Polymer Clay Turqoise Stone

For those of you that don't want to spend the extra money to purchase turquoise stones, you can always make them from polymer clay. This look alike stone was easy and fun to make with 2 colors of polymer clay and black acrylic paint.

To make this piece roll out your clay and cut it into a square. Roll out a strip for the bail and stamp it with a design. The stamp I used here was from "Stamp of Excellence". Cut around the shape. Fold the bail over a small straw and attach it to the square with silver paste. Fit a silver bezel around the polymer clay shape and press the bezel gently into the piece. Around the bezel I applied drops of silver with a syring. Fire the piece. When cool sand and finish it. Place the polymer clay stone into the piece and press the bezel edges to it. Great for beginner classes. By showing someone how to make a polymer clay look alike along with a metal clay piece you are promoting 2 products with a low cost.

Mask of Leaves

This is another sample of what you can do with the mask mold. I found some leaves on a bush and applied silver paste to them. After firing the leaves and polishing them I attached them together with oil paste and fired them in a kiln.

To make the mask I rolled out the clay and pressed it into the mold, cut around the edges and cut out the eyes then removed the piece from the mold. I attached bail backs with silver paste on the outside edges on the back. After sanding the mask and firing it I attached the leaves with oil paste. When the piece was cool I sanded and polished the piece. To achieve colored leave use Mr. Clean yellow, blue or both with liver of sulfur. I apply it with a small paint brush to avoid as much repolishing as possible. The first photo is before applying liver of sulfur and the second after. You choose which method you like the most. Remember you can always sand the color off the leaves or refire it to remove the color.

"Happy" the dog, eyeglass pin

I love what you can do with Stamp of Excellence Stamps . To make this eyeglass pin, I rolled out 2 ovals shapes. On one use any stamp you think would be appropriate, stamp into the clay and cut the shape out. Roll out the second oval shape and lay your shape onto it. Attach it with silver paste. Then cut out an area to slip your glass frames through. Attach a brooch finding on the back, sand and fire. I used Max Black to outline the shape with a fine tip brush for more control instead of liver of sulfur. There are so many fun and quick pieces you can use to make intro and beginning classes fun.