DIY Network

Polymer Clay Leaf Mask From "Carol Duvall Show" episode CDS-1302

Project by Anne Igou.

Materials:

papier-mâché mask
3 oz. blocks Kato Polyclay:
- 3 blocks copper
- 1-2/3 blocks gold
- 1 block red
- 1 block brown
- 1 block violet
- 1 block green
- 1 block yellow
Jaquard Pearl-Ex Powder in Aztec gold
Stamp Oasis large maple leaf stamp
Kemper circle cutter #PC4R
automotive protectant spray like Son-of-a-Gun or Armor All
pasta machine
brush-on super glue
clay blade
aluminum foil
craft knife
scissors
needle tool or toothpick
6" x 6" or larger smooth ceramic tile
4 small gold grommets
cotton swab
raffia or ribbon

	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D
	Figure E
	Figure F
	Figure G
	Figure H
	Figure I
	Figure J
	Figure K
	Figure L

Steps:

1. Condition all clays by kneading thoroughly before use.

2. Print and cut out the mask template. Cut out eyeholes with a craft knife.

3. Roll out a block of copper clay on the thickest setting of the pasta machine. Lay the template over the copper clay sheet. Trim around the mask and cut out the eyes with a craft knife (figure A).

4. Punch out holes for grommets using the circle pattern cutter (figure B).

5. Lay the copper clay sheet over the mask form (figure C) and bake at 270 degrees Farenheit for 30 minutes. Cool completely.

6. To make skinner blends: Mix together one-third block yellow, one-third block green, and one-third block gold clay to create the green color used for the first blend. Roll the clay though the pasta machine on the thickest setting.

7. Mix two-thirds block yellow and one-third block gold, and roll through the thickest setting of the pasta machine to create the golden yellow color you'll be using.

8. Place the green and gold sheets of clay on top of each other and cut into a perfect square, approximately 4" x 4". Slice diagonally through the square with a craft blade, making two triangles.

9. Peel apart the two colors and set each color triangle on top of the same color to make one yellow and one green triangle of double thickness. Fit the triangles back together to form a perfect square again (figure D).

10. Roll the square through the thickest setting of the pasta machine. Fold it in half, matching green to green and yellow to yellow, and roll through the thickest setting of pasta machine again. Repeat this step until a smooth gradient is achieved (about 25 to 30 times).

11. Rotate a quarter turn and roll through the second thickest setting on the pasta machine.

12. Roll the graduated color sheet of clay through each thinner setting until you have rolled the sheet through the fifth thickest setting.

13. Place the stretched sheet on the ceramic tile. Starting at the gold end, roll the sheet into a cane, keeping the roll tight to prevent air bubbles from forming (figure E). Trim off edges of the rolled skinner cane with clay blade.

14. To make leaves: Slice off a half-inch portion of the skinner cane and roll it through the pasta machine on the thickest setting (figure F).

15. Turn this piece halfway and roll it through the pasta machine on the second thickest setting. Rotate half a turn again and roll through the pasta machine on the third thickest setting. Repeat turning halfway and rolling through the machine again until the slice has been rolled through on the sixth thickest setting of the pasta machine. Set aside (figure G).

16. Roll half a block of copper clay through the pasta machine on the third thickest setting. Place the flattened skinner clay slice directly over the top of the copper clay sheet. Spray a tiny amount of automotive protectant spray onto the clay and spread over the surface with your finger.

17. Impress the leaf stamp into the clay using firm and even pressure (figure H). Remove the stamp and trim away the excess clay with craft knife. Set aside. Make three more leaves of the same color combination (figure I).

18. Create two more skinner blends using different complimentary colors. For this mask, we used yellow/green, gold/copper, and gold/deep red. Deep red is created by blending one part red, one part brown, and one part violet. You will need a total of 12 leaves: five yellow/green, four gold/copper, and three gold/deep red.

19. To assemble the mask: Use super glue to attach one of the gold/copper leaves upside down below the eye on the cheekbone area of the mask. Repeat on the opposite eye.

20. Attach another gold/copper leaf right side up over one of the eyes on the forehead area of the mask. Repeat on the opposite eye (figure J).

21. Glue a gold/deep red leaf on the side of the mask by the corner of the eye, pointing outward, and repeat on the other eye.

22. Attach the last gold/deep red leaf on the center of the forehead sticking off the mask approximately 1 inch (figure K).

23. Dab super glue onto the rim of the grommets and press them onto four of the yellow/green leaves (figure L).

24. Using a pointed needle tool or toothpick, press the clay inside the grommet out.

25. Glue each leaf diagonally onto the outside four corners of the mask, lining up grommet holes in leaves with punched holes in mask. Glue the last yellow/green leaf upside down on the tip of the nose, hanging off the nose about an inch.

26. Crumple up a 6-inch piece of foil and place it under the tip of the upper nose to support it while it bakes. Repeat with the lower nose.

27. Using a cotton swab, brush gold Pearl-Ex powder on tips, spines, and edges of leaves. Bake at 270 degrees Farenheit for 30 minutes. Cool completely.

28. Tie about 12 inches of raffia or ribbon through each grommet hole. For an added touch, curl the raffia with a small-barreled curling iron for a few seconds. Or, add a wire hanger through the top grommet holes and hang the mask from your wall.

RESOURCES :
Kato polyclay
Prairie Craft Company / Kato Polyclay
Florissant, CO
Toll-free Phone: 800-779-0615
Website: www.prairiecraft.com
Website: www.KatoPolyclay.com

circle cutter
Kemper Enterprises Inc.
Chino, CA
Phone: 909-627-6191
Fax: 800-388-5367
Website: www.kempertools.com

large maple leaf stamp - Stamp Oasis
Stamp Oasis
Las Vegas, NV
Phone: 702-880-8886 - order
Website: www.stampoasis.com

Rupert, Gibbon & Spider, Inc./Jacquard Products
Rupert, Gibbon & Spider Inc. / Jacquard Products
Website: www.jacquardproducts.com

GUESTS :

Anne Igou
Artist/Designer
We apologize no contact information is available.