Project #7

I know that you will love this project. It involves all non-toxic materials and can be done with any age group, even small children. It is a wonderful project to teach to all age groups. It is inexpensive, fast, and gives beautiful results. I hope you enjoy using these wonderful materials and creating your own gorgeous pin.

SUPPLIES:

“Impress Me” unmounted rubber stamps---I used a stamp from set 73 and a pattern stamp
Jacquard’s Pearl Ex Stamp Pads---These are available from your local craft and rubber stamp stores. I used Gold, Gold Red, Gold Blue, and Gold Violet
Delight Air Dry Clay---available at Michael’s and other craft stores; or check www.paperclay.com I used white clay.
Paper scissors
Sponge square
Bowl of water
Paper towels
Work surface protected with a piece of plastic waxed paper
Heat tool---I used Ranger’s Heat It Craft Tool. If you don’t wish to use a heat gun, the ink will air dry and be permanent on the clay. Let the ink air dry in between color layers or you will contaminate your stamp pad ink colors.
Pin back.

STEP BY STEP PROCESS:

Take a small amount of white clay from the package of Delight.
Roll the clay into a ball.
Slightly flatten the clay on the work surface with your fingers.
Press the stamp into the clay. The clay should be about ¼” thick.
The clay will squeeze out the sides when you press the main rubber stamp into it.
Press a pattern stamp onto the clay that has squeezed out the sides.
Let the clay air dry for at least twenty four hours. If you live in a hot climate, it may dry quicker.

Photo One: This is the rubber stamp that I used for the main image and the dried clay.

Photo Two: This is the dried clay beside a Gold Pearl Ex Stamp Pad.

Photo Three: Press the dried clay onto the Gold stamp pad firmly and repeatedly.

Photo Four: The clay image has Gold on it but still needs some ink in the recesses of the design.

Photo Five: Use a soft sponge square to apply additional Gold stamp pad ink to the areas that still need color.

Photo Six: The image can use a second color. I chose Gold Red to add some pizzazz.

Photo Seven: Apply additional color to the clay by patting the pin firmly and repeatedly onto the Gold Red ink pad.

Photo Eight: Pat a sponge square onto the Gold Red stamp pad and then apply additional color to the clay.

Photo Nine: Heat set the Gold Red ink onto clay with a heat gun.

Photo Ten: Apply additional Gold ink to the clay.

Photo Eleven: The clay is starting to get color depth.

Photo Twelve: Heat set the Gold color onto the clay with a heat gun.

Photo Thirteen: Apply Gold Blue ink to the clay.

Photo Fourteen: Heat set the Gold Blue onto the clay with a heat gun.

Photo Fifteen: Apply additional Gold Red to the clay.

Photo Sixteen: Heat set the Gold Red onto the clay with a heat gun.

Photo Seventeen: Apply a contrasting color to the clay. I used Gold Violet to get a nice contrast.

Photo Eighteen: Heat set the Gold Violet onto the clay with a heat gun. Glue a pin back to the clay. You have created a beautiful pin to keep or give as a special gift.

Photo Nineteen: This is the finished pin. It is very lightweight so it can be worn on light weight fabrics without dragging the fabric down.

Additional ideas for this process:

You can add additional color using the following Jacquard paints (Lumiere, Neopaque, and Sherrill’s Sorbets for interesting effects.) Use a detail or flat brush to apply the additional color.
You can also apply the stamp pad ink directly to the stamp and press it into the clay in steps four and five.
You can make beads, earrings, decorative buttons, sculptures, or any other clay based project using these techniques.

Have fun!!!