Autumn Clay Leaf Clock

Sandy Rollinger

Make this beautiful fall accent clock to decorate your home.

Getting Started

Preheat oven to 275 °F. Test temperature with oven thermometer for perfectly cured clay. Condition all clay by kneading until it’s soft and smooth or running it through the Clay Conditioning Machine for several passes on the widest setting. Fold the clay in half after each pass and insert the fold side into the rollers first.

Step 1

Condition clay. Run through pasta machine at widest setting. Lay clay on protective surface. Spritz large leaf stamp with water as a release. Press into clay leaving about five or six impressions. Use craft knife to cut out each leaf. Set aside. Repeat process using several types of leaf stamps.

Step 2

Trace perimeter of clock onto parchment paper using permanent marker. Place parchment paper onto baking sheet. On largest setting of Clay Conditioning Machine roll out strips of clay and place onto clock circle. Make strips about 1" wide. Overlap ends as you place them onto drawn circle. Use your craft knife to clean up edges.

Step 3

Space the largest leaves around the clay circle and gently press into place. Press on some medium and smaller leaves randomly around clay circle between the larger leaves. Place any remaining leaves on parchment paper and bake all at recommended temperature and time. Let cool before removing from oven.

Step 4

Paint clock edges black. Leave inside areas free of paint for later adhesion of leaf circle.

Step 5

Paint any part of clay circle showing using copper paint. Let dry.

Step 6

Use larger paint brush and dip into yellow paint. Gently touch end of leaf and let the paint run into the leaf in random fashion. Repeat process using orange, then red. Paint will run into veins of leaves. Practice on one leaf first to get the feel. Do not put too much paint at one time onto leaves as they will tend to muddy up. Always start with lightest color first. After they dry add a very small amount of green paint to a few leaves. Let all dry.

Step 7

Apply Glass, Metal, & More glue to back of clay leaf circle. Press onto clock and hold for a minute or two until glue sets up. Fill in any open spaces using small leaves and glue. Stand back and look at your clock to see if it appears balanced. Then glue extra leaves to make it balanced. Let dry overnight.

Step 8

Use a small brush and yellow or orange paint to touch up any white spots missed on leaves. Let dry, then apply glaze to leaves using the larger brush.