Polymer Clay Mosaics

Polymer Clay Mosaic

This was a project we did at United Artisans Shop and Studio in downtown Fort Mill, SC during our Summer Art Camps with the 10-16 year old group. I think it would be fun to do at home or school, but it would be hard without a bunch of pasta machines=)

Necessary Tools:

• Polymer Clay - varying colors - Any
• Pasta Machine (To only be used for Polymer)
• Dull Knife
• Grout and Adhesive
• Surface to put the mosaic on
• non-food spoon
• gloves
• 2 Tiles (the size you want to make your design on) or Clean workspace and 1 Large Tile

Would be nice:

• Cookie Cutters (To only be used for Polymer or crafts)
• A pretty Frame and Backing to Seal it

To start have a clean workspace and tile, cleaned pasta machine


Make sure your hands are clean and warm up the clay in small increments and run through the pasta machine on "9". Ball up and run through again on "9".

Put your flattened sections on your workspace. Cut out squares, triangles, circles, etc...with your dull knife. If you have craft cookie cutters, those work great.

Carefully arrange the Clay cuts on your large tile, and Repeat steps for different colors. (It will be important to keep a paper towel on hand to wipe the pasta machine in between colors.)

Student keeps arranging until they are satisfied leaving about 2-3mm or 1/8" in between. Make sure they gently press the edges down so that the appearance is like flat tiles, don't press too hard to make it smash.
Note: In the design below some of her "tiles" were too close and did not fit into the final design... Make sure to leave space in between the clay pieces.

Rachel's finished design before grout=) 

 

Rachel's Finished Polymer Mosaic

Bake the Polymer Clay on the large tile in a normal oven what the directions tell you. It will vary in the type of Polymer you get. I like Sculpey premo myself. Do not over bake !!! Toxins released= bad times! Trust me!!!=) Make sure you have the right temperature too! =)

Let the hot clay sit for a half hour and cool.

Choose a surface: a pot, wood, glass- whatever the grout and adhesive will stick to=)
Get a spoon and gloves and spread across the surface.
Remove your gloves and place the Polymer Tiles( on the large tile) you have created on your surface=) Fun fun fun!

If you do this please, please please post pictures so I can see the beautiful things you have made!!!! Have a blast creating!

Also, if you have any suggestions or questions, don't hesitate to ask=) Thanks for reading!

Crocheted Guitar Pick Holders

After many inquiries I am writing down one way to make the guitar pick holders;)

You will need:

• yarn - I like Hobby Lobby's I Love this Yarn
• Crochet Hook between E/4 and G/6

Ch 5, then sl st in original ch to make a loop
Rnd 1: Ch 3, dc 14 into the middle of the loop (not inside the chain, but the hole), sl st in top of ch -3 to  close (it will be slightly concave)
Rnd 2: Ch 2, sc in next st (front loop only), and all the way around (front loops only), end with a sl st into the top of your ch st          
Rnd 3: Ch 2, *(sc in next st (front loop only), fbftog next 2 front loops)* Repeat * to * around til you get to the beg, then sl st in ch to close
Tail: Ch 20, sl st in the base of the starting ch

To finish: ch 1 and pull, cut the strand and weave the extra yarn back in and glue=)
Voila!
Makes a great gift for the guitar lover that can't keep track of their picks, lol! You can fold it into itself to put on the neck of the guitar or make the last chain longer to attach to the strap. You can even attach it as a key chain! Great sentimental, thoughtful, handmade gift.

If you don't want to figure out how to make them, but would like them as party favors, or a Birthday Gift, you can order them today and we will make and ship them within 3 days.
Click here to order.