Sculpey Premo™ Steampunk Trunk

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.

Lightly condition each block of black clay by rolling through the clay conditioning machine on the widest setting (#1). Then set the machine on a very thin setting (#7) and roll the clay through the machine. You want those uneven torn edges!!! Create about 4 sheets approximately 5” x 9”.

Spread the Pearl Ex colors onto the surface of the clay using your fingertips, blending the colors like you would finger paint. Try to keep the areas of color random sizes – of course if you are using this technique on a smaller box, the areas of color would be smaller. Using many similar colors adds more richness to the overall product when you layer colors like this.

Add a layer of Oven Bake Clay Adhesive onto the box, this helps the clay adhere to the wood.

Now the easy part: tear off pieces of clay and layer them onto the area covered in Bake & Bond, overlapping each section. Cover the entire box in this method. Don’t worry about fingerprints or marks because the next step will take care of that. You may cover the lid overlapping onto the sides and then use the Super Slicer to carefully cut the clay starting from the latch so that the lid will open. If you accidentally make a bad cut – it’s just more texture.

Find anything you think is interesting to distress the unbaked clay and texture it! A Clay Conditioning Machine clamp is being used in this photo. You may also use rough sandpaper, texture sheets – ANYTHING that yields a rough, random texture. Rough sandpaper is always a favorite.

Press your assorted brads and tacks into the clay, using a small dot of Oven Bake Clay Adhesive to help hold the pieces.

You may add all sorts of things to the surface: keys, watch parts, gears, pieces of chain, etc.

Bake for 30 minutes at 275 °F.