Hand Stamped Magnets

If it's one thing (besides Jewelry) that I collect a lot of, it's magnets. I love them, don't you?

When working on hand stamped clay projects, I find that the best method for applying color is using pigment ink pads.

See the color on this? There are layers and layers of beautiful color on here, and this is achieved by using various shades of pigment ink, rather than acrylic paint.
When you're finished, you can spray it with a bit of acrylic sealer, though I opted not to. It's so pretty just as is, don't you think?


Diana Gonzalez

Lynda's Creative PaperClay Tips for July

I absolutely love being a part of this amazing team of women, where in one way or another have taught me a lot where it comes to working with this Creative PaperClay!  I have so many things I am working on right now - some out of Creative PaperClay, some out of paper!  One of my current projects I am working on is a magnet made out of the clay, molds, and a rubber stamp!  I like experimenting with different mediums to see what type of "effect" I can get, while using basic stamping and scrapbooking materials!  I can't wait to start to play with other techniques and products to see what I can come up with! 

Lynda's tips for the month:  

1. Do NOT be afraid to play with the clay to create things with - and don't be afraid to
   
   scrap the project and start over using the same clay too!  I have used it for embellishments on frames, cans, cards, cereal boxes...  Use your imagination and have fun with it!  
2. Make sure to clean your stamps and molds with water and a brush.  You want your creations to be perfect every time you make something!  
3. Make sure to clean your surface before you start to work on the clay - especially if you have pets!   
4. Look at the templates you might have from scrapbooking - to use instead of cookie cutters if you don't have them!  Plus you can always cut out a shape out of paper, using it as your template too!  
5. Dry your creations on a flat surface if you want them to be "flat" on one side.  As the clay is drying - you want to turn it over to allow the air to dry the other side.  

Great product to work with - I am planning out some fun Halloween embellishments - and can't wait to get all my stuff here at my new place and out of storage!  I have some fun stamps I want to use this year with the clay!  Check back here on 8/6 for a fun project I am working on now - and my tips post will be on 8/20 which will be all about tips on making gifts, I hope you will join me!  

Until next time,

Lynda Jeffs

Memories in Tyme

July Tip: Baking Delight Clay n a Low Temp Oven Yields Surprising Results!!

 
While preparing for my last tutorial I decided to work with the Delight Clay.  As most of you know in my "normal" design life I work primarily with polymer clay,  a medium that must be baked in a low temp oven (275 degrees) to cure.  So many times while designing (even with an air dry product such as Creative Paperclay or Delight Air Dry Modeling Compound) I will pop things into the oven.

For my tutorial, I created multiple flat white flowers.  I was a bit crunched for time, so I decided to put them into the oven to speed the drying process.  Imagine my surprise when I opened the oven after 10 minutes and found not flat flower components, but fabulous puffed flowers!  How cool was that?!

I thought they might flatten back out as they cool, but all maintained the puffed shape.  2 things to note about this discovery:
1) If you are going to try this be sure to place your flat components on glass to bake.  If using cardboard or an otherwise porous surface the Delight will bond with the baking surface!!  My components stuck even stuck to the glass surface I was using, but I believe that was because it had a slight texture leftover from previous bakings.  I was able to use a straight blade to slice all of the flowers off the surface.
2) If you predrill holes in your flowers before baking, there is a chance they will close up.  Never fear, they can be redrilled after the components cool. 

Have fun experimenting.  You will be amazed at how lightweight the components are!  Light enough to be strung on shear ribbons and worn as a belt without being weighed down :-)

Barbara's Creative Paperclay® July Tips

Hey there, Creative Paperclay® fans.  Barbara here to share with you this month's tips and techniques.  A few weeks ago, I shared my rosewater bottle that I decorated with roses made using Creative Paperclay®.  As I was making these roses, I realized I had a few more tips to pass along.  

First of all, when you push these small pieces of Paperclay® onto your craft sheet, they are quite thin and want to stick.  

I found that the easiest way to scoop these petals up without distorting them is slip a simple piece of card stock beneath the clay.  This worked extremely well.  No need to go out and buy an expensive spatula when you probably already have card stock on your desk right now. 

However, sometimes tools are good to have, especially when you can use a coupon from your local craft store.  I found this clay tool in my local craft store that had several tips, two of which were rubber shapes.  I found the rubber shapes made it quite easy to, not only neaten the edges of my leaves, but I could also smooth out any crack lines.  I also used it to make the veins.   I have to say it really made the whole process so very easy and fun.

When rolling out a long strand of clay, such as this, you need to use the heel of your palm to keep it even and stretch it out as you roll your clay back and forth.  Move in a back and forth, side to side,  motion to continue stretching the strand. 

I hope you enjoyed my tips and can put them to good use when working on your next Creative Paperclay® project.  

Thanks so much for stopping by today, and please be sure to visit the Creative Paperclay blog and online store to see what is new, and what the fabulous design team are making to share with you.  And I would love it if you would visit my blog at Black Hole Art Studio to see some of my other work.

Have a wonderful and creative week!

Barbara 

July Tip from Rachel Whetzel

I've shared before, that water is your friend... and today, I'm going to tell you that sometimes, it can be your enemy! When you are using Creative Paperclay® to create texture, and especially when you are using stamps or found items for this purpose, it's helpful to allow your clay to dry just a bit before you stamp. Allowing your surface to dry a bit helps keep your stamps and textured items from grabbing and lifting clay!

Jess B's - Dreamz on Plywood

Hello Everyone

This week has been very hot in the Midwest

Drink lots of fluids and be careful out there

I received a new shipment of

CreativePaperclay®

ripped open three packages and went to town

 

 I tried to record my process and once again failed.  

I made a quick video of my finished work. 

 I wasn't able to capture the good picture quality as I wanted to.

 

 Sanded plywood

 

 Gessoed plywood started rolling out the Creative Paperclay®

 

I used Tim Holtz Texture Fade Embossing folder Clock and created folds n layers

and baked in oven

  

 Used oval and flower cookie cutters

 Used Rangers - MeltArt - Textured Treads Floral Flourish

 

 The Crafters Workshop - Branches Reversed TCW251 and used tinted textured paste

I saturate several colors of inks from

 

 Dylusion, Lindsy's Stamp Gang, Tsukineko Walnut Ink, Tim Holtz Adiorndack Color Wash 

Also used Stampendous Frantage Embossing Glitters

The those little encrusted pieces of frantage gives it that pop

I hope this gives you a better understanding of my process

thanks for stopping by

see you soon

Lynda's Easy Project

Today's project is an easy one...and can be tweaked to just about any color scheme you might have!  I started with the Creative PaperClay product and molded the daisy's, allowing to dry for a day or so before I painted them!  I flipped them over about 12 hours in to the dry time to allow for the other side to dry as well.  One thing I am working on now is getting my creations to dry flat - as I get something that works for me I will make sure to let you know!  

It took a day or two for the drying to finish up, normally I will work on one part - and then will finish up things a day or two later!  I had bought the frame from a local "dollar store", which fits the picture I wanted to put in there PERFECTLY!  The colors I chose goes with my altered cereal box container found here and sits on top of my computer desk so I can look at it every day!  
After the clay had finished drying, I painted the 2 daisies

with Radiant Pearls paint, and then embossed with clear embossing powder to achieve the glossy effect!  I wrapped the two colors of ribbon around the 2 edges of the frame - I wanted a bit more of the yellow to come in to play than the red!  I used 2 die cut flowers and a sun punch for each of the flowers, curling up the edges of each of the petals on the flower to create visual interest!  This is one of my favorite projects, and it was so simple to do!  I can't wait to do a few more for presents, in colors that are perfect for their spaces!  This frame is "more special" because of those in the photo with me and the event we were there for!  A great time in my life - one I wouldn't change for anything! 
I hope you enjoy my project for today!  Check back in a couple of weeks for my tips on working with clay to make he pieces dry flat...  I am working on a great project - that will end up being a magnet when I am done!  I will take more pictures this time around!  

See you next time,

Lynda Jeffs

Creative PaperClay Design Team

  

Make a bird brooch

Hi there, I'm Diana and I'm going to show you how to make a bird brooch! I love birds so much.

Here's the step by step:

You'll need some Podgeables by Plaid Crafts, and actually you can use any shape they have. They have crowns, hearts and flowers too, I think.

Carefully spread the podgeable with paper clay. 

Now, you're going to use a typewriter font background stamp, and press into the clay, making an impression into the clay. Let it dry, then get out some paint spray or ink spray:

It's best to add color to these with some sort of spray. Oh, and you can poke a hole at the bottom when the clay is still wet, if you wish to add beads hanging down from your brooch. 

After you've added color, let it dry some, and then go over the edges with a pigment ink based ink pad. Then, just spray it with some acrylic sealer. 

And that is indeed that! I hope you enjoyed my little tutorial! 

Diana Gonzalez

DawnMercedes' July Tip

 Here are a few tips for sealing and painting your Creative Paperclay ® projects!

1.  Be sure to let your project dry completely before painting or sealing.

2.  Use light weigh sand paper to knock off any imperfections.

3.  SEAL BEFORE you paint. 

If not, your project will become limp from the water in your acrylic paints.

4.  On painting...I like painting the back side first. Just to cover it up. 

Then, I go to the front side.  All the dribble will be on the back, in the end.

5.  Be sure to seal to keep your project projected.  

Think about the style of your project.

What would look better: a matte finish or a gloss finish, or a high gloss finish?

In order to project your Creative Paperclay (R) project every step of the way, be sure to think about the finish of your project.

Thanks so much for checking us out today!

Dawn Mercedes, of Sunnyside Up

Rose Water Bottle

Hello there, Creative Paperclay® fans, and welcome back.  Today I have a really super fun project that looks like it was very hard to make, but so very easy!  I was inspired by a video I saw where the artist was making ceramic roses.  I wondered if I could do the same thing with Paperclay®, and best of all,  Paperclay® does not have to be fired in a kiln.  It air dries!  Here is a photo of my finished piece.  I really love how this turned out, and I have to say, I truly amazed myself.

Supplies:
Creative Paperclay® modeling material
Altered Arts Collage Sheet AP-392 - Beauty Labels
Maya Mists (Pink Mist)
Glimmer Mists (Viva Pink, Suflower, Pinecone, Olive Vine, Coral, English Ivy)
Distress Ink (Brushed Corduroy)
Treasure Gold metallic wax finish (Rose Quartz)
Vanilla acrylic paint
Sakura 3D Crystal Lacquer
Glass bottle

Directions:

I found this bottle in the clearance aisle at my local craft store.

Clean the bottle with alcohol to remove any oils or residue.

Roll out a long strand of Paperclay® and attach to bottle.

I misted the bottle with water so the Paperclay® will stick to the bottle while it is drying in the desired shape.

When the strands are dry, remove them from the bottle and mist them with the Pinecone mist.  Let dry.

Clean residue from bottle again and set aside.

To make the roses, I have a series of photos for you to see the step-by-step process.

Press seven pieces of clay onto your craft sheet.  These pieces are probably about 1/16" thick, i.e., a little bit thicker than a piece of computer printer paper.   Imperfection is key to making these rose petals.  I know, I can hardly believe I said that, but trust me on this one.  Rose petals are never equal, and the uneven shapes make the best roses.

First, tightly roll one of the small pieces of Paperclay® to form the center bud.

Add a second clay petal to the bud.

Offset each clay petal as you attach them to the previous petal.  Pinch the bottom, and gently manipulate the outer edges of the petals as you work around.

When you finish attaching the petals, you will find that a bit of the clay extruded out from the bottom as you were pinching, so cut off the excess, pinch and form into a neater, small flower bottom.

While these are air drying, make tiny little leaves.  These are so easy to make.  Simply press small bits of Paperclay® onto your craft sheet (or a piece of wax paper) and trim into marquee shapes.  Add veins with a toothpick or clay tool, if you have one.

Color the roses and leaves with the mists.  Let dry.  I wanted to add a bit of shabbiness to the roses, so I dabbed a tiny bit of watered down vanilla acrylic paint around the petals.  I also added a touch of brown distress ink to the strands to give them a more mottled, natural look.

After the roses dried, I highlighted the petals with Treasure Gold (Rose Quartz).  Unfortunately, the pictures do not do it justice, but I think you get the idea.

Now that your bottle is clean again, and your clay pieces are made, it is time to embellish the bottle.  I first chose a small vintage perfume label that fit inside this pretty little metal frame.  After gluing it inside the frame, I added 3D Crystal Lacquer to the inside.  I used a post-it note to represent where I was going to place the frame while I continued to add the clay pieces.

Attach the branch strands to the bottle in a pleasing manner.  You can use either a glue gun or a good, quick grab glue.  Begin gluing your roses and leaves onto the bottle, along the branches.

Attach the metal framed perfume label to the front, as shown.

Add some rose water to your bottle, and you are done!  What do you think?  Wouldn't this make a wonderful gift for someone special?

I hope you enjoyed my project, and that I have inspired you to make some Creative Paperclay® roses.  They are so easy and fun, you may not want to stop.  As always, I want to thank you for stopping by, and hope you will visit the Creative Paperclay® online store, as well as the blog to see what our other fabulous designers have created for you!  I would also love it if you would visit my blog at Black Hole Art Studio.  

Have a wonderful, creative week!

Barbara