Creative Crafting

It has been awhile since I last posted.  I have been busy planting my gardens, learning more about polymer clay, and having fun with different projects.   All of which I will be posting about in the coming weeks.

Here is one such project that has been keeping me busy.  I made some for myself, my daughter (who also has a beautiful garden), my new daughter-in-law who hasn’t learned the fine art of relaxation with gardening, but I made a set for her anyway just in case!

I put pictures of the project at the end of the article….so have fun!

Design by Roxane Burkett, Sheryl Eggleston – Stamp Studio

Materials and Tools:

* Premo! Sculpey clay in the following colors:
o Pearl 5101, or White 5100, or Ecru 5093
o NOTE: Any light pastel can be mixed by adding a tiny ball of colored clay to white or pearl clay. This is all a matter of choice!
* Small, medium, or large metal eyelets (available from Stamp Studio)
* Sculpey Super Slicer or craft knife
* Stamp Studio “Sweet Pea” Stamp #E551
o NOTE: Other flower species are available in these plant stake stamps from Stamp Studio.
* Pigment Inkpad in color of choice: you can use black, dark green, olive green, whatever strikes your fancy. Inkpads from Ranger, Tsukinekko, Stewart Superior, Colorbox will all work beautifully. Heatset Re-inkers used with a disposable pad will also work as will Lumiere paints from Jacquard.
* Heat set fabric markers or other permanent, colored markers in colors of choice. Or, assorted Gel pens in flower and foliage colors

Directions:

*
Condition clay by kneading or rolling 2-3 times through dedicated pasta machine. With acrylic roller or the pasta machine, roll clay to a ¼” thickness.
*
Make a paper template in the shape of the plant stake: Begin with a rectangle 1″ wide and 5″ long.
*
Lay paper template(s) onto prepared clay sheet. Using Sculpey Super Clicer (or craft knife), trim clay into rectangle shapes.
* Measure 4 inches from the top of the clay rectangle(s), and trim the clay into a point using the blade or craft knife.
*
Hold your flexible Sculpey Super Slicer by each end, making sure that the sharp side is DOWN. Curve the blade slightly and press down at the top of the plant stake, creating a smooth curved top.
* Tap the stamp lightly (several times) onto the inkpad. Test on paper before stamping the clay.
* Re-ink, and then press onto the plant stake, making a slight impression. Insert metal eyelet into top of plant stake. Use a toothpick or skewer to “ream” out clay from the eyelet hole. These stakes are ready for baking. See instructions below.

* If using gel pens: Using an unlinked stamp, impress lightly into the unbaked plant stake. Remove stamp. Color in the vines and flowers according to personal taste with the gel pens (Yasutomo, Sakura, Tsukinekko – all work well). Press gently so as not to clog tip.
* Press the metal eyelet(s) into the top of the stake. Use a toothpick or skewer to “ream out” the rest of the clay from the eyelet hole.

*
Bake the plant stake(s) on index cards in a calibrated oven set reliably to 275 degrees F for 30 minutes. (Use an external oven thermometer available at grocery and hardware stores to check your oven’s accuracy.)
*
After plant stakes have cooled, use the fabric markers or permanent markers to color in the flower heads. If you use fabric markers, they require heat setting. Therefore, bake the plant stake for another 5 minutes in the oven.
*
If using gel pens: After the plant stake has baked, your colors may be re-applied to brighten their intensity. Re-bake for 5 minutes to heat-set the gel pen ink.

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