Sculpey Premo™ Glow Mushroom Terrarium

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:

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 metal, aluminum foil, an index card or the Sculpey® Clay Mat at 275°F (130 °C) for 30 minutes per 1/4" (6 mm) 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.

Marble 1/4 block of Green Premo with 1/4 block of White Gold Glitter. Set a few little pieces aside for Step 6. Roll the rest up into a ball.

Press the ball into the lid of the jar. Make the clay into a dome that is thicker in the middle and sitting flat on the bottom of the lid. I’m using a canning jar that has the separate seal inside the threaded ring. I’m working my little sculpture on the seal.

Add rocks to the clay mound and settle the rocks gently into the clay. Make sure the mouth of the jar will still fit over the rocks.

Stipple the green clay with the blunt point tool.

Add little pads of the green mix over the tops of the rocks to help seal them into place.

Stipple the green parts that you just added with the blunt point tool.

Roll little ropes of Glow clay in different lengths. These will be the stems of the mushrooms so make sure they are not too tall once the mushroom tops are added. Embed a toothpick in each one so that the toothpick extends out of the top a bit. Break or cut the toothpicks as necessary to fit the different heights of the stems.

Pinch the Glow clay up and over the tops of the toothpicks to completely enclose them into the clay stems. Smooth the seams with your fingertips.

Press the clay ends of the stems onto the rock garden as shown.

Add little bits of red clay to the rock garden. Score little lines into the pieces so they look like flowers. Add a center of Glow to each flower.

At this point you can bake the lid and the sculpture to set the stems so they are more sturdy. Then you can add the mushroom tops. When the piece is completely cool, add a red ball to the top of each toothpick to help support the mushroom top.

For the mushroom tops, start with a Glow center ball. Wrap a rope of Yellow around the Glow. Wrap a rope of Red around the Yellow. Flatten with either your fingertips or with the Acrylic Clay Roller. Carefully drag the blunt point tool or a toothpick starting in the center of the Glow and dragging it out through the Yellow and then the Red. Make one hat for each stem. Carefully pick up a mushroom top and drape it over the red ball at the top of a stem. Position the top so that it drapes like a whimsical mushroom.

Before the final curing, make sure the lid will fit over the mushrooms with their tops. Remove the lid and bake following the baking instructions for Premo.