DIY Network

Polymer Clay Wall Vase Sculpt a sweet vase. From "B. Original" episode DBOR-602

Make a vase as pretty as your flowers.

Polymer clay makes it easy for anyone to create colorful clay accessories without the mess and expense of glazing or firing. And this easy-to-use medium gets even easier with help from Michele Beschen.

The B. Original host shows how use polymer clay to craft a charming bud vase that's perfect to hang on the wall. Make one for a special spot, create a few for a sophisticated arrangement or follow Michele Beschen's example and use them as part of a fabulous flower wall. Scroll down to get started.

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Polymer Clay Wall Vase

Materials:

2 blocks of polymer clay
clay roller or pasta machine
paper
pencil or pen
craft knife
cornstarch
cookie sheet
drill with small bit
18-gauge decorative wire

Note: Polymer clay is available in 2-ounce blocks at hobby and craft stores. It takes two blocks of clay to create a vase about 8" long.

	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D
	Figure E

• To create the back side of the vase, knead one block of polymer clay and roll it out flat. Michele Beschen's tool of choice for this is a pasta machine; she recommends checking thrift stores for one. They give an even sheet of clay every time (figure A).

• Draw a pattern for the back of the vase on a piece of paper and cut it out. Lay the patter on the rolled-out clay sheet and cut around it with a craft knife (figure B).

• To create the front of the vase, mix the trimmings from the first block in with the second block of clay and knead well. Roll it out of run it through a pasta machine to create a thin sheet.

• If desired, add some stripes or circles in contrasting clay to create a design for the front of the vase. Position the new pieces on the clay sheet and roll it out or run it through the pasta machine again (figure C).

• Select an item to use as a form to shape the vase – a piece of PVC pipe, another glass vase or any other item with the desired size and shape.

• Cover the form with a generous coating of cornstarch to keep it from sticking to the clay. Position the form on the back piece of the vase and shape the front piece over the form (figure D).

• Trim any excess and pinch around all edges to seal the layers together.

• Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a layer of cornstarch.

• Place the vase on the cookie sheet and bake in an oven preheated to 265?F-275?F for about 30 minutes. Make sure the room is well ventilated while the clay is baking.

• When the vase is finished baking, the form should slip out easily. Let the vase cool completely.

• Use an all-purpose drill bit to drill a hole in each side of the vase. Thread a length of 18-garge copper wire through one hole, create a loop and add some beads and twists. Thread the wire through the hole on the other side of the vase to create a hanger (figure E).

• Seal the piece with a varnish suitable for use on polymer clay.

• Each of these vases will hold a single bud or flower. If using fresh flowers, slide a glass or plastic test tube into the vase to hold the water and the flower.