Holiday Angel Tealight Candle Holder

Hi!


 For my last project of 2016 I thought I would try using modeling metal mesh with paperclay.

I wanted to create a holiday candle holder. I don't have any angels, and I decided it would be fun to have my first one be one that I designed and created myself.

If you would like to create one yourself here is what you will need:

 Materials
Creative Paperclay®
Metal mesh
Container of water
Damp paper towels
Clay shaping and rolling tools
Sanding tools
Wing mold
Cardboard
Hot glue and gun
Acrylic paint
Gesso
Matt varnish
Weather wood paint product
Crackle paint
Antiquing paint
Glamour Dust
Paint brushes
Tea light

Instructions 

1. Cut a gumdrop shape of wire mesh.
2. Roll it to form a cone shape.

3. Roll out a thin sheet of paperclay.
4. Place the cone on the clay and roll it onto the form.

5. Roll a ball for the head and two tubular shapes for the arms.

6. Attach the head and the arms to the body form.

7. Roll out a small flat piece for the tray.

8. Attach the tray to the arms using more clay so that the tray, the arms, and body form one piece. (see image below)

9. Roll out several strips of clay for hair and lay it on the head. Let it drape over the arms and attach at the ends. Separate the hair in the back leaving room for the wings to attach to the body.

10.Use a wing mold or cutter and create the wings.

11. Trace the bottom of the tealight in the clay. Cut out the circle and a small strip to wrap around the circle to form a cup.

12. Set everything aside to dry.( Because parts of the angel might collapse during drying I suggest making cardboard props.)

 11. When the pieces are 50% dry, remove the cardboard and finish drying them in a 250 degree oven. Time will vary. When your piece appears white they are ready to remove. Let cool. Caution: Pieces may be hot.

12. Sand down all your pieces. Wipe down with a damp paper towel to remove any sanding dust.

13. Apply a coat of gesso to all of the pieces.

14. Paint the candle holder and wings. While the wings are still wet, sprinkle Glamour dust on the them. 

 15. Paint the angel hair brown, and the body with a cream colored acrylic paint. (I used titan buff).

16. Paint the body ( not the face) and tray with weathered wood and let dry.

17. Apply a coat of crackle paint.


18. Apply a coat of antiquing paint on the body and the tray. When dry, wipe off the excess with a damp paper towel until you have reached the desired effect.

19. Apply a coat of matt varnish on all of the pieces.

20. Attach the wings to the back and the candle cup to the tray using hot glue.

The wire mesh was really helpful in this project. I will be using it again.

I hope this tutorial helped inspire you to to make a one of a kind, handmade by you, holiday candle holder.

Happy creating,
Shari

Using WireForm® as Armature for your Creative Paperclay® Sculptures - Tip #5 by LeeAnn Kress

Hi Everyone!

It's LeeAnn and I am back to give you a little more information on how to use wire contour mesh as a possible armature option in addition to aluminum foil when building your armatures.

Earlier this month, I posted a tutorial on how to sculpt a jointed bunny.  I showed you two different ways to create the bunny's ears.  One using aluminum foil and one using wire mesh called WireForm® (See the picture above.)  Today, I am going to give you a little bit more information on using the wire mesh.

WireForm® comes in a roll shown in the picture above.  I usually buy mine at www.dickblick.com  - this is a wonderful art supply company and has a multitude of items perfect for incorporating with Creative Paperclay®.

The wire mesh I use is very pliable, however it comes in several sizes and gauges depending on what you are going to use it for.  The roll above is 10 ft long - 20 inches wide.  It is the 1/16" pattern.

When incorporating wire mesh with your paperclay, the wire mesh (since it has holes in it) acts like re-barb would to cement.  Creative Paperclay® sticks nicely to it and fills in all those tiny holes for a super strong armature.  Because the wire mesh is pliable, you can bend it and form it any way you want. The sky is the limit to the possibilities of posing your sculpture.

Here are the suggested uses -- WireForm® is an excellent sculpting medium for light armatures and crafts, gently sculpt, pull, stretch, gather and twist the WireForm® into a shape or lift impression by pressing and stretching the mesh over an object.  Seam edges or join pieces by folding, crimping or hot gluing.

I love the fact that you can use scissors with this.  It is not hard to cut a piece off, in fact you can even tear off a piece.  I would suggest wearing some kind of protective gloves when you are scrunching it for a inner armature body shape.  The edges do get a little sharp.

I realize that there are a lot of us that use aluminum foil for inner armatures ... I do too.  But now that I have had some time to play with WireForm®, I have learned that I can also incorporate this with foil.  For example, maybe the body is made out of foil, but I want some really cool wings or a tall collar coming off my sculpture, with this wire mesh, it makes it so easy to do.  Personally, I think the mesh has more flexibility to bend and conform in the intricate shapes I want better than foil.

My suggestion is to use your foil for more bulkier parts of your armature and use wire mesh for your thinner more delicate parts like bunny ears, wings, long tails, horns, collars, etc.

WireForm® contour mesh is just another great option out there to put into your Creative Paperclay® toolbox.  That is why I love Creative Paperclay® so much -- it works with practically everything!!  I hope you give it a try someday!

Thanks for stopping by the Creative Paperclay® blogsite and if you have a little more time to spare, stop by my site at www.charmedconfections.com

Until next time!  LeeAnn