Sunday, January 26, 2014

Party Favor Moustache -- by LeeAnn Kress of Charmed Confections

Hi Everyone!  Welcome to the Creative Paperclay® Blogsite!

It's LeeAnn Kress from Charmed Confections with my next tutorial for you.  Ok ... this tutorial is a little off the beaten path for me, but I couldn't resist.  I was having the worst time trying to figure out what type of tutorial to do this month. 

So, for inspiration, I went to Michaels to check out their latest offerings.  As I was browsing the aisles, I came across these wooden moustaches on a stick.  I started to giggle a little when I saw them, and the lady in the aisle with me said that they were pretty cute, but what do you do with them ... paint them?  Well, it got me thinking why not try paperclay.  So, I bought two of these for .99 cents a piece (so cheap).  How could I not try it!  Michaels has these in various shapes and they even have several types of hats and glasses to match.

These would be so darling made up for someone's birthday party.  Tie a little tag to the stick to personalize it.



Here is what they look like.  Cut out wooden moustaches on a stick. 



Here is what they look like finished! These would be great for a party favor. 
So cute and funny too!

Supply List:
Creative Paperclay®
Delight® (clay)
Moustaches
Paint / Paint Brushes / Paper Towels
Sand Paper (Rubber Scrubbers)
Wood Stain
Matte Varnish
Glue
Scissors
Decorative Styrofoam Ball
Tinsel



In the above picture, I have already finished one side of the handlebar moustache.  I basically rolled out the clay like a snake added it to the wood.  Make sure you wet the wood with your paintbrush before you add the clay (if the clay is not sticking to the wood, rub a little water on your rolled out clay).  The water will help adhere the clay to the wood.


In this picture, I am smoothing the clay around the edge of the wood.  Smooth the clay all the way around to the back.  This will hold the clay more securely and finish the edges.


Here is another view at adding the second layer.  Continue to add snakes of clay to match the other side.  Remember to bring the clay over the edges of the wood and smooth to the back.


Here I am using my paintbrush to smooth the clay on the backside of the piece.  We will sand this later to smooth it completely and blend it into the backside.


In this photo, I am measuring the lengths of the snakes to make sure they are even on both sides.  Would hate for this handlebar moustache to be uneven!  Whoops!


Here is the finished sculpt!  Let's put this aside and move on to the next moustache!  


Besides Creative Paperclay® the manufacturer also has a clay called Delight®. I have never used it before. Thought that I would try it out on the next moustache to compare the difference.


When I first opened the package, the clay is very different from Creative Paperclay®.  The texture reminds me of the inside of an Oreo Cookie.  In fact, it is quite similar.  It is light, fuffly and kind of spongy.  This would be great for making accessories / ornaments that need to be light in weight.


In the above photo, I completed one side using the same techniques.  Instead of snakes, I just smoothed a lump of clay over the entire front surface and smoothed to the back covering the edges.  I carved some lines in the clay to give it texture.


Here are the finished pieces.  One using Delight® and the other using Creative Paperclay®.  The handlebar moustache using Creative Paperclay® was heavier than the moustache using the Delight®. 

Before moving on to the next step, make sure your clay is completely dry.  Lightly sand the piece, the edges, and backside to blend the clay into a smooth finish.  Use your fine grit sandpaper or rubber scrubbers to do this.  (Don't know what rubber scrubbers are - see my tip on sanding in older posts.)


Paint your moustaches any color you would like.  I have painted the one on the left with a black basecoat and the other with a brown basecoat.  In the picture, you will see two different shades of lighter variations of paint on my paper towel.  I used these to bring out the detail and to highlight the pieces.  After drybrushing the moustaches, I used wood stain on them to enhance the colors.  When using wood stain, paint on and rub off the excess until your achieve the look you like.  Dry completely.


Next paint your stick.  Again, paint the stick whatever color is your preference.  I have chosen to paint mine with stripes.  After stick is dry, coat the entire piece (moustache and stick) with matte varnish.  Let dry.


Here I glued on a glittered, black syrofoam ball to the end of the stick and then added some tinsel to finish it off.


Since I didn't have human model to help me show them off to you, my doggie, Jake said he would fill in.  Here he is modeling the brown stash.  So handsome!



Here is Jake again, modeling the handlebar moustache.  He is looking quite distinguished!  This might be the latest fad in luxury accessories for dogs and humans.  Hope you enjoyed it! 

If you have any comments or questions about this tutorial, please leave a comment below and I will get back to you as soon as possible.  To see more of my creations, please visit me on my blog at www.charmedconfections.com and say hello.  Until next time ~~ LeeAnn

p.s.  I finally have a moustache I'm proud of!  HA! HA!

18 comments:

The Rusty Thimble said...

How Fun, I love your tuts LeeAnn. and Jake seems to not mind being a model
Brenda

Michelle Bloch said...

Jake can surly pull off the stashes!! A very handsome guy he is!! Yet another great and impressive tutorial LeeAnn! This would be something fun and crafty for children to try or even a crafty idea for a child's party! Great ideas hun!!! Keep em' coming! Hugs and much love to you ~Michelle~

Flora said...

Great idea LeeAnn!!! My dd will probably have me doing this soon too!!! Blessings,Flora

Art by Susie Krichbaum said...

Neat idea.

Charmed Confections said...

Thanks everyone for the sweet comments. My family and I have been having fun playing with these moustaches. :) Sometimes you just have to make something silly.

Dianie said...

LeeAnn,

I Love It! So much fun. I think it would be cute to have a vase sitting on the coffee table with a variety of mustaches in a vase. Who couldn't resist taking one out and playing with it. Jake is cute as can be :)

~Diane

Charmed Confections said...

I know Diane! They would be too cute on a coffee table or birthday table. Michaels has quite a variety. So inexpensive to make for all the giggles you get. Jake is my sweetie. Such a ladies man. Hugs, LeeAnn

Unknown said...

What a darling idea, LeeAnn! Only you would be able to come up with the perfect way to really as creative flare to them!!!

Carly Smith of Boggy Bottom Bayou

Denise Bledsoe said...

Fun tutorial LeeAnn. These would be cute to use in a photo booth too. Jake looks especially handsome in a moustache. Animals can be masters of disguise! Denise

Charmed Confections said...

HA! HA! You ladies are making me giggle. Love the photo booth idea, Denise! That would be super cute dressed up in vintage clothes. -LeeAnn

Charmed Confections said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Susan at TheBoredZombie.com said...

These are so much fun! My daughter would LOVE them!

Michelle Frae Cummings said...

such aggregate idea!

Mrs Pretzel said...

The dogs are the perfect models for these!! Love it!

Charmed Confections said...

Thanks for the sweet comments Susan, Michelle and Rachel. Sometimes art just has to be a little silly. :)

Charmed Confections said...

Thanks for the sweet comments Susan, Michelle and Rachel. Sometimes art just has to be a little silly. :)

LuLu said...

Omgosh this is too fun! I will have to make some of these! <3 The stashes!!

Unknown said...

Tell that handsome doge, Jake, I think "he is too sexy for his" ...shoot, I can't remember the rest of the words to the song...so, let me make some up... too sexy for his collar, too sexy for his leash,