Snail Magnet Tutorial

These little refrigerator buddies are fun and easy to make for you and the kids! (To make it safer for the kiddies, use pipe cleaners for antennae.)

What You Need

Creative Paperclay

Non-stick craft mat or wax paper

Cup with water 

22 gauge wire or pipe cleaners

Wire cutters or scissors

Needle nose jeweler's pliars

Pottery sharp tool or butter knife

Acrylic Paint

Paint Brushes

Paint Pallette or paper plate

Paper towel

Superglue or strong craft glue

Small round magnets

What To Do

1. Take out a good-sized lump of Creative Paperclay.

2.  Roll the lump out into a long snake.

3. Using your butter knife or sharp tool, cut the snake into three pieces. I like to make a Mommy Snail, Daddy Snail, and Baby Snail. So my snakes are 5, 6, and 7 inches long and about 1/2 inch thick.

4. Keep your snakes moist with water...not wet, just a little moist. This will help you to roll the snakes into snails (if that makes sense) and prevent the paperclay from cracking.

5. Pinch the tail end of the snake so it comes to a point.

6. Roll your snake's tail inward and anchor it in front.

7.  Continue to roll the snake into a snail, but make sure you leave room for the head.

8.  Paperclay adheres to itself pretty well, but it may be helped by adding a couple drops of water (especially where the neck meets the shell.

9.  Time to cut your antennae! 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch antennae are ideal, but feel free to play around with this part to give your snails personalities of their own. 

10. Once you have cut your antennae, insert them into your snail's heads to make the holes where they will eventually sit. Remove antennae and set aside. It is now time to bake!

11. Place your snails into a toaster oven at 220 degrees for 15 minutes. Flip and bake for an additional 10 minutes. (It might be best to make a test snail to see how long it takes your toaster oven to bake paperclay. All ovens are different.) 

12. Once the snails are baked, use acrylic paint and some teeny paintbrushes to decorate them. Make sure you paint both sides and allow them to dry completely. Give them eyes and little smiles with some black paint!

13.  Once they are dry, add a drop of Superglue or craft glue to the tops of their heads where the antennae holes are. Insert antennae and allow to dry.

14.  Take your round magnets and add some glue to it. Adhere one snail to each magnet. Allow to dry completely.

15.  Once dry, clear some space on your crowded fridge (like I have) and adorn your To-Do-List with your new little snail family!!!

Hope you enjoyed this tutorial! For more of my projects, check the Creative Paperclay blog, http://creativepaperclay.blogspot.com/ and my blog, http://marissartdolls.blogspot.com/. My blog will also be available for Kindle users soon! Stay tuned and thanks for reading!!!

Dry Erase Board, or Picture Frame Tutorial

This is a dry-erase board made from re-purposed materials and a little Creative Paperclay and paint. You can make this into a regular photo frame if you prefer. I wanted to make a dry-erase board that looks better than the ones in office supply stores, and that would fit my style better. For this example, I will be doing one that reflects the outdoor world, and thoughts of summer. It is suitable for Father's Day, and can be customized for that. You could make the tree section into a golf bag for example, or add a fishing pole. Maybe a bar bell, or a can of Dad's favorite beverage, hmmm? To get started, gather the following supplies:

Creative Paperclay

I get mine at Michael's and have seen it at Hobby Lobby. If there are no stores near you that carry it, click the link to go directly to the site. http://www.paperclay.com/.

You will also need:

Small or medium sized frame. (I used a wood frame that is

7" x 9 "with a stand on the back)

Toilet tissue tube

Clean used foil

Tape

White glue

Acrylic paints

Metal hanger for the back if you want to hang the frame

White or light colored card stock to fit the frame where the picture

would be

Dry-erase marker in your choice of colors

Rolling pin or brayer

Other tools to create impressions in the clay. Toothpicks can work in a pinch.

First step is to decide whether you are going to hang it,

or use the frame on a table. If you need to add a metal hanger to the back, do it first.

Then make the tree or whatever design you choose, as a holder for

the dry-erase marker. Cut open the tissue tube down one side,

and form it into a smaller tube by taping it shut. It should be large

enough to hold the marker, so check that before you tape.

Mine was not quite an inch wide.

Then you need to cover it with a flat sheet of clay. It doesn't have to be very thick.

I like to smear a thin layer of glue on the tube before applying the clay.

Plug the bottom of the tube with a disc of clay, to create a bottom in the tube.

You can use tape to make the bottom first if you want, then cover it.

Make your designs in the clay at this time, then just glue it to the side of the frame to dry, unless the

frame won't cradle the tube as it dries. In that case, let it dry completely, then when you glue it to the

frame, hold it in place with a piece of tape temporarily until it stays on its own.

At that time you will build up the lower area to create a scene. I wadded up some clean used foil, and glued it on. I applied the glue rather thickly, and let it dry in two layers, but you can use a glue gun for faster results. Just make sure to get glue into the nooks and crannies ij the foil, so it will hold.

Once the 'ground' part of the scene was in place, I

spread the regular old fashioned white glue over the entire frame. I could have sanded it first, but this frame was already aged for appearance. If you use a plastic, or slickly varnished frame, you should rough up the surface with a light sanding before adding anything to it. The purpose of the glue is for later, when painting, the paint will adhere to the frame better. As will the additional clay pieces. Let it dry, then when you make your sun, rocks, cattails, or whatever you decide to add, use a little more glue to stick them down.

After you get your picture the way you want it, let it dry thoroughly. With all the rain, humidity and windows open at my house, I was glad that it wasn't really hot out, because I turned my

oven on to 180º and left the door open. The frame was able to dry in one afternoon on a tray in the warm oven, but I left it until the next day before painting. Regular acrylic paints really pop when used on Creative Paperclay, without the need for gesso, or base-coating.

I made the detail in the bark by making grooves down the sides with a toothpick, then used the end of a very small screwdriver to make horizontal marks down each line, leaving what made

the bark look like small uneven squares. When I painted, I did the colors darker, then dry-brushed lighter shades over the top to show the textures and details.

The sun I did free-hand, but you could always use a mold that has been lightly dusted with talc or cornstarch to prevent sticking. Creative Paperclay is usually not sticky, but best not to risk it tearing as you remove it from a mold.

After the paint has dried, cut a piece of card stock to fit in the frame. It will serve as the area where you writ your message, so don't use a color that is darker than the ink in the marker. I think that I'm going to change mine to a blue, to look like the sky for my frame.

Put the glass back in the frame first. If you don't have glass, you can cover the card stock with clear plastic that is self-adhesive. I don't want to mention name brands, but the plastic I mean is used as a contact covering in drawers a lot. Or you might be able to find some clear plastic from a take-out box that will fit. The first thing in the frame needs to be the slick surface that will be written on. Then you can add the card stock, and any inserts that came out of the frame in the first place.

You can see in this dark picture, the 3-D effect of the clay, as well as the highlights that I painted on to make it look like the sun was shining on the tree and other parts of the scene. The tree has my marker in it, and my dry-erase board is now ready to hang up and enjoy. I'm going to add some hooks in the bottom for keys, since my frame is wide enough.

Thanks for looking. You can also find me at:

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000470295147#!/pages/Night-and-Day-Polymer-Clay-and-Etc/128555793830546

http://nightanddayartetc.blogspot.com/

The Hive-(Sign-up) http://creatingthehive.com/signup/debbieluttrell

http://creatingthehive.com/debbieluttrell/blog

Making Your Own Embellishments by Brenda

Good morning

It's so much fun to create your own embellishments for your scrapbooking or card making and using Creative Paperclay is exactly what you need to do it.  It's lightweight and very easy to use. 

I needed some banner style embellishments for a card I am making for my dad for father's day.  I know you can buy stickers and chipboard items, but why buy them when you can make your own.  Again, this was so much fun to make and I already have a few more ideas for next time.

Okay, so this is how I started:

I used a cookie cutter I got from Michaels in a multi pack and cut the triangles out. 

Kinda reminds me of making sugar cookies...hmmm, nummy.

I forgot to take a picture of piercing the holes in the corners of the triangles. 

I used an awl, but you could use a pin or a paperpiercer also.  Just make sure you make the

holes big enough for whatever you are going to insert into them. 

Then I used a damp towel and gave the clay pieces a little texture. 

I want these pieces to look a bit antiqued.

I used some walnut ink to antique the paperclay pieces once they were dry. 

It took about 2 days for them to dry, but I blame that on the humidity we are having here.

I just dabbed it directly onto the paperclay piece and then used a rag to wipe it off a bit.

See, already looking antiqued

Here is a closeup of one of the paperclay pieces.

See how it looks like leather?

I inserted copper colored brads into the holes and snipped the ends off,

because the extended past the edges.

I added some dimensional letter stickers to the paperclay and

there are my very own embellishments for a card.

I hope you liked my tutorial and can't wait to see you here again in about 3 weeks for another Creative Paperclay idea.  Remember, you can purchase Creative Paperclay at Michaels, Joanne's or even online here.

You can view some of my other Creative Paperclay projects on my blog.

As always, have a great day and God Bless.

Brenda

Geared for you ATC...

I adore doing ATC and I am totally into STEAMPUNK right now. So I had to put the two together.. Here is my Steampunk ATC....
To start I would love to show you a video on how to make your own molds. The video will NOT show how to make a heart or a gear mold. But all molds are make the same way. Hope you enjoy. Purchase your Amazing Molding Putty on the paperclay website. If you are check out this post from the HIVE - sorry my video do NOT come over with my blog??? don't know why - so please feel free to check out my Youtube channel for all my "how to" videos.




Supplies:

Creative PaperClay
ATC: EcoArt Board from Viva Las Vegastamps! or make one 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" out of Cardstock (white or cream)
Orange Memories Mists
Mask from Tim Holtz - swirl
STamp: "Writing Background" #1287 from Viva Las Vegastamps!
Heart Mold - or make your own mold
Gear Mold - purchase a mold or MAKE your own...
Clock stamps - unknown... But I bet you could find on at Viva Las Vegastamps! website... they have everything...
Staz-On Black ink pad
Acrylic Paint: Silver, Gold
Mini Letter from Cosmo Cricket
Gears from Viva Las Vegastamps!
Chalk Ink: Gingerbread
Transparency Sheet - Office supply store
Miracle Tape - Viva Las Vegastamps!

Direction:
1) See video on how to make your own molds.. Place Paperclay into both your Heart Mold and your gear mold. Remove Gear from Mold and set aside to dry. But While you PaperClay Heart is still wet - softly push Metal gear into the clay (NOT THE PAPER CLAY GEAR YOU JUST MADE). Set aside to dry...
2) On your EcoART ATC - lay the swirl mask down and spray Memories Mist "orange" on the whole ATC... remove Mask.
3) Stamp "Writing Background" in back ink over the whole ATC. Darken all the edges of your ATC with "Gingerbread" Chalk Ink.
4) STamp "clock" image on Transparency sheet using Staz-on Black ink. Cut out image...
6) When your Paperclay heart and gear is dry. Paint them with acrylic paints. I used Silver on my heart and added a SMALL amount of black ink to heart when silver paint was dry. BUT - as fast as you add the black ink - remove it. this will help to age the heart.
7) Paint the gear with Gold paint and add black ink as you did for the heart... LOVE the way this ages the paperclay...
8) Now it's time to put together. Using My Miracle tape (love this stuff) will stick anything to anything... really.... I started with the words - The small sticker letter where perfect size for an ATC. then I used my Miracle tape to add the Clock transparency. then I started to add the heart and gear to my ATC. Added a few more gears to my heart and we are done....


Thanks for stop by our blog and please leave me some love...

TTFN
Terri Sproul

Paperclay Earrings and Necklace

By Amanda Marks

I love dangle earrings and I have made jewelry in the past but for me I have to be in the mood to do it.  I decided I really wanted to make a set of earrings and a matching necklace.  My original idea was to just to make pendants and chose my own beads.  The more I thought about the pendants and started making everything the more I realized that I needed to experiment once again and make my own beads. 

I made the pendant by rolling out the Paperclay with my fondant roller for a uniformed thickness.  Taking my round Clay 1/2” cutter to cut out four pieces for the earrings.  Using my 1” circle cutter, I cut out two pieces for the necklace pendant.  I took a head pin with a loop and placed it in the center of the pendant, brushing the pendant with water I placed the other pendant piece on top of the head pin.  Using a sculpting tool I smoothed the edges together to complete each pendant.

Taking a toothpick I drew a butterfly directly into the clay, using a sculpting tool and water I was able to refine the butterfly image.  I did this for the remain two pendants.  I let the pendants dry for 24 hours.

  I laid everything out and then realized I needed more Paperclay beads. 
I do not have a bead roller so I rolled my beads by hand (oh the horror – I know).  I estimated the clay and rolled them out into a ball I took a metal darning needle and made my holes for stringing.  Thinking my beads needed a little more bling I wanted to emboss them.  I took a small take out container with a lid and added my gold embossing powder, beads and treated it like Shake – N – Bake.  I added the beads to the metal darning needle and heated the embossing powder.  Warning the needle does get really hot during this period.  I also want to state the clay was still wet during this process it helped the embossing powder to the beads and gives a really neat effect to have the bead dry on the needle with the heat gun.  After the beads were embossed I used the homemade alcohol inks to color the beads.  I colored the pendants with my homemade alcohol inks to match the glass blue iridescent seed beads my mom purchased from Noc Bay Trading Company (I grew up right across the street from them).
Once the beads were finished I strung them with beading wire and used the seed beads from Noc Bay.  I did use bead caps on each side of the beads I made, it gave it a more polished look.  I added Liquitex Iridescent Medium to the pendants and used Glossy Accents on the pendants to give it a glass like finish.  Looking at the piece I thought the silver was a little too distracting and decided it need to be muted.  Using my Hot Aqua Bic Mark-It Fine Point Pen, I colored the bead caps and all the exposed silver.

 

I am extremely pleased with how my necklace turned out.  My mom keeps telling me how much she wants it.  I am not sure if I can part with this one. 

If you are curious on what I did for Project One click here.

**Please note I have been supplied Creative Paperclay for this project as part of their Design Team.  All other items I purchased or had previously owned.