"Decoupage" with TLS and
Japanese decorative papers
Design by Lynn B. Krucke

By using Translucent Liquid Sculpey as both a glue and a glaze for this project, you can transform delicate papers into durable yet beautiful accents for jewelry home décor, and more! Note: The specific product information provided is for the piece shown in the photos. Experiment with different colors of Premo! Sculpey and the other Shapelet sets to find the perfect match for your papers!

Materials and Tools:

• Premo! Sculpey (black 5042 and pearl 5101)
• Translucent Liquid Sculpey Premo!
• Sculpey Shapelets (Classic set)
• Decorative yuzen chiyogami papers (Hanko Designs www.hankodesigns.com)
• Pasta machine, acrylic brayer, or rolling pin dedicated to polymer clay
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Sculpey Super Slicer or craft knife
• Wax paper
• Paintbrush
• Polymer friendly glaze (or Future floor finish)

Optional:

• 6-inch ceramic tile
• Pin back
• Epoxy or another strong craft glue

Directions:

• Condition both colors of clay. Roll both out to create sheets of clay approximately 1/16 inch thick (number 4 on my Atlas pasta machine). Set aside.
• Select a shape from the Shapelet set. Use the pencil to trace the shape onto the back of a piece of decorative Japanese paper. Carefully cut out the shape.

• Place the paper shape onto a small piece of wax paper. Squeeze a small amount of Liquid Sculpey (TLS) onto the paper. Use your finger (or a paintbrush if you prefer) to spread the TLS thinly over the entire surface. Turn the paper over and put a thin layer of TLS on the back of the paper too.

• Pick up the TLS-covered paper carefully and place it face up on the sheet of pearl clay prepared in Step 1. Keep a clean square of wax paper between your fingers and the paper as you smooth the paper firmly onto the clay. Make sure that no air is trapped between the clay and the paper.

• Trim the pearl clay using a craft knife or the Super Slicer. For the piece shown I followed the original Shapelet pattern, but you can trim the layer to another shape if you prefer. Carefully lift this piece and layer it onto the sheet of black clay prepared in Step 1. Again use wax paper as you smooth it into place and push out air.

• Trim the black layer.

• Place the piece on a baking tray and bake at 275 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool. (note: if the piece is not flat after baking, place a ceramic tile on top of the warm clay until it cools to flatten it)
• After baking, the paper may look a bit "dull" and lifeless. Apply one or more coats of a polymer clay friendly glaze to restore the colors. (It doesn't show really well in the photo, but the right side of the paper has been glazed while the left side has not)

• Glue on a pin back if desired.