Cookie Cutter "Clayflakes"
(easy-to-make project!)
By Kris Richards

Materials:

• White Premo 1 package (will make 4-5 medium-sized flakes), OR 1 ounce white Sculpey III mixed with 1 ounce white Premo
• Pasta machine (Atlas was used in this project) OR clay roller, or smooth-sided drinking glass
• Set of snowflake cookie cutters (see end of project for where to buy)
• Smallest round Kemper Pattern cutter
• Ultra fine clear, white, or prismatic glitter
• Small soft clean artist’s brush to brush on glitter
• Oven set to bake reliably at 265 degrees F
• Baking parchment or clean white computer paper
• Glass baking pan dedicated to baking polymer clay
• Thin white satin ribbon or fishing line to hang ornament from tree

STEP 1. Roll the clay out to the thickest setting on the Atlas pasta machine- or about 1/8 inch thickness. Place the medium-sized snowflake cutter on the clay and press firmly downward to cut through the clay cleanly.

STEP 2. Remove the cut-out snowflake from the cutter.

STEP 3. Press the arrow-shaped pattern cutter pointy end outward into one of the “arms” of the snowflake. Keep the cut out clay arrow shape for a later step.

STEP 4. Repeat for all the “arms” of the snowflake-remember to save the cut-out pieces.

STEP 5. Place the cut out pieces back on top of the snowflake in between the “arms” as shown. Be sure they are all straight and almost meet in the center. Press to secure them tightly to the surface of the clay.

STEP 6. Use the smallest round Kemper Pattern Cutter to cut a hold in the top of one of the “arms” for a hanger or ribbon.

STEP 7. Use the soft brush to spread the glitter on top of the clay, distributing it evenly, and brushing off an extra glitter that doesn’t stick.

STEP 8. Flip the snowflake over, and brush the glitter evenly into the back of the clay.

STEP 9. Make as many more snowflakes as you can make, varying the patterns and cutouts. Use your other Kemper Pattern Cutters if you wish, too! Bake them all at once on a piece of baking parchment or white paper on a glass baking sheet dedicated to polymer clay at 265 degrees for thirty minutes. Cool and hang using your choice of a thin satin ribbon, or fishing line.

VARIATIONS:

• Try using Premo white pearl clay to make the snowflakes, don’t add glitter-these are gorgeous just left “plain”!
• Make red or green snowflakes! Try adding red or green glitter to them, they’re really beautiful.
• Premo gold snowflakes are simply fabulous, too!
• Find a snowflake rubber stamp, and impress stamp into the clay, then cut around it using an Exacto knife.
• Make “Skinner Blend” snowflakes using blue and white Premo-(or your choice of colors!)

WHERE TO FIND SNOWFLAKE COOKIE CUTTERS:

Method 1: Go to http://www.ebay.com
and type-in “snowflake cookie cutters” at the “search” area. I bought my set from the people there who also have a website named: The Cookie Cutter Shop.com, www.thecookiecuttershop.com their email address is: thecookiecuttershop@yahoo.comThey have a couple different snowflake cutter sets to choose from, and are wonderful people to deal with!

Method 2: If you wish NOT to purchase online, then you can find a 5-piece set (this is the set I used for this project) from Brylane Home Kitchen Catalog. The order number for this set is: 1 888-257-1851

The Brylane toll-free number is: 800-784-8001