Translucent Snowflake Ornaments
Decorated with tinted TLS

Materials:

Forward:

These are very easy to make and you can use them for pins by adding a pinback, as a pendant, or as an ornament. If you use them as an ornament, pierce a hole for stringing metallic cord for hanging on the tree or in the window.

Instructions:

Mixing TLS Paints:

You may use small jars (single serving jelly jars or baby food jars) to mix your TLS colors.

Squeeze about 1 Tablespoon TLS into jar. Add about 1/16 teaspoon of powder or 1 drop of concentrated ink to the TLS. Stir with a wooden toothpick or skewer. You want the TLS "paint" to have some viscosity, but you don't want it too thick. If it appears too thick, you can add more TLS or a tiny drop of diluent to thin it down. TLS has a unique surface tension, it doesn't drip like acrylic paints; you need to "coax" it off the toothpick, and it recoils quickly into a ball.

Different effects are available with different additives. PearlEx metallic powders create gorgeous shiny paints that are opaque; the inks create gorgeous translucent paints.

Mixing Tinted Translucent Clays:

Take 1/4 block of Translucent Premo. Add a tiny ball of another color (purple, green pearl, blue pearl, alizarin crimson) and mix thoroughly. The color will be a lovely pastel with the translucency still intact.

Roll the clay over and over through the pasta machine until the color is even.

Roll it on a #4 (1/8" thickness) setting into a sheet

Cutting your snowflakes and painting:

Lay some clear plastic wrap over the clay before using the star cutters. Press down firmly. Remove the plastic wrap and gently remove the shapes. The plastic wrap creates a tension that "domes" the clay up and gives it a beveled appearance rather than a flat, cut look. This is a matter of preference.

Arrange the larger and the smaller star into a snowflake shape.

If desired, spread a thin layer of one of the colors of TLS paint over the smaller star. This helps the TLS droplets spread easier, but is NOT necessary.

Working on paper, add colored drops of TLS paint in a pattern of choice to the smaller star. Here we did a large drop in the center of the smaller star, then a drop in the middle of each star "leg", plus another contrasting drop towards the tip of the star "leg."

Take a straight pin or a pointed toothpick. Beginning in the center, draw the pin through all 3 colors of paint out to the tip of the leg. This spreads the paint out and gives it a marbled look.

Baking the Snowflakes:

After you have made all of your snowflakes, lay them on an index card which is then placed in a glass baking dish. Bake at 275 degrees F (130 degrees C) for 25 minutes in a calibrated oven, using an external thermometer.

(Note: After the first baking, you may want to attach another star on the back and "paint it as well." Polymer clays can be baked multiple times as long as you do not exceed the recommended temperatures!)

(Note: calibration means you have checked the temperature with an external thermometer and adjusted the dial up or down to reach a reliable temperature of 275 degrees F.)