Sculpey Soufflé™ Hair Clip

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.

The hair clip I am using is completely metal which makes it the perfect accessory for clay because the clip can go right into the oven. My clip has two frames - one on each side - which I will make templates for. The smaller rectangle is for the inside of the frame and the larger rectangle is for the frame size edge to edge.

Cut out one template of each.

Sheet the clay through the pasta machine on the thickest setting or the second thickest setting. Either setting will be strong enough since we are using Soufflé™ clay.

Burnish the silk screen to the clay, screen shiny side down. Use fingertips to help the screen stick to the clay and then you can lightly roll with the Acrylic Clay Roller to make sure no air is trapped between the clay and the screen.

Squirt a bead of paint across the top of the screen.

Use the squeegee to drag the paint at a 45-degree angle evenly across the clay.

Immediately remove the screen and place it in water to clean it. Clean and dry the screen as quickly as possible to preserve it for future use.

Allow the paint to dry on the clay sheet.

Lay the templates on the clay AFTER the paint is dry.

Cut out two of each shape using the Clay Blade.

The larger rectangle is going to sit inside the clip covering the frame edge to edge. Lay the clay on top of the frame with the clip open.

Carefully use a Needle Tool to mark the areas of the clay that will need to be trimmed in order for the clay to sit very flat on the frame.

Carefully remove the clay from the frame and remove (across the top) little bits of clay that will keep the clay sheet from sitting flat in the frame.

Carefully place the clay back inside the clip on the frame.
The little bits that I removed were where the claws come out from the frame.

Make marks where the hinge interferes with the clay.

Remove these little bits too using the Needle Tool.

Place the clay as flatly as possible back inside the frame lining up the hinge and the claws.

Carefully close the clip, with the clay on the back of the frame. This view is of the outside of the clip showing the back of the clay that is not screened.

Carefully place the smaller screened clay piece inside the frame edges attaching it to the clay piece that we just placed on the inside of the clip.

If at all possible, you will need to repeat all these steps to make another clay piece for the second side of the clip. Or you can bake this side on the metal frame and then make the second piece separately - its up to you.

When both pieces are made and baked, carefully remove them from the metal clip.

Trim any rough edges as needed with the Clay Blade.

Glue both pieces to the frames of the clip permanently with instant drying glue or silicone glue. Allow glue to dry completely before wearing the clip.