Swirl Pen and Holder - Sculpey Clay Projects

June - Father's Day Swirl Pen and Holder

Won't Dad be surprised with this fun
clay covered pen and pen holder for Father's Day?

Some Basic Information:

Sculpey III, Bake & Bend, and Amazing Eraser Clay should be conditioned before using. To condition, roll and squeeze each color in your hands until the clay becomes soft and pliable and an even consistency.

It's important to bake projects for the right amount of time and at the right temperature. Once your project is complete, follow these baking instructions for each type of clay:

Sculpey III bakes in your home oven for 15 minutes at 275 Degrees F (130 Degrees C).
Bake & Bend bakes in your home oven for 20 minutes at 285 Degrees F (130 Degrees C).
Amazing Eraser Clay bakes in your home oven for 10 minutes at 250 Degrees F (130 Degrees C).

Line your baking sheets with aluminum foil or index cards when using them to cure (bake) polymer clay projects.

Always assist children during the baking process and never touch a clay project until it is completely cool. You should use an oven thermometer to make sure the oven temperature is accurate. Overheating polymer clay can cause it to become discolored. In the case of Amazing Eraser Clay, the eraser may not erase well if it's over baked.

Good working surfaces include a large piece of glass, wax paper, marble, or an old baking sheet. It is important that you not place unbaked polymer clay on any good furniture surface. Do not use everyday cooking utensils with clay if you are going to continue using them for preparing food.

Shapes:

All of the projects in this series can be made from the following shapes:

Ball - Take a lump of clay and roll it in your palms until it's smooth.

Teardrop - Start with a ball of clay and then taper it on one end with your fingers.

Coil - Roll a lump of clay until it¹s long and skinny.

What you'll need:

2 contrasting colors of Sculpey III (two ounce packages)
Aluminum Foil
Disposable round style stick pen
Paring knife
Needle nose pliers

Instructions:

The Pen

1. Remove the ink cartridge from the Bic pen with the needle nose pliers and set it aside.

2. Make 2 very thin coils (under ¼" in diameter), one of each color. Lay the coils side by side on your work surface and press into a ribbon, 1/16" to 1/8".

3. Wrap the pen with the ribbon. Gently roll the pen back and forth on your work surface. Don't roll too much; just until the clay is flat. Over-rolling may cause the clay to pull away from the pen.

4. Trim the clay at both ends of the pen using the paring knife.

5. Take a small ball of one color and cover the bottom of the pen with it. Blend the ball into the clay cover on the pen.

6. Bake at 225 Degrees F (130Degrees C) for 15 minutes. Always check the accuracy of the oven by using an oven thermometer. Use a timer to avoid over baking. Over baking may cause your pen to darken. Use an oven-proof baking dish lined with index cards. Do not exceed the temperature or baking time so you do not melt the pen. Do not handle the pen until it is completely cooled; then replace the ink cartridge. To push it in completely, press the ink tip into a layer of something soft and stand the pen up. Press the clay cover pen case down onto the ink cartridge.

The Pen Holder

1. Shape a piece of aluminum foil to resemble the shape of the pen holder in the photo.

2. Make a thin sheet (1/8") of either color of the clay. Cover the pen base with the clay.

3. Make a thin coil of clay in the other color. Flatten the coil into a ribbon and spell out the word DAD on the pen holder.

4. Push your cooled pen into the base, so it will fit in after the base is baked.

5. Bake the base at 275Degree F (130 Degrees C) for 10 minutes. Always check the accuracy of the oven by using an oven thermometer. Use a timer to avoid over baking. Over baking may cause your pen holder to darken. Use an oven-proof baking dish lined with index cards.