Using Shapelets and Assorted Rubber Stamps

Materials:

• Premo! Sculpey clay in the following colors:
  • Pearl 5101
  • Green Pearl 5299
  • Blue Pearl 5289
  • Red Pearl 5259
• Premo! Sculpey Shapelet Classic template
• Sculpey Super Slicer flexible blade
• Pigment Inkpads in several, contrasting colors:
  (we recommend Tsukineko Brilliance, Tsukineko Fabrico, Ranger Antiquities, Stewart Superior Inkcredibles inkpads. These ink formulas are pigment inks and heat set during the baking process.)

• Assorted rubberstamps:
  here we used Hero Arts' Italian Poetry Background, and Laurel Burch's Global Spirit collection. (Note: The Laurel Burch stamps are a discontinued product, but a good number of open stock and boxed sets are still available through the distributor, lbcwholesale@gemsi.com. )

• Assorted findings: pinbacks, necklace bales, barrettes
• Handmade small journals featuring handmade papers (available at stationery, rubberstamp, and memory stores)
• Pasta machine or brayer to roll thin sheets of clay
• Excel or X-Acto pointed end cutting blade

Directions:

• Mix a purple shade of clay by mixing equal portions of red pearl and blue pearl. About 1/8 block of each is sufficient to make one or two medallions.
• Roll out a thin sheet (1/16") of pearl clay until smooth and pliable. Lay on a sheet of clean paper or parchment.

• Using a dark color ink, stamp with the script background stamp.

• Next, using another color of ink, stamp one of the masks. Your goal is to make a collage effect. There is no right or wrong way to do this, it is what pleases you.

• Now, with another color of ink, stamp another of the masks.

• Use one of the ink colors a second time and stamp the last of the masks.
• Using the rounded triangle shapelet from the Classic Set, hold it away from your collage and find the best portion to "frame" with the Shapelet.

• Lay the shapelet down on the stamped clay, and with the Excel knife, carefully trim out the shape. Pull the knife toward you at a slight angle away from the edge of the template. Turn the paper to make cutting the other sides easier.

• Pull away the excess clay. Now, you have a shape. You next want to place a "mat" around this using contrasting colors of clay.
• Roll thin sheets of both green pearl and the purple/grape combination.
• Carefully slide your flexible Super Slicer under your initial shape, using the blade like a spatula. Lay the trimmed clay shape down on either the purple or the green clay. It is your choice.
• Carefully holding both ends of the Super Slicer, curve the blade to match the edges of the trimmed clay, leaving a selvage of color. When you have the exact width you want, press down. Turn the paper and continue trimming.

• Again, carefully slide your Super Slicer under the shapes, and lay the bordered shape down on the third color. Trim again, leaving another band of color.

• You may want a fourth color, and this could be another layer of the initial pearl color. It is a matter of choice. You may want to stamp this final layer or texture it slightly. The more you practice, the more ideas will come to mind.

• Bake the shape in a calibrated oven set to an accurate 275 degrees F for 30 minutes per 1/4" of thickness.
• When cool, the shape may become a pin, a pendant, a hair barrette or an embellishment for a small book.