Premo Faux Succulents in a Bowl

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® Work ‘n Bake Clay 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 ¼" (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.

Condition a ¼ of a block of Original Gray Sculpey. Run it through the Clay Machine on the #1 setting. Use your bowl to cut out a circle. Press this circle down into the bowl about ½’ down. Poke a hole in the center to allow air to escape while baking. Go ahead and bake in the oven according to directions on the package. Allow to cool and set aside.

To make all the filler rocks that will go all around your succulents, roll a big long snake of clay that is approximately ¼ to ½” thick. Cut LOTS of little slightly different sized pieces and roll them into odd rock shaped balls. You may need to make 100+ of these depending on the size of your bowl. Bake these and allow to cool. Set aside.

Mix all four of your Premo! Colors with some Translucent clay. I used a 4 parts Translucent to one part colored clay. This will give your succulents a more realistic look.

Succulent #1. For your first succulent cut a small 2” piece of wire. Roll a snake of Burnt Umber approx.. ¼” by 3” long. Insert the small piece of wire right down the center of your snake leaving about ½” of wire sticking out at the bottom. Roll a nickle sized ball of Burnt Umber and press it down a bit but make sure it has some depth so you can stick the wire into it. Add a drop of Liquid Sculpey to the end of the wire and push the piece into the base.Roll a snake of Wasabi clay approx.. ½” thick and 4” long. Cut six or seven equal sized pieces and roll them into balls. Shape them into leaf shapes and make an indent in each leaf with the end of your paintbrush. Attach leaves in a random fashion going up the stem. Use a drop of Liquid Sculpey at the base of each leaf before attaching. Cluster a few leaves together at the top. Set onto your baking sheet.

Succulent #2. Roll a quarter sized ball of Alizarin Crimson and flatten to make a base to build your succulent on. Roll a snake of Alizarin Crimson approx.. ½” thick and 8” long. This succulent will have graduated sized leaves, the largest at the bottom and smaller towards the top. Roll balls to make the leaves, flatten and add points to the tips. Use the end of your paintbrush to make indentations in the leaves. There are 5 larger leaves on the bottom. Arrange these towards the outside of your round base so the leave extend beyond the base. Add 5 more slightly smaller leaves on top of those. Add these kind of in between the other leaves. And 5 more even smaller leaves on top of those in the same fashion building your succulent. Finish the succulent off with 3 smaller leaves, then two. Each time you add a layer of leaves press them down slightly with your paintbrush. Set onto your baking sheet.

Succulent #3. Roll a snake of Ecru clay about the same size as succulent #2. Build this succulent just like you did on Succulent #2 except reverse the leaves and makes these leave rounded instead of pointed at the ends. Follow the same pattern as for succulent #2.

Succulent #4. Roll quarter sized ball of Jungle mix and flatten for a base once again. Roll a long snake approx.. 1/4 “ thick and 10” long. Cut 11 or 12 varying sized pieces from your snake ranging from ½” long to 2” long. Round one end of each. Texture each piece using your 5 in 1 tool or a toothpick by randomly making indentations all over each piece. Now attach pieces to the base by pressing the taller pieces in the middle and then smaller ones outside of those. Set onto baking sheet.

Succulent #5. Roll a quarter sized ball of Jungle clay and press flat for a base. Roll 9 or 10 balls of Jungle clay varying in sizes from ½” to ¾”. Press the balls flat and shape into round chubby leaves. Press these onto the base with the larger of the leaves in the center and working the smaller ones out. Fan the leaves out a tiny bit. Set onto baking sheet.

Bake all succulents and allow to cool.

Lightly dry brush some White acrylic paint on the tips of all the succulents. Dry brushing is a technique where you do not add any water to the paint and leave very little paint on your brush. After you dip your brush in the paint sometimes it helps to blot some of the paint off the brush onto a paper towel to allow for very little paint to be on the brush. This just allows a light dusting of paint and really brings the succulents to life.Arrange your succulents in your bowl. When you are happy with the arrangement glue each one into place with some Super Glue. Once the glue is dry pour your clay rocks in to cover the bottom and all around your succulents. Enjoy!