premo! Ornate Paper Clip Box

Getting Started
Do not use unbaked clay on unprotected furniture or finished surfaces. Start with clean hands and work surface area. Good work surfaces include wax paper, metal baking sheet, or disposable foil. Knead clay until soft and smooth. For best results, clean your hands in between colors. Shape clay, pressing pieces together firmly. Bake on oven-proof glass or metal surface at 275°F (130°C) for 30 minutes per ¼" (6 mm) thickness. For best baking results, use an oven thermometer. DO NOT USE MICROWAVE OVEN. DO NOT EXCEED THE ABOVE TEMPERATURE OR RECOMMENDED BAKING TIME. Wash hands after use. Baking should be completed by an adult. Begin by preheating oven to 275°F (130 °C). Test temperature with oven thermometer for perfectly cured clay. For best results, condition all clay by running it through the clay dedicated pasta machine several passes on the widest setting. Fold the clay in half after each pass and insert the fold side into the rollers first.

To mark the center of the lid use the ruler and pencil to draw lines that run from one point to the point directly opposite; the center of the lid will be indicated by where all of the lines intersect. Position the tip of the Needle Tool where the lines intersect and poke a hole all of the way through. Use the largest of the Etch N’ Pearl tools to expand the hole, you want the hole large enough so that the stem on the drawer pull easily slides through the hole. Place the lid back onto the box. Use the pencil to draw a line around the bottom of the box using the bottom edge of the lid as a guide. This mark will be used as a guide later when you put the clay on the sides.

Condition and roll out a sheet of Peacock Pearl on the thickest setting on the Clay Conditioning Machine; the sheet needs to be large enough to cover the lid of the box with an extra inch all of the way around. Use the 3/16” circle cutter to cut out a circle in the middle of the sheet of clay. Rub a thin layer of Bake N’ Bond on the lid, lift the sheet of clay and position it so the hole in the lid and the hole in the sheet of clay are lined up. Use the Scotch-Brite pad to texture the clay and then use the Super Slicer blade to trim the excess clay from the edges. Run some more Peacock Pearl through the Clay Conditioning Machine but on a medium/thin setting; the sheet needs to be large enough to cover the bottom of the box. Turn the box over and rub a thin layer of Bake N’ Bond onto the box. Lay the sheet of clay onto the bottom of the box, use the Scotch-Brite pad to texture the clay and then use the Super Slicer blade to trim the excess clay away from the edges.

Note: The video project uses a mixture of equal parts Copper and Bronze clays for this step.

Condition equal parts Silver and Pearl together and roll out a sheet of clay on the thickest setting of the Clay Conditioning Machine. Use the 1" circle cutter from the Graduated Metal Cutter set to cut out a circle. Use the 3/16” circle cutter to cut a small circle out of the middle and position it on the lid of the box so that the hole in the lid and the hole in the circle of clay line up. Dip the Needle Tool into the jar of Apple Green Pearl Ex Powder and tap off the excess. Gently press the edge of the needle tool into the circle of clay with the point facing towards the hole. Continue this process until you have 8 lines that are equally spaced, like slices of a pie. Condition some Bright Green Pearl clay and roll out a sheet on the thickest setting of the Clay Conditioning Machine. Cut it in half and stack the two halves. Use the 1/2” cutter to cut out a circle and then the 3/16” circle cutter to cut a hole in the middle. Position the 5/8” circle onto the lid so the hole in the lid and the hole in the circle of clay line up. Bake the lid and the bottom of the box for 40 minutes and let cool completely.