Sculpey Premo™ Pickleball Box

Getting Started:

Please make sure your work area is covered and you are not working on an unprotected surface. We recommend working on the Sculpey® Oven Safe Work Mat, wax paper, metal baking sheet, or disposable foil. Uncured clay may damage unprotected furniture or finished surfaces. Be sure to cover your crafting area
appropriately.

Start with clean hands, unwrap and knead clay until soft and smooth, or condition by running clay though a Pasta Machine. We recommend using a designated machine for clay purposes only. When working with multiple colors, clean hands with soap and water or baby wipes (we have found that baby wipes work best) before switching colors. Shape clay, pressing pieces firmly together.  Wash hands after use.

Baking (also called Curing):

Begin by preheating oven to 275 °F (130 °C). After you are done creating; for best results bake clay on an oven-proof surface such as metal, aluminum foil, an index card or the Sculpey® Oven Safe Work Mat at 275°F (130 °C) for 30 minutes per ¼" (6 mm) of thickness according to package directions. Oven safe glass or ceramic surfaces are also acceptable for baking; however please note that the baking times may take longer as the glass or ceramic surfaces take longer to heat up. For best baking results, use an oven thermometer. DO NOT USE MICROWAVE OVEN. DO NOT EXCEED THE ABOVE TEMPERATURE OR RECOMMENDED BAKING TIME

Sheet the entire bar of Purple through the pasta machine on the thickest setting.
Make a sheet that is large enough to accommodate the pickleball paddle cutter.

Cut out the shape of the pickleball paddle from Purple.

Sheet 1/4 bar Raw Sienna through the pasta machine on the thickest setting. Cut out
six of the handle shapes.

Pile the handle shapes up on top of the handle area of the Purple pickleball paddle.
Smooth the seams in between each layer with fingertips.

Make a thick snake with the balance of the scraps of Purple.

Roll the rope flat with the Acrylic Clay roller. The flattened rope should be a little
wider than the height of the paddleball. This will serve as the sides of the box.

Use a Clay Blade to remove one of the rolled edges of the rope creating a flat side.

Position the flattened rope along the edges of the pickleball paddle starting and ending
at the handle.

Trim the ends to fit snugly against the handle.

Join the sides of the handle to the sides of the box with small strips of Raw Sienna as
shown.

Use the back of a Clay Blade to add details to the handle as shown.

Bake the box following the directions in Step 1 above. Allow to cool completely
before handling.

Roll 3/4 bar Lavender into a thick rope. Use the remainder of the Purple scraps to make
strings and press them to the sides of the Lavender.

Add more strings of Purple going around the Lavender rope.

Twist the rope.

Roll the twisted rope up into a coil.

Roll the coil into a ball.

Roll the ball into a rope again.

Coil again and roll into a ball again.

Sheet the marbled clay.

Cut out just the paddle portion. Use the handle cutter to gauge how much of the handle
can be omitted from the paddle shape.

Lay a strip of the Raw Sienna across the bottom of the paddle.

Make a 1” ball from Fluorescent Yellow. Slice the ball into half to form a dome. Place
the dome in the lower right area of the paddle. Use the 2 mm Ball Tool to poke
in deep holes.

Roll a rope of Bright Green Pearl 1/4” thick. Cut 3/4” lengths and shape into pickle
shapes.

Position the pickles on the paddle.

Add tiny dots of Spanish Olive to the pickles.

Bake the paddle following the baking instructions for Sculpey Premo™. Allow to cool
completely before handling.

After baking, add a slab of the scrap marbled clay to the back side of the lid. Use
hand pressure to make sure it attaches to the back of the lid.

Make sure the lid fits well on the box. Adjust as needed. Bake the lid on top of the
box again following the baking instructions for Sculpey Premo™. Allow to cool
completely before handling.