Giving Thanks All Year Long

Hello again, friends, I'm thankful that you could join us on the blog!  Naturally, when thinking about my project for this month the holiday came to mind, but I also wanted to create something that could be used throughout the year as a reminder that I have many things to be thankful for every day!  Some time ago I read an article about writing out notes of thanks and then keeping them in a jar to be read on Thanksgiving.  I liked the idea, but my thoughts were that I wouldn't do it if the paper and pens weren't easily accessible or if it was inconvenient.  When I saw a "cigar box" type of container at the craft store, I knew just how I could use it for this project and combine the paper, pencils, and container in one!

To make a "thanks giving" box like this one you will need:

a cigar-type box with clasp/closure
craft knife
Kraft paper or similar brown packing paper
Delight™ Air Dry Modeling Compound
sandpaper
acrylic paints; golden brown, spice tan, burnt umber & burnt sienna
gesso
white glue
corrugated cardboard
a paper cutter is helpful, but not necessary
brown marker or pencils
optional: stamp & ink
pattern

Click here for PDF pattern

Start by removing the clasp hardware from the box, then measure and cut an opening 2 1/2" x 1/4" in the center front (what will now be the top of the box).   Next cut one piece of corrugated cardboard to the outline of the pattern, place the cardboard on the front of the box and mark where you would like divisions for the paper slips and pens.  Cut 5/8" strips of corrugated cardboard and glue to the box as shown, matching the height of your marks.

Test fit the front piece of cardboard, but don't glue it on yet.

Cover the front piece of cardboard with gesso and set aside to dry.  While you're waiting for the glue and gesso to dry, prepare your brown paper strips.  Cut the paper to various widths and lengths from about 1/2" x 2" to 1 1/2" x 3"  When the glue and gesso are dry on the box and cardboard, apply paper strips to cover the entire box, and the inside of the cardboard piece, overlapping the top edge and leaving some of the strips on the section pieces sticking out as shown.

Glue front piece on and cover with more paper strips.  Be careful when covering the panel on the back of the box to make sure that is doesn't get glued shut.

Draw or print the words you'd like to include and glue those to the box as well.  To make the words I chose, I printed them out, then traced them onto the Kraft paper with a brown marker, then cut them out in strips and glued them to the box.

Mix paint with about 1/3 package of modeling compound to make a color closely resembling the color of your brown paper.  In my case, it was mostly spice tan, with a little bit of burnt umber and burnt sienna, and golden brown mixed in.

Roll the clay out to approx. 1/8" thickness between 2 pieces of plastic wrap or plastic bag.  To transfer the texture, place the bag on top of the box and roll slightly.
Cut off excess around clay, set the extra aside in an airtight container, and allow the clay to dry flat.

When the clay is dry, transfer the pattern and cut out lettering.  Glue letters to the box front, sand edges and/or add more colored clay as necessary to fit them to the box.

I chose to fill in some of the areas between the words with a small decorative stamp and brown ink that matched the marker.  Add some pens or pencils and some paper to the box sections and you're done!

Thank You for joining me again!

I'd love for you to join me for more projects & art adventures on my personal blog

Find me on Facebook, or peruse & ponder pics with me on Pinterest

Jess B's Fall Jewlery

Hello Everyone

My name is Jess B. and excited to be a part of the new design team here at
 Creative Paperclay®

I can only say is this stuff is amazing!

Easy to work with and light as a feather.

Decided to make some fall jewelry

Although all autumn colors are

rich in reds, browns, and golds

I had to add my little twist of colors to the mix.

FALL JEWELRY

 This embossing press rocks

I  had extra Creative Paperclay® in my hands

so I just filled the rest for a future project

 I love that mine are not always smooth and clear details

but you can see the splits and missed filled parts - gives it character

 Although I did not take pictures

of all the painting that went into this project

 I encourage you to use any all paints and mixers your heart desires

Loving Terri Sproul's Mixers

INGREDIENTS

Creative Paperclay®

Best Flexible Molds - Let's Face It

Lisa Pavelka Embossing Cutters - Ivy Leaf

3D-Crystal Lacquer

Terri Sprouls Mixers Jewel-Effects Pastel

Jaquard Lumiere Acrylic Paints - burnt orange, metallic rust, citrine

Chain - Joann's or Michael's

Thanks for stopping by

see you in a couples of weeks

enjoy your holiday

Give Thanks Everyday!

Jess B.

Thanksgiving Turkey Pin

For my first official tutorial I decided to create something fun to wear for Thanksgiving. I love wearing unique pins and brooches during the Fall and Winter holidays and making your own for you and as gifts for family and friends makes them extra special.

Supplies you'll need:

Creative Paperclay®
Craft Glue
Black bead for eye. (I used a black onyx round bead)
Pin Back
Your sculpting tools
Something to roll the clay out with
Paint brushes
Acrylic paints (I used French Vanilla, Dark Brown, Black and Metallic Copper but feel free to choose the colors you like!)
Water
Strong Glue for pin back (I use E-6000)
Protective Urethane spray

Okay, let's play!

Step 1. Grab about a golf ball size of clay and role it out to about 1/8 inch thick. I use bamboo skewers to rest my roller on while rolling out the clay. Next, cut out 11 circles to make the tail feathers with. If you look at the picture you can see I used what looks like some really nice cutters. What they are are those brass candle stick inserts you use to help keep wax off the lip of your candle sticks. You can find them in several sizes and they come in a pack of 5 or six. They work great are are inexpensive clay cutters! Or you can eye ball it and make 5, 1/2 inch balls and 6, 1/3 inch or so.

Step 2. Now take all those nice clay balls and roll them into cone shapes about 1 1/2 inches long.

Step 3. Lay all your clay cones out into the shape of the tail feathers and gently flatten a bit. Don't worry if the bottoms don't match, you're going to trim them next.

Step 4. Now trim the bottoms of your feathers to make a nice curved arch.

Step 5. Time for a bit a detail. You can use a toothpick or a tool with a straight edge to add details to the tail feathers. Don't push all the way through the clay, you just want the lines deep enough to hold onto the dark brown paint later. Now let the tail feather dry a bit, you don't want to squish out all your lovely work.

Step 6. After the tail feathers have dried a bit it's time to add the rest of the turkey. Make a ball of clay a little bit smaller than the size you want the body.  Before pressing it in place, brush a little bit of craft glue along the bottom edge of the feathers to help the body stick. Now press the ball in place and shape it till you like the way it looks.

Step 7. I added feather details to the body with a silicone tipped sculpting tool but you can use a piece of wire bent into a U shape to stamp feather impressions into the body.

Step 8. Next we'll make the turkey's neck, head and  the wattle. The WHAT?  LOL. The wattle is that hangy down thingy on the turkey's beak and neck. (I didn't know either so I looked it up!) Just make a snake shape, give it a little curve, paint a little glue on the back and press in place. The head is a flattened ball of clay with one edge pinched out a little for his beak. The wattle (teehee) is a tear shape press in place. Don't forget to paint a little glue on the back of each piece before pressing into place.

Step 9. Here's lookin at ya! Add a little glue to your bead and press it into the head.
Now let this all dry. If you're like me and you can't stand to wait a few hours do what I do. Warm your oven to 200 degrees. Turn oven off, place your turkey pin in oven on something flat, like a cake pan and leave in oven till dry. Keep an eye on it though, in case it starts to crack or bend.

Step 10. Now that your pin is dry you can add the nice smooth bottom. Roll out a chunk of clay to about 1/8 inch. Paint glue all over the back of your pin and then gently press the turkey onto the rolled out clay. Trim all the extra clay away from the pin and smooth the edges. Let dry again.

Step 11. Once your pin is completely dry you can paint it in the colors of your choice. Once your paint is dry, thin your dark brown paint just a little with water and then paint over small sections at a time, making sure you get it into all those wonderful details. Gently wipe off with a damp cloth or sponge before it dries. I use a makeup sponge for this. They work great and are soft enough that they don't pull of any of the other dried paint. This helps pop out your details.

You can spray a protective coating on your pin after it is completely dry. I used a matte finish by Krylon.

I hope you enjoyed my Thanksgiving Turkey Pin tutorial. I had fun creating it for you!

How to Make A Thanksgiving Wreath

By Amanda Marks

Fall is my favorite time of year, I love the leaves changing colors, the coolness at nights and the start of the holidays.  Last year I made a holiday trivet with my kids hand prints as turkeys this year I decided to make a wreath with the same idea.  My problem was how and the world can I make the turkeys?  Answer Creative Paperclay.


Materials:
Hand-print Templates (hand-prints traced and cut out onto paper)
Creative Paperclay
Pipe Installation (from Home Depot) or a Wreath
Duct Tape
Ribbon
Leaves (can be fake or real - I used real leaves that I painted with Metallic paints)
Hot Glue Gun and Sticks
Scissors
Fondant Roller (rolling pin)
Exacto Knife
Paint
Googly Eyes (optional)
Feathers (optional)
Pop Top or Wire (for hanging)

Amazing Mold Putty
Delight Paperclay
Acorn

1.  Take your pipe installation and duct tape it together to form a circle.  If you have a wreath you can skip this step.

2.  Take your ribbon ad wrap the wreath or the pipe installation with the ribbon.  You will need to secure the ribbon with hot glue at the beginning and at the end.

 3.  Trace the hands of the child or children onto paper and cut out.  Take your Paperclay and roll out a uniformed thickness, place template on the clay and cut out the template with an Exacto Knife.  Allow to flat dry for 24 hours - to avoid warping flip half way through the drying process.  TIP: If your piece does warp - get a piece of wax paper, spray both sides of the Paperclay piece with water.  Sandwich the Paperclay piece between the wax paper and place under a heavy book for about two hours.  Your piece will be dry and flat.

4.  Paint and decorate your Paperclay "turkeys" - I let my children do this part.

5.  Assemble the wreath.  I placed the leaves on the background towards the top and added acorns.  I then added my turkeys to the bottom of the wreath.

6.  I decided my wreath needed something else so I wanted acorns.  I decided to take my lonely acorn I found on my walk and decided to make a mold.  The video is a short video of me making the mold.

My acorn un-molded and trimmed.

Since I seem to have a squirrel infestation (i.e. Booga) I had to repair my acorns with the Delight.

7.  Instead of wire I hot glued a Pop Top (beer tab, etc.) to the back of the wreath for hanging.

8.  Hang up outside so the local wildlife can enjoy it - they frog really wanted his picture taken.