| Stamped-Clay Jewelry |
From "DIY Crafts"
episode DIC-224 |
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Materials: Glue
Flat brush
Craft knife
Plastic bags
Paper towels
Metallic paints
Self-healing mat
Water container
Round toothpicks
Modeling compound or air-dry clay
Acrylic gloss medium
Waxed paper or freezer paper
Deep-etched rubber stamps
Acrylic paints (bottles or tubes)
Jewelry findings (pin and earring backs)
Strong jewelry adhesive - Condition a piece of modeling compound by manipulating it with your hands, much as you would polymer clay. The more you knead it, the less likely it will be to crack later as it dries. Store the conditioned compound in a sealed plastic bag.
- Pinch off a piece of compound and form it into a ball. Each ball may be flattened to make a circular shape or rolled into a tubelike shape to make an elongated piece. To flatten the compound to about a 1/4" thickness, use the ball of your hand, a small piece of wood or a piece of stiff cardboard. The flattened material may be formed into squares, rectangles, triangles and other shapes before pressing rubber stamps into it. It also may be cut into the desired shape after the impression has been made. Use a sharp craft knife and a self-healing mat covered with freezer paper. Smooth the edges with your fingers before allowing it to dry.
- Press a deep-etched unmounted rubber stamp into the modeling compound (figure A). It should flatten to about 1/8" after making the impression. If the compound squeezes out from under the rubber stamp, use parts of other rubber stamps to impress into it. Try sandwiching the compound between two rubber stamps and pressing them together to create impressions on both sides.
Note: You can create any shapes you want with the deep-etched rubber stamps (figure B). - Remove the rubber stamp. Allow each piece to dry completely before painting or sealing it.
- Once the pieces have dried, paint them with acrylics and a flat brush. If the pieces were made from a color of compound that you like, coat it with clear acrylic gloss medium to seal it.
- Apply paint in even strokes, trying not to go back and forth over an area. Modeling compound will resoften when paint is applied to it, so don't overwork an area until it's been sealed with acrylic paint or gloss medium.
- Once the first layer of paint is dry, apply layers of metallic acrylic paint with a dry-brush technique: Dip a paintbrush in metallic paint and dab off the excess onto a paper towel. Then apply the brush to the raised edges of the design (figure C).
- Affix jewelry findings (earring backs, pinbacks) to the finished piece (figure D) if desired. Use strong jewelry adhesive and work in a well-ventilated area.
Tips: - Experiment with different shapes, sizes and ideas, and keep notes on your experiments.
- Keep modeling compound tightly capped in its original container until ready to use. The amount of compound used for each piece will determine how large it will be. For earrings, form 2 dime-sized balls of compound. Brooches require larger amounts. Beads and buttons may be any size.
- The compound shouldn't stick to your stamps, but it if does, perhaps it was too soft. Try refrigerating it before using it if this occurs. Some artists sprinkle small amounts of cornstarch, talc or similar powders onto their rubber stamps to keep the compound from sticking; another option is to coat the stamp with clear embossing fluid.
- Modeling compound air-dries in most climates in less than a week, depending on the thickness of the material. Turn the pieces over frequently throughout the day to facilitate the drying process.
- If the compound pieces crack as they dry, don't worry. Cracking won't weaken the material, and it may add an old, weathered, textural element to the finished artwork.
- Children can make these projects too, but please supervise them, especially when painting, adding findings or cutting out shapes with craft knives.
Products: Most materials can be found at a craft-supply store. For information on colored modeling clay, see Resources, below. For the jewelry findings, our guest recommends using Judikins Diamond Glaze, found at most craft-supply stores.
RESOURCES :
Polymer clay
Model: S-III-2
Sculpey III
Polyform Products Inc.
Website: www.sculpey.com
The Art of Polymer Clay
Model: 0823002780
Author: Donna Kato
Watson-Guptill Publications
Website: www.watsonguptill.com
Polymer Clay, Art Translucent and Fimo (AMACO)
American Art Clay Co. Inc. (AMACO)
Indianapolis, IN 46222
Phone: 317-244-6871
Fax: 317-248-9300
Email: catalog@amaco.com
Website: www.amaco.com
A Treasury of Beaded Jewelry
Model: 0943604583
Author: Mary Ellen Harte
Sculpting in Clay
Model: 0764301136
Author: Dale Power
The Polymer Clay Techniques Book
Model: 1581800088
Author: Sue Heaser
(October, 1999)
F & W Publications Inc. (North Light and Betterway Books, Story Press, Popular Woodworking Books)
Website: www.fwpublications.com
Beautiful Beads/How to Create Beautiful, Original Gifts and Jewelry for Every Occasion
Model: 080198629X
Author: Alexandra Kidd
(August, 1994)
Chilton Book Company
Westchester, PA 19380
Phone: 610-738-9280
Fax: 610-738-9354
Polymer Clay for the First Time
Model: 0806968273
Author: Syndee Holt
(March, 2000)
Sterling Publishing Co. Inc.
Website: www.sterlingpub.com
Creative Ways With Polymer Clay
Model: 0806917458
Author: Dotty McMillan
(October, 2001)
Sterling Publishing Co. Inc.
Website: www.sterlingpub.com
Polymer Clay: Creating Functional and Decorative Objects
Model: 0873419529
Author: Jacqueline Gikow
(October, 2001)
Krause Publications
Website: www.krause.com
Foundations in Polymer Clay Design
Model: 087341800X
Author: Barbara E. McGuire
(September, 1999)
Krause Publications
Website: www.krause.com
Colored Modeling Clay (Dazzlin Dough)
Colored Modeling Clay (Dazzlin Dough)
Website: www.dazzlindough.com
GUESTS :
Sherrill Kahn
Impress Me Rubber Stamps
17116 Escalon Drive
Encino, CA 91436-4030
Phone: 818-788-6730
Email: impressme@earthlink.net
Website: impressmenow.com
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