Sculpey Premo™ Purple Paisley Ornament Ball

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.

Remove the ornament hanger from the top of the ball and set aside for later use. Paint the ornament ball glossy black. Set the ornament on top of a metal cookie cutter while it dries. The cookie cutter offers a way to keep the wet paint up off of your work surface and leaves very few lines in the drying paint. Re-coat as necessary.

Please note that the paisleys will mostly be made flat on your work surface and then you will transfer them to the painted glass ball just before the details are added. Also note that after the large paisleys are applied, the ornament will be par-baked and baked again after the smaller details.

Place a piece of scrap paper in front of you. (If you create your paisleys on top of the paper then it will be easy to pick them up to transfer them to the ornament. Just pick up the paper and bend it slightly to remove the clay paisley.)

 

Create a flat tear drop from silver clay. Bend the tip over slightly. Make a thin rope from green clay and surround the tear drop. Trim the ends. With each rope make sure you follow the bend in the tip making the paisley shape. Repeat with a thin rope of silver clay.

Repeat with a thin rope of purple clay. After adding the purple rope, gently flatten the whole paisley with your fingers to make the ropes join each other and give the paisley a thin profile. You want your paisley to be not more than 1/8" thick.

 

Add a row of green balls to the outside rope. Place the balls almost sides touching and then flatten these so they touch each other and join with the purple rope. (After this detail, lift the paisley off the scrap paper and place it on the ornament ball. Use the palm of your hand to gently make the paisley form to the shape of the ball. The glossy paint will act as an adhesive between the clay and the ball. Now as you add the details with the Etch n Pearl, the pressure you use will also secure the clay to the ball.)

 

Add details with the small Etch n Pearl tool. Make little circles in the outer ring of green balls. Press in a row of circles in the inner silver ring. Make tiny balls of purple and set these in place in the middle with the Etch n Pearl tool. This is most easily done by forming tiny balls that are only slightly larger than the dome in the small Etch n Pearl. Use the dome of the Etch n Pearl to pick up one ball at a time and press into place on the paisley.

Use this method to make more paisleys in different color combinations and place them on the ornament ball.

After the large paisleys are on the ornament, balance the ornament on a small metal cookie cutter to bake it in the oven. Make sure the small cutter does not interfere with your clay designs. Bake for 10 minutes at 275 °F in a pre-heated oven.

Make small paisleys to fill in large gaps on the scrap paper. Make a flat green teardrop center. Surround with a purple rope. Flatten the rope and the teardrop together with your fingers. Add a row of Etch n Pearl details on the purple rope. Add a tiny rope of silver on top. Gently remove the paisley from the scrap paper and place on the par-baked ornament. Make more small paisleys using different color combinations to fill in all gaps. Add balls in clusters of silver clay to the smaller gaps using the large Etch n Pearl.

To bake, balance the ball on the cutter again, making sure the cutter only touches clay that has already been par-baked. Bake for 20 minutes at 275. After baking, replace the ornament hanger and add a ribbon.