return on creativity: clay candle holder

I dipped my toe into the genre of sculpture just barely and came out with what I'm going to call a candle holder...  I'm considering this project a prototype that can use a little tweaking, but I love the idea of it and wanted to share it with you.

I started by rolling out some Sculpey polymer clay and cutting out a leaf design.  I used these Wilton leaf cookie cutters.

I cut out four leaves and laid them on my mold (a metal one cup measuring cup).

Then I added a circle cut out for a base.  I baked my sculpture per the clay instructions.

I put a votive candle inside to create a little sculptural candle holder.

I think if I can find a bigger candle to fill up the space a bit more it would be perfect.

Or just add a circle cut out to the center and enjoy my creation as a sculpture.

Give it a try, modify, perfect and let me know what you think.  Thanks for reading and subscribing!

return on creativity: clay gift tags

Do you love wrapping presents?  I made some clay gift tags just before the holidays.  They were so easy and I love the results.  I think these would look so special on a wedding gift.  

Here's how to make:

1.  Evenly roll out some Sculpey oven bake clay.

2.  Cut out a circle shape.  I used the middle size of these Wilton circle cutters.

3.  Press an appropriate sentiment stamp into the clay.  The specific Making Memories stamp set I used is now discontinued, but this stamp set from Making Memories is very similar and has a lot of great "gift tag appropriate" sentiments.

4.  Bake your clay per package instructions.  I started using a toaster oven to bake my clay and it works perfectly for small projects like this.

5.  Once my clay was baked I used my hubby's Dremel tool(the drill bit) to make a hole.  Beware, this creates quite a mess (think hand mixer and uncontrollable cake batter)!

6.  Make a bunch to have on hand for beautiful, simple, and elegant gift wrapping!

Think graduation and new job gift wrapping!

Birthday gift wrapping too of course!

Don't want to make it?  Buy this is my shop, 645 workshop!

another take: variations on love balls

Remember these love balls?  Click here for the tutorial.

This weekend I made some variations:

hug and kiss balls for Valentine's Day.

hope balls for a friend that could use a pick me up.

I intended to make some holiday themed balls, but just didn't get to it.  (I also didn't put up a Christmas tree this year which is kinda sad, but I also don't have to take one down which is kinda happy!)

Stay tuned!  I have an epic craft fail to share later this week!

return on creativity: frosty the clayman

Our weather can't decide if it wants to be warm or cold, but I decided to make a snowman anyway...

I started with aluminum foil balls, just like with the clay love balls.

And wrapped them in Sculpey polymer clay.

I put the balls together and drew a little face, added some black clay eyes, a carrot nose and stick arms.

All ready for the oven.  While he baked for an hour I crocheted a scarf with a "simple" chain stitch that took me almost the whole hour.  I've just never gotten the hang of crocheting.

Oh no!  My clayman took a tumble in the oven!  Unlike Humpty Dumpty I put him back together again with a little Gorilla Glue.

And he's done (although not perfect) and waiting for winter...

Luckily I still have plenty of time to perfect my snowman making skills before spring.

return on creativity: clay alpha magnets

I'm so excited to share this project.  It was a lot of fun.  I hope you all love it too!

I conceived this project on the drive to work.  I seem to get my best ideas while driving.  Unfortunately I only have a ten mile drive to work.  If I commuted farther I'd probably be a genius!  Or maybe not...

Here's what you need for the alpha magnets:

Sculpey polymer clay

rolling pin

small circle cut out (I used one that came in this set for fondant)

circle magnets

Stayz On stamping ink in black

letter stamps  (I used this set)

super glue

Here's how you make them:

1.  Condition your clay by working in your hands.  Then roll out the clay as evenly as possible.  I wanted my magnets to be a little chunky so my clay was probably about a half inch thick.

2.  Cut out circles.

3.  Lightly press stamps into the ink.  You only want to cover the top of the letter.  Then press the letter stamp into the clay. 

4.  Bake per instructions on the package.  I baked mine for thirty minutes. 

5.  Remove from the oven and let cool.

6.  Glue on magnets with super glue.  I found these circle magnets at Michaels and they were the perfect size!  (Why oh why can I not use super glue without totally coating my fingers???)

7.  Play with your new magnets! 

Funny story:  Whenever I bake clay my husband always walks into the family room from the kitchen and says, "There's something wrong with those cookies you baked."  It's sort of our running joke.  When I pulled these out of the oven he said, "What are you cooking this time?  Typewriter keys?"  

They do sort of look like typewriter keys...

Don't want to make it?  Buy this is my shop, 645 workshop!

a big idea: polymer clay creations

I'm starting to really love polymer clay.  It's like play-doh for adults!

Here are some inspiring creations and tutorials with polymer clay.

Here's a great idea to use polymer charms as gift tags.  I can't wait to do this at Christmas time!

Check out this tutorial for making polymer clay bangles.  I love wearing an armful of bangle bracelets.  Such a cool idea.

This acorn is so sweet and this tutorial makes it look so easy.  These are on my "to-try" list for sure.

Check out this awe inspiring bracelet.  I'm speechless.

return on creativity: polymer clay charms

There's no doubt about it, playing with clay is fun.  If you haven't done it since you were a kid, you definately need to do it again.

Here's an easy tutorial for making a clay charm.  Note:  It's probably a good idea to keep tools used for clay and tools used for food seperate.

Make your clay into a ball and roll flat.  I used Polyform Sculpey Original Clay for this project.

Cover with saran wrap and cut out a circle.  Cutting through the saran wrap will create a beveled edge for your charm as shown below.  My circle cutter was originally purchased for the fondant work, but is now dedicated to clay since I don't do cakes much anymore.

Press a rubber stamp into the clay to make an impression.  Words are nice, but so are designs.  

Brush lightly with some colored chalk to make your design really "pop".  If you don't have colored chalk, try some old eye shadow.  (I've not personally tried this, but it *seems* like it should work.  Let me know.)  Use something sharp to make a hole in the top of your charm.

Bake per instructions and let cool.  Now you have a lovely handmade charm!

I just know that you will come up with lots of clever variations on this project.  I can't wait to see them.  Email me or post them to my flickr page.