DIY Network

Speed Racer Fun, unique projects for those car-loving crafters From "Creative Juice" episode DCRJ-104L

(Continued from page 1)

Lucky Flower Key Rings

Cathie Filian and Steve Piacenza turn tire boring keychains into works of art.

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Lucky Flower Key Rings

Materials:

key-ring blank
clear/flat glass marble
Tacky Glue
tiny color copy of image
polymer clay
lanyard clip
scissors
oven
index card
baking sheet used for crafts

1. Shrink the image you have chosen using a color photocopier. The image should be slightly smaller than the glass marble. Trim around the tiny image, leaving a border (figure A). This can be sloppy because it will be cleaned up later.

2. Using Tacky Glue, glue the image right side up to the back of the glass marble (figure B). Press the image to the marble to remove any air bubbles. Allow to dry 8 hours. Once it's dry, trim the excess paper from around the marble.

3. Condition the polymer clay by kneading it for a minute. This will redistribute the plasticizers and polymer fibers in the clay. If the clay feels flexible and can be pulled easily without breaking immediately, it's ready to go.

4. Break the clay into seven pieces. Roll six of the pieces into 1/2" balls (figure C) and one piece into a 1" ball.

Figure A

Figure B

Figure C

5. Press the glass marble into the center of one of the 1/2" balls (figure D).

6. Press around the edge of the clay and marble to secure the marble (figure E). This will form the center part of the flower.

7. Press the remaining 1/2" clay balls around the center of the flower to be the petals (figure F).

Figure D

Figure E

Figure F

8. Flip the clay flower over and press a metal lanyard clip into the back of the top petal above the glass marble. Make sure the top of the clip sticks out over the flower (figure G). This will be the part that goes onto the key ring.

9. Flatten the 1" ball to the size of the flower. Press the flattened ball into the back of the flower, covering and securing the lanyard clip (figure H). Pinch the edges around the flower to make a tight fit.

10. Line the cookie sheet with an index card and bake per polymer brand instructions (figure I). Allow to cool. Attach to blank key ring.

Figure G

Figure H

Figure I

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