CREATIVE CRAFTING

Archive for April, 2009

How to get rid of fingerprints on your finished product…

Your fingerprint is messing up your finished piece. Nothing is more depressing than seeing those marks and knowing that you put them there. However, there are a few techniques to get rid of this little problem.

Gloves can be very helpful. They not only prevent fingerprints but they also keep the clay cleaner. Keep a box next to your workstation.

Keep a small bowl of water on hand. Dip your fingertips into it and smooth the clay gently, this will get rid of some of the fingerprints.

Take a cotton swab or Q-tip and dip it in rubbing alcohol. Then take the damp cotton swab and rub it gently over the clay. This will also grab some dirt. Be very careful when you do this however, as too much rubbing alcohol will cause the structure of the clay to break down and your piece will lose its shape. Or smearing of different colors can occur, so be very careful on the amount you put onto the clay surface.

How can I make my normal clay sparkle like pearl clays? This is one techniques I found on the Internet and I love it.   It is so easy and much less expensive.

To achieve pearl looking clay is to mix a bit of sparkly eye shadow into your clay (or glaze). You have it around the house and you can create all sorts of dazzling colors of clay. You might want to wear gloves when mixing it, unless you want glittery hands for the rest of the day.

No family traditions? Then this is a great time of year to start new traditions! Easter is a great time to capture special family moments for scrapbooking. You don’t scrapbook, but planning your picture taking ahead of time guarantees you won’t miss any of these great family memories.

During winter months have you longed for spring days? So now when the gardens are starting to bloom with tulips, crocus, daffodils why not take photos using them as a backdrop? Or use the photos to imagine the spring warmth on a cold winter day.

Easter time at our house always meant Easter cookies, cakes, coloring eggs. Take pictures of you family doing these simple traditions to share with others. Once the fun of making the products is over make sure you take pictures of the finished pieces.

One of the traditions we had was with the Easter cookies, as with the Christmas cookies, we decorated them with jelly beans or other Easter goodies. Cakes were always put on a plate that had Easter “grass”, marshmallows peeps, chocolate candy around the base…of course we removed the grass before serving. But it makes a great picture for years to come.

Have you ever made a Christmas Gingerbread house? Why not an Easter Gingerbread house? Follow the basic recipe, then decorate with Easter candies. Let the kids use their imaginations as to what should be put on an Easter Gingerbread house…but don’t forget the Easter Bunny! And be sure and take a picture of before, during and after.

Project designed by Becky Meverden

Materials and Tools:

3 oz. packages Kato Polyclay: 2 white, black, violet, magenta
lavender clay (2″ ball white plus 1/2″ ball violet)
pink clay: (7/16″ ball white plus 5/16″ ball magenta)
pasta machine or acrylic roller
2-1/2″ glass votive
3/4″ Kemper circle cutter or toothpick
ball stylus
Kato NuBlade
paring knife, dedicated to polymer clay
aluminum foil
paper towel
parchment paper or index cards to bake on

Steps:

1. Flatten two sheets of lavender through the pasta machine at a #1 setting (1/8 inch). Flatten one sheet large enough to cover the top of the votive and the second sheet long and wide enough to cover the outside of the votive.

2. For the top, place the votive upside down on the smaller sheet and use a knife to cut out a circle about 1/8 inch from the votive top. Set the top aside.

3. Use a NuBlade to cut a straight edge across and along the side of the larger sheet. Wrap the sheet around the votive, lining the straight edge with the top of the votive and press. Use a NuBlade to trim the edges. Use your finger to erase and smooth the seam. Use the NuBlade to cut off the excess clay on the bottom of the votive and smooth with your fingers.

4. Press the votive against a flat surface to smooth out the entire surface.