MIDWAY, FL - Pinterest Party for Wednesday we're learning to make a very unique craft.
Barbara Forbes-Lyons with the Polymer Clay Art Guild taught Max and Christine how.
How to make a hidden magic Mokume Gane Pendent out of polymer clay:
Materials and Tools Needed:
Polymer clay - 1 oz black, 1 oz white, and at least two, 2 oz blocks of polymer clay in complimentary colors for a gradient blend.
Small amount of scrap clay
Pasta machine
Small lucite rod or 6-8" length of PVC pipe
Clay blade
Tissue blade (new)
Shape cutters (optional)
Work surface (glass or ceramic tile)
Deep textured, unmounted rubber stamp / texture sheet
Small tile on which to cure pendant
Unscented baby wipes
Small spray bottle with water or Armor All
Deli wrap or plastic wrap
Toaster oven dedicated to polymer clay curing OR two disposable foil baking pans and a length of aluminum foil to create a seal.
Optional: wet-dry sandpaper in grits from 220 to 800, muslin or polar fleece buffing wheel
Using the pasta machine, condition each of the clay colors you selected, as well as the scrap clay, starting with the lightest color then moving to the darkest. Set aside on your work surface.
Take about 1/2 the white clay and thin out to the 6th or 7th thinnest setting of your pasta machine.
Repeat Step 2 with the black clay.
Stack the white and black sheets together, being careful to not trap air, and run through the pasta machine to create a thin, stacked sheet of clay.
Roll out a sheet of scrap clay on the 4th thickest setting of the pasta machine.
Repeat step 5 with the remaining black clay.
Using a baby wipe, clean off the rollers and scrapers of your pasta machine to remove any black clay.
Create a Skinner blend with the complimentary colors of clay, being sure to use the thickest setting on the pasta machine.
When the blend is to your satisfaction, thin it out the blend to the 3rd or 4th thickest setting of clay.
Cut off a piece of the blend, about the size of your black & white stacked sheet.
Layer the clay sheets in the following order: scrap clay, Skinner blend, black & white sheet with the black side up. Roll each later lightly with the lucite rod, to expel any trapped.
Take your texture sheet and mist lightly with water or Armor All.
Place the clay stack, scrap side up on the texture sheet.
Using the lucite rod, roll across the clay with firm pressure. Peel the clay stack off the sheet and carefully wipe up any moisture with a baby wipe.
Place the impressed sheet scrap side down on the plain black clay sheet on baking tile. Set aside to cool / firm up for at least 2 hours.
Once firm, use the tissue blade to carefully remove thin layers of clay, revealing the patterns and colors beneath. Continue shaving down the clay until you are satisfied with the effect.
Gently level the sheet with the lucite rod, being careful to not distort the patterns.
Cut out your pendant shape with a clay blade or cutter. Remove the excess clay and use for additional items. Note: If using a cutter, place a deli sheet on top of the clay so that the cutter creates a beveled edge. If cutting freehand, lay the deli wrap carefully over the pendant and use your finger to gently bevel the edges.
At this time you can add a bail for the pendant, or add it after the initial baking.
Bake the pendant in the oven according to manufacturer's instructions for temperature and thickness.
After it cools, add the bail if you did not do so in step 19. Bake again.
OPTIONAL: Soak the wet-dry sandpaper in a small tub of water, to which you add a small squirt of dish soap. Using a constantly rotating motion, sand the pendant starting with the lowest grit to the highest grit. Dry off the pendant and buff to high shine with the buffing wheel.
