool.
- If the clay doesn't stick to the switchplate, remove the clay pieces and apply adhesive to the back. Replace on switchplate.
- Optional: Coat with gloss or matte lacquer, depending on the effect desired.
Variation: - Instead of slicing the cane crosswise, begin slicing lengthwise. Each slice will result in a cane of different colors and designs, creating a unique look (figure O).
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