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Materials:
- Premo!
Sculpey metallic clay in color of choice
-
Deeply etched rubber stamp in design of choice (here we used Stampendous'
TC51 Foliate Quad Cube)
- Shapelet
Template in design of choice (here we used a Classic design)
-
Sculpey Super Slicer
- Wet/Dry
Sandpaper in 400, 600, 800 Grit
- Soft
cloth for polishing or Dremel tool Fitted with a muslin wheel
Note:
For further refernce
on this technique, see Mokume
Gane Technique Using Rubberstamps And Premo! Sculpey Clays.
Directions:
- Condition clay
by running through the pasta machine several times until smooth
and elastic. Roll a sheet on a #1 setting, about ¼" thick.
- Press stamp
firmly into clay, making sure that all boundaries have impressed
evenly into the clay. Lift stamp away. At this point you may want
to adhere the sheet to a ceramic tile or a glass sheet so it won't
move easily.
- Impression
will have "high spots" and "low spots." Your goal is to very carefully
shave away the high spots until you can see the image in the flat
surface. Because the mica flakes have been moved into a different
direction, the image will remain as a sort of holograph; the light
is being reflected differently, so the image remains. Do this shaving
in very thin sheets, gradually working across the image.
- When you have
completed the shaving process, pick up your Shapelet Template. "Frame
your image" and pick out the best part of the image. Lay the template
down onto the clay, and with an Excel pointed craft knife, carefully
trim the shape.
- You may want
to layer several colors beneath the hologram to give the piece a
matted look. With a piece of wax paper laid down over the initial
image, use your finger to bevel the edges of each layer.
- Bake the embellishment
piece at 275 degrees F for 30 minutes per ¼" of thickness. Be certain
to check the accuracy of the oven with an external oven thermometer.
Even new ovens can be off by as much as 30-50 degrees!
- When the piece
has cooled, you will begin to wet sand; begin with the 400 grit
sandpaper and work up. Work under water or under running water.
Rinse your piece and the sandpaper often. You want the piece to
be as smooth as glass. If your shaving was carefully done, this
won't take long. Continue with the higher grits. Rinse well and
dry.
- Rub the piece
vigorously with the soft cloth, or use the dremel. If you have a
bench grinder fitted with a muslin wheel, this will speed the process
up. Move it carefully back and forth across the wheel. Watch your
fingers!
- You may want
to spread a very thin coat of acrylic glaze or Future Floor Wax
across the surface.
- Use embellishment
in the application of your choice.
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