The Thankful tree

WOW, I can not believe it is already November! The holidays are right around the corner and another year is coming to an end.

I don't know if it's the holidays or the "closing of a chapter", but every year at this time, I take a look back my life and ask myself what I am most thankful for that year. Sometimes it's as simple as a new television or pair of shoes, but most of the time I find I am thankful for more intangible things and always for the people in my life.

One of our family traditions is to create a Thankful Tree over the course of a few days leading up to Thanksgiving. For those of you who are unsure what a Thankful Tree is, you collect a twig and place it in a vase or flowerpot. Next you cut out a bunch of construction paper leaves, poke a hole in the top and thread a ribbon though so the leaves can be hung on the tree. You can then set the tree out and on Thanksgiving Day everyone can fill out a few leaves for what they are thankful for and hang them on the tree. By the end of dinner, you have a tree full of leaves :D

In our house, the tree is created a couple of weeks ahead of time and new leaves are added day by day as we think of new things to be thankful for and some of the leaves are dated and saved and put into a scrapbook.

This has been one of our family traditions for several years now and over the course of the years, I have come to realize something... while we are often thankful for many new and different things each year, some things never change. Each year the first things I write down are family, love, friends, health and happiness. That realization is what lead me to create this project; a permanent Thankful tree. The leaves on this Creative Paperclay® Thankful Tree show the core things we are thankful for and can be displayed year after year, leaving the construction paper leaves for everything else :)

One of my construction paper leaves this year will be all of the amazing people I have met online, and YOU are on that list <3 Thank you for reading my blog and spending just a part of your life with me this year. I hope you will make a Thankful Tree, and maybe even start a new family tradition of your own. Happy Thanksgiving <3 . . . SUPPLIES - Wire for armature (I used 16 gauge wire that I found in the picture hanging department of Home Depot)*** Tools (pliers, needle nose, wire cutters, vice)*** Creative Paperclay® Modeling Material *** 16 0z empty glass jar (mine was from a used candle)*** Sculpting tools (I don't have sculpting tools, so I use whatever I have that will work. example - tooth pick, small toys stolen from my son's room, plastic handles or coffee stirrers)*** Xacto *** Craft paint *** Printout of what you are thankful for and leaf template. Be sure you have two of each word, one for the front and one for the back of each leaf.*** Fishing line or thread (for hanging leaves)*** Faux moss *** Submersible LED lights - These can be found at Michael's in the floral department and come in several colors. You can also find smaller (blinking) lights in the wedding department. See another project of mine using these lights here.



You can watch the full video tutorial below, but here are just a few pictures of the process. All photos can be clicked to enlarge.

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!

Christmas Lollies!

Lollipops are great for every season but Christmas is the perfect setting for hand-made ones.  I decided to make these as ornaments but they can be used as the "garnish" for wrapping presents, or if made thin enough, you might use them in scrapbooking.

Supplies:

Creative Paperclay Modeling Material ® 

Popsicle sticks

Acrylic paint

Glue

Latex or PVC gloves

Wire

Glitter nail polish

24 gauge wire

First, I take a chunk off the block of modeling clay and put some dark red acrylic paint in the middle of it.  Knead the paint into the clay until it is thoroughly mixed.  You can keep adding paint to get to the color you want.  I wanted the color to be between red and pink.

It will look something like this.  The rubber gloves keep your hands from becoming a mess.

Next, you'll roll out a bit of the red and plain clay to make two ropes of equal length.

Put a light line of glue on the top of both ropes and roll to the side so the back rope is glued to the front rope and the front rope is ready to adhere to the coil you're about to make.

Start coiling the two ropes.  If they start sticking to your work surface, add a little water.  Keep coiling until you get to the end.  I've cut a slight angle on the red here so it will fold in easier.

Next, I used a wet Exacto blade to make the starting slit for the popsicle stick.  Place a little glue on the top of the stick to allow for firm attachment.  Then I took a wet paint brush and smoothed down any rough parts in the clay and also spread out any extra glue.

I tried different combinations like coiling the ropes first and then coiling again OR you can put the two ropes together and roll them together into a single rope, twist, then coil...  Let dry on aluminum foil or wax paper.  

After they were dry, I spiced them up with clear nail polish with glitter.

I made some small loops with 24 gauge wire and pushed them into the top of the lollipops with more glue so I can hang them.

You can experiment and find out which style is the most appealing to you.  Whatever you do, though, make sure you have fun!

Christmas Embellishments...

Hi Everyone, it's Robyn here today. Wow, this must be a popular idea! :) Well, to preface my post, I'd like to say that if you scroll down (after reading my post of course ;-) you will find more ideas for adding that special handmade touch to your Christmas season this year. Thanks for the great post Marissart Dollmaker!

For my project today, I'd like to share some Christmas embellishments that are quick, (we love that during the busy holiday season, don't we?) fun, and great for any age group to create. I've been making sweet little ornaments that you can add to your tree or give as gifts but I've also created some without a hanger that I can add to my Christmas cards and scrapbook pages.

You will need:

Creative Paperclay

Cookie cutters (any size you'd like your Embellishments/Decorations to be)

Paints, glitter, gems or any thing you would like to add to your ornaments/embellishments

Paint Brush

Wax or parchment paper

Here's a video to share what I've created and how:

These are super simple and SO much fun to create! Make it a family craft night and involve everyone! :) Have fun and thanks so much for stopping by today!

Very Simple Creative Paperclay® Ornaments

Ever really want to create something but your time is greatly limited? Welcome to my life! Ha! When life gets busy, it's time for me to get really creative and figure out how to make simple project which take up little time but are oh so fulfilling. Here's an ornament project that is so simple, even the kiddies can get involved!

What You'll Need

Creative Paperclay®

Rolling Pin

Non-stick craft mat or wax paper taped on work surface (to prevent sticking)

Cookie Cutters (I used cutters shaped like mittens)

Toothpick (not pictured)

Colored Pencils and/or crayons (not pictured)

Sharpie Markers or any magic markers you have (not pictured)

What To Do

1.  Roll out a good-sized lump of Creative Paperclay® to a 1/4" thick on your non-stick craft mat.

2.  Take your cookie cutters and press into the Creative Paperclay®.

3.  Remove excess Creative Paperclay® from your cut-outs. Make a hole for a ribbon or string with the toothpick.

4.  Carefully pick your cut-outs up and place them on a baking sheet. Bake in a toaster oven or full-size oven at 220 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Flip over and bake for another 6-8 minutes. Cut-outs should be hardened, but may be a little bit pliable.

5. Decorate with Sharpie Markers, colored pencils, crayons, paints, glitter, beads...whatever your heart desire! Enjoy the fruits of your labors!!!

Dove embellishment

Good day all


Today I wanted to share a super quick and simple card I made using an embellishment I made from a mold.  I love to go to discount stores and thrift stores to buy my crafting supplies.  The other day I was at a thrift store and in their kitchen section was a huge bag full of cake molds.  I couldn't see everything in this bag, but there was a lot and it was only $3.  I couldn't wait to get home and check out my new finds.  There were molds for flowers, leaves, rings, bells and birds.  I needed to get an anniversary card in the mail so I thought I'd use the bird for that.

 I used my  Creative Paperclay® and added it to the mold and let it dry for a couple of hours.

 Once I released it from the mold I let it harden the rest of the way and then I added some white metallic rubons to it and made it a glossy white.

I really like the look of this bird and I know my friends will love the card.

You can see more of my projects here at Creativity is a State of Mind

Hugs

Brenda

A Real Turkey of a Project with Creative Paperclay®

A Real Turkey of a Project with Creative Paperclay®

It’s November, and yes, we crafters are all thinking about the holiday seasons, lol!  In the U.S. we celebrate Thanksgiving at the end of the month, so I decided, for my first project as a member of the Creative Paperclay® team, to drum up a turkey.   He’ll sit around my kitchen and make me feel guilty for anticipating the upcoming feast, lol! Recommendation: Read all the directions before starting.  It’s always easier to follow a path if you know where you’re going beforehand.

Supplies:  2 inch Styrofoam ball 1 inch Styrofoam ball, cut into halves ½ inch Styrofoam ball White Glue Acrylic Paint in black, yellow, buff, red, metallic green, metallic copper Pearl Eraser Paperclip Drafting or masking tape One 2.5 inch paper cup for tail, or draw template to size Two 1.75 inch paper cups, or draw template to size Approx. 4-6 oz. Creative Paperclay® 2 small Googly eyes Tools: Something to work on (wax paper, baker’s mat, etc.) Tool for rolling out the Creative Paperclay® Tool to dent, and pick out detail in the Creative Paperclay® Brushes-one square flat and one round & pointed Water Paper towels Slip (I’ll explain this below) Reference photos of turkeys.

Slip is a term used for dried Creative Paperclay® mixed with water to a thin, goopy texture.  You use it to smooth out areas or fill cracks.  If you don’t have dried, fresh will work, but this is a good way to use up left over bits. I like to have at least a fingertip’s worth of slip.

Making The Wings:    1.    Fold one of the 1.75 inch paper cups in half, and then in half again, so that it is quarter size.  Or draw a the shape to size, cut it out, and use it for the template. 2.    Roll out a bit of Creative Paperclay® to the size shown below and smoosh over the triangular shape.  You want the wings to dry with some flex to them, so make them thin. 3.    Then take a tool, or brush handle and press it into the clay to create ruffles.

But don’t make the wings too thin, or you’ll get a hole like I did!  If this happens, stick your finger into the slip and use it to fill in the hole.  See?  Can’t even tell it was there.

Making The Tail:    1.    Take one of the 2.75 inch paper cups and fold it in half  (or use your drawn template) and a walnut-sized lump of Creative Paperclay®. 2.    Sandwich the Creative Paperclay® between layers of Saran Wrap or wax paper and roll it out to the size of the folded paper cup/template.  To get the approximate shape, press at the center of your rolling tool. Roll straight until your clay is the correct height at the center.  3.    Then reposition your rolling tool about 45 degrees so you are rolling toward one side.  Roll until you’ve got the width you want on that side. 4.    Reposition your rolling tool and repeat for the other side. 5.    Use your fingers to even the wing out, and use your folded paper cup/template as a guide to trim off excess.

The tail should be thicker than the wings.  If you don’t have something close to the picture shown, it’s easiest to just start over.  Grab some more Creative Paperclay®, and roll it and the wing into a ball.  Annoying, I know, but really—it’s faster and easier than trying to adjust what you’ve got.

6.    When the size is right, use a tool or brush handle to get a feathery look.

7.    Take the 2-inch Styrofoam ball and mold the tail around it.  You won’t be attaching the tail at this point, just getting the shape.  Make sure the ‘feathers’ don’t curve too far inward. Don’t sweat getting this exact.  The object of pressing around the ball is so you won’t have to reshape your tail too much later.

Forming the Head & Neck:    1.    Straighten out the paper clip, then fold it in half as in the picture.  2.    Stick the ends of the paper clip into the ½ inch Styrofoam ball and push through it, leaving the curved end to form the beak. 3.    Stick the ends into the 2 inch Styrofoam ball, far enough so it stands on its own. 4.    Grab a strip of masking tape and wrap it around the paper clip.  Keep adding strips until the paper clip is covered.  5.    Work some of the tape onto the Styrofoam balls.

In a project like this, I actually use the tape to shape the form, and the Creative Paperclay® to add detail. You can’t avoid tape creases, but you can minimize them by using shorter pieces of tape.  For a project this size, I use pieces about the length in the photo below.  Remember, that you are working in 3D now!  Move the turkey around constantly to look at it from different angles, so you can see what’s happening. Forming The Chest:    1.    Take the two halves of the 1 inch Styrofoam ball and glue them to the sides and just below the neck (sort of like turkey boobs, lol!).  Don’t worry if the surfaces don’t match exactly. 2.    Tape them down.  Work the tape in to fill the gaps.

Adding the Base:    1.    Put a generous dab of glue at the center of the eraser. 2.    Tear off two strips of tape about twice the length that I recommended above. 3.    Center the Styrofoam body over the glue. 4.    Apply the tape strips to hold the two together while you add more tape.  5.    Keep taping (go back to the shorter strips now) until the eraser and the bottom of the body are completely covered. Forming  the Head:     1.    Wrap a strip or two of tape over the beak, working the strips toward a point, and making sure the paper clip is entirely covered. 2.    Wrap tape under the cheek until you get a double chin effect. 3.    Wrap tape around the back of the head until the head is oval in shape.

Forming  the Body:     1.    Continue taping around the rest of the body until you feel you have the shape you want.   Gluing the tape:  1.    Pour on a generous amount of white glue and spread it evenly over the turkey (sort of like you’re basting him, lol). Set the turkey aside and let the glue dry completely.

Applying the Creative Paperclay®  1.    Tear off a fingertip’s worth and roll between your palms to make 3 ropes. 2.    Wrap the ropes around the turkey’s neck so they overlap at the bottom to form those bobbles that turkeys get. 3.    Use a bit of slip to seal the pieces.  Try not to lose too much detail, but if you do, you can use a brush handle or clay tool to recreate it later.  Don’t fuss with it too much now.

1.    Cover the entire bird with Creative Paperclay®.   Remember to rotate your bird and look at it from different angles as you apply the clay.  Use slip and wet fingers to smooth. 2.    Add a little blob of clay to the beak to form the ‘snood’, that little red gobbly thing that male turkeys have.

Adding the tail and wings:  1.    Hold the tail to the body to see how well it fits. 2.    Add or remove clay as necessary.  It doesn’t need to fit exactly (and probably won’t). 3.    Grab one of the wings and make sure that it fits between the bottom of the tail and the table . You can cut Creative Paperclay® with scissors, so you can trim the wings and tail as needed, but don’t get carried away.

4.    Get a lump of Creative Paperclay® about the size in the picture—enough to fill the indentation so the back is higher than the shoulders. 5.    Gently push the tail into the body so that it stays in place.  You may need to prop the turkey against something. You’re remembering to rotate and view the turkey from all angles as you’re working, right?

6.    Tear off part of the lump and start filling and smoothing the Creative Paperclay® to seal the tail to the body.  Leave some indentation between the body and tail. 7.    Gently dig the top of one wing into the body and then cover it with Creative Paperclay® to seal and smooth.  Remember—you can trim the wing or tail with scissors if you need to. 8.    Add on the other wing.

.    Fill in the backside. For some reason, I couldn’t find a photo of a turkey’s backside so I had to make it up from imagination, lol!  Notice that I’ve got a bit of a tilt to my bird.  That’s to give him a feel of natural movement.  At least, that’s my story, and I’m sticking to it, lol!

Adding the tail:  1.    Use one of the tools or a brush handle to add dents all around the turkey’s body to give it a ‘feathered’ texture.

2.    Press the googly eyes into the head.  3.    Inspect the beak, head and neck and tweak with fingers to reshape, if needed.  Use a tool or brush handle if you need to carve out detail.

Painting the turkey:  1.    With a round brush, add metallic green dots over the body and wings. 2.    Add red paint to the head and neck, dry-brushing (almost no paint on brush) lightly over the back of the head. 3.    With the flat brush, add black between the tail and body, over the base & backside. Use the round brush to apply black around the eyes.  4.    Let dry.

5.    Use the flat brush to apply Copper Metallic paint over the body, wings and tail.  Apply thinly enough that the black & green show through. 6.    Let dry. 7.    Paint the beak Yellow. 8.    Dry-brush white over the back of the head and neck—don’t cover all the red. 9.    Add white dots over the wings, body, head, backside, and the very tip of the tail. 10.  When the beak is dry, add one thin line of white down the center, for a highlight. 11.  Let dry, and your turkey is done!

For other great paperclay ideas, be sure to check out the project page at the Creative Paperclay® website!  Come visit my blog, Life Imitates Doodles, for more of my projects.