Sculpting on Flower Pots

Hi everyone, it's Susie Krichbaum from Art by Susie K and it's Second Friday Tutorial Time!

I thought I'd share a little fun with flower pots. Something to think about as we move toward Valentine's Day and the lovely Spring months.  

What I like about this project is playing around with texture and transforming a plain item into something fun and new.   

Supplies:

Creative Paperclay

flower pot (clay, plastic or ceramic)

water

lace and other items to make impressions in the clay like the butterflies I used

paints

Your imagination 

Gather molds, charms, lace, leaves and other items to press into the clay to create texture.  

I used clay pots because I had them handy.  I won't be planting directly in them, instead I will insert another smaller pot that hold the water, dirt and plant.  The reason for this, the clay will leach moisture that will eventually ruin your beautiful work by getting the clay all wet again.   Other options would be to seal the pot with spray or pop an artificial plant in there.  

After an even layer of clay is added, start creating texture.  I'm using lace and pressing and burnishing it into the clay.  

Add as much or as little as you wish.

I decided to go with a few hearts making this a Valentine themed pot.   

You could also use molds here.  Let it dry overnight and sand and paint.  The next pot was super fun with all the butterflies.  

After the pot was cover in clay, I started pressing a fun design just around the top of the pot.

I knew I wanted butterflies, so I used some charms I happen to have and pressed them into a piece of clay.  Cut around the impression but leave a generous amount of clay around the entire object.  Moisten the back of your cut out clay and add to the pot.  

Start using a ball stylus or even a pencil to create small little dots all around the butterfly or the object you chose.  

The dots add a lot of dimension and let the butterfly pop out.  Do as many as you like, I covered the lower half of the pot.  

Let dry over night. Light sanding and get ready to paint. 

I love these paints. So shiny and fun.  I used them for the butterfly pot.  

Have fun with your colors.  I played with many different layers making some of the pot look like patina.   I also took a very watered down wash of black paint and brushed in on and wiped it off leaving enough textured areas to give it more character.  

This pot just wasn't working for me in just red and pink so I knew I was going to need to give it some more pizzazz. 

I started to layer different colors so I could create a patina look and so the hearts would have a shadowed edge around them.  

Finish up with a layer of clear spray lacquer to protect your piece, pop in a happy little plant and enjoy.   

I hope you are inspired to create something fun from this tutorial.  I am always busy creating and sharing on various social media sites, my Etsy store and website.  If you have questions you can always shoot me an email.

Contact:  Susiewhc@gmail.com

Facebook and Instagram search @ArtbySusieK

Website: https://ArtbySusieK.com

Etsy: www.ArtbySusieK.etsy.com

Pinterest:  https://www.pinterest.com/susiewhc/

Clay Talk: Fixing cracks in Creative Paperclay Sculptures

Hello,
Last week I shared with you on Facebook Live, how to fix those dreaded cracks in your sculptures. For those of you who missed it or if you want to go over it again, I have included the video below.

To summarize, cracks can be caused by:

1. Using too much water while sculpting/smoothing your clay.
2. Applying the clay too thick- it is best to work in thinner layers (no more than 1/4") and add more layers when it is dry. NB when adding fresh clay to dry clay, always paint the area with diluted white glue (or water if you have no glue) before adding the new clay.
3. Drying the sculpture too fast.
4. If air pockets formed when adding the clay -press clay the armature to avoid this.

So how can we fix the cracks?

1. For small cracks, use a slurry to fill the crack. The slurry is made by adding water to bits of clay and blending until it is the consistency of pudding.
2. For larger cracks, using fresh clay roll out a worm shape. Wet the crack with diluted white glue and press the clay into the crack. Smooth out with your fingers or sculpting tool and allow to dry.

Here is the video from Clay Talk where I demonstrate how to fix the cracks and answer questions.

Thank you all for stopping by and supporting Clay Talk. Please be sure to join me on February 6, 2020, at 8pm EST/5pm PST. I will be discussing sanding and smoothing Creative Paperclay.

Remember, you can share your creations with us on our Facebook page. We would love to see them! For more inspiration have a look around the blog. There are tutorials for many levels using Creative Paperclay®. You can also visit my blog www.papermachepatch.com.

You can find Creative Paperclay® online at Creative Paperclay Co and also at Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Dickblick and Amazon. 

Happy Crafting!

Suzette

Blog: https://papermachepatch.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/papermachepatch/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/papermachepatch/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/suzettehussey/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/PaperMachePatch

Skillshare: https://skl.sh/2QyIn93

January 2020 First Friday Fan Day

Need some inspiration for your next Creative Paperclay® project? Check out what folks are making with Creative Paperclay™.

	Fried Egg Earrings Clover Flower
	Cactus Ring Holder Plaited Planter Clay Knobs for Home Decor
	Clay Lantern
	Snowflakes Bookmark

HELP US FIND YOU!!

1. Use the hashtag #CreativePaperclay on all your social networks.
2. When using Facebook, be sure the your posts and images using the #Creative Paperclay hashtag are set to public, otherwise we won't be able to find you.
3. Share your projects on the Creative PaperClay® Facebook page.

I'm always trolling the web, looking for great Creative Paperclay® projects. If you find something, post it on our Facebook page.

GOT QUESTIONS???

Find the answers to your paperclay questions. See what other folks are creating. Stop by our Facebook group and say, "Hi!" Creative Paperclay Q&A

Carole

How to make a Fully Posable Art Doll

Hello Everyone, this is Cinnamon again. I hope that everyone had a nice and eventful holiday. Today I am going to show you how I create dolls with dangling limbs that are super posable. Dolls with limbs that move freely can be a dream to pose for photographs. 

Supplies

• Skewers
• Scissors
• Creative Paperclay®
• Newspaper
• Masking tape
• Sand paper
• Wool
• Acrylic paint
• Sealer, Varnish

Start with a ball of paper & tape it onto a wooden skewer.

Wrap it with clay to form the head.

When the clay drys, glue the head to the skewer with Aleene's tacky glue.

Take wire and wrap it around the skewer, cut off excess skewer at the bottom if necessary.

Be sure to make loops at the shoulder and bottom of pelvis for attaching limbs.

With wire, form 8 ovals and keep open in the middle. Hook one oval into each loop on the armature and then interlock another oval into that one.

Once loops are in place, tape the center closed.

Bulk up armature & limbs with tape, paper, foil, etc., leave joints loose for movement in the piece.

Wrap armature and limbs with clay leaving the joints free to dangle as done in the previous step, this is crucial.

At this stage where the limbs and head has dried, I begin to work on the face. Work in layers as you would do with anything else, sculpting and allowing it to dry before sanding the piece down for smoothness.  When you are satisfied with the face, paint the piece wit acrylics and seal to prevent from chipping.

Here I just glued some lambswool onto the dolls head with the Aleene's tacky glue.

Above are just a few photos of my posable doll. I hope you all have fun making these as I did!

Thank you all once again for stopping by, and I hope that you enjoyed today's tutorial! You can find Creative Paperclay® at the following retailers Creative Paperclay® Online Store, Michael's, Amazon, Joann's.

See more of my work at Melandolly.com and be sure to catch updates on my Instagram page! 

Paddy O'Malley the Christmas Mouse

It's Second Friday and time for another tutorial.  Sharing some tips and tricks.  

Paddy O'Malley the Christmas Mouse is ready to make an appearance this Christmas.  He loves to help out with the decorations.  

SUPPLY LIST:

Creative Paperclay®

Paper Mache' box or wood box for drum

Acrylics paints

assorted paint brushes

basic clay tools  

tinsel

small ornaments

18 gauge wire

tin foil

masking tape

glue

small wooden skewers 

small bowl of water

2" and 4" foam ball

fine grit sandpaper

Follow this link for a video of the sculpting process and well as the still pictures below with text.  

I started by painting the box to look like a drum and decided where I wanted the mouse to stand and poked a couple of holes in the top to secure the legs.  The larger ball is the body, with 2 wooded skewers as the legs.  

18 gauge wire passed through the body where you would imagine shoulders to be.  Another skewer placed where the neck would be and the smaller foam ball placed on top as the head.  Adjust to where you like it.  

I work on the body and head separately in the beginning.   Here I have covered the body in  Creative Paperclay® and while it drys I'm working on the eye sockets of the head.  just pressing a ball tool in the foam or use your thumbs.  

making small loops for ears and pressing them into the foam.  Kinda Mickey Mouse ears.   Cover with masking tape and then clay.  

I cover foam with masking tape because there is less cracking of the clay as it dries.  I find the foam absorbs the moisture quickly and causes the clay to have more cracks, thus more repair work to do.  

Start adding clay to the bottom of the skewer and add little fun toes.  

Roll out some clay and start to construct a santa like coat.  I made three separate pieces.  One across the back and one for the right and left side of the jacket front.  At the bottom I used a straight tool to add texture.  Making is look like fur lining.  

While the jacket dries I move on the the head.  This takes some time and everyone will have a different look.  Just have fun with it.  

Adding that tin foil to the arm wire.  This adds strength and gives the clay something to hang on to.  Pose the arms the way you like.  I knew I wanted him holding the garland, so I made sure I had the arms arranged in a way that it looked natural.  

Cover the arms with clay, add texture and seams.  

Finally he will need a nice fur collar.  So add a snake of clay to circle the neck area and add the texture.  

Add a hat if you want. I created a tin foil hat and covered int he same fashion as the jacket adding the fur around the base.  

And you're done!   Let him dry before sanding and painting.  Spruce up the drum by adding your design.  

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial.  You can see other things I create by visiting my various social media sites and my Etsy store and website.  If you have questions you can always shoot me an email.  

Contact: Susiewhc@gmail.com

Facebook and Instagram search @artbysusiek

https://artbysusiek.com Here you can sign up for my Creative Breakfast Club

www.artbysusiek.etsy.com

https://www.pinterest.com/susiewhc/

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