Sculpey III Decorative Vase

Getting Started

Polymer clay may stain. CLAY MAY DAMAGE UNPROTECTED FURNITURE OR FINISHED SURFACES. DO NOT USE polymer clay on unprotected surfaces. We recommend working on wax paper, metal baking sheet, or disposable foil. Start with clean hands and work surface area. 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 15 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 Conditioning Machine for several passes on the widest setting. Fold the clay in half after each pass and insert the fold side into the rollers first.

Condition ½ block of each of the following colors: Acid Yellow, Granny Smith, Candy Pink, and White, and roll out a sheet on a medium thick setting on the Clay Conditioning Machine. To brighten the Turquoise add a small amount of Granny Smith to a ½ block of Turquoise, condition the two colors together until you have an even color, and roll out a sheet on the same medium thickness setting you rolled out the other colors. Cut off about 1/8 of the 8oz block of Black clay, condition it, and roll it out on a thin setting.Used the ½” diameter circle cutter to cut out as many circles as you can of each color and line them up into rows on your work surface.

Start stacking the circles of White, Acid Yellow, Granny Smith, Candy Pink, and Turquoise in a random order, but make sure to add a thin circle of Black between about 4 or 5 circles of the other colors. As you place each circle onto the stack press it down to avoid having air trapped between circles. Once you have a stack that is almost long enough to fill the barrel of the Clay Extruder stop adding circles. Lay the stack on its side on your work surface. Place one hand on each end of the stack and gently press together. This will help compress all of the circles of clay together so you have a stripped log. Gently roll the log on your work surface until it is just large enough around to fit into the barrel of the Clay Extruder.

Cut off another piece of Black clay from the large block, condition it, and form a log of clay that is about 5/16” in diameter by 8” long. Pick up one of the strands of extruded clay from Step 2 and use the Super Slicer blade to trim one end at an angle so you have a sharp point. Press the point against one end of your log of Black clay and begin wrapping it around the log. As you wrap the strand of extruded clay around the log make sure the strand is not only making solid contact with the log but also so that the coils are pressed against each other.

Insert the striped log into the barrel of the extruder, attach the disc with the ¼” diameter hole and extrude all of the clay out of the barrel. This project takes quite a bit of length of extruded clay so you will need to repeat Steps 1-3 and extrude several more strands of clay.

Once you have the length of the Black log completely wrapped in the extruded strand place one hand at each end of the log and press inward. Next gently roll the log so the coils flatten down to the log a little. Repeat the process of compressing the ends toward the middle and then rolling until you have the outside of the wrapped log as smooth as you can. The goal is to have as few ridges on the outside as possible.

Condition and roll out a sheet of Black clay through the # 4 setting of the Clay Conditioning Machine that is large enough to wrap around the outside of the log. Once you have the sheet of Black rolled out wrap it around the log of clay, trim away the excess, and blend the seam.

Repeat the process of wrapping coils of the extruded strands around the log you just created in Step 6. After you have the entire length of the log wrapped in coils of extruded strand repeat the process of compressing and rolling to smooth the outside of the cane. Condition and roll out another sheet of Black on a Medium setting that is big enough to wrap around the outside of the log. Once you have the sheet of Black rolled out wrap it around the log of clay, trim away the excess, and blend the seam. Give the cane one final compression and roll to smooth it out and to try to press out any remaining air. The log of clay should now be close to 1” in diameter, 1-1/16” at the most. Use the Super Slicer to cleanly trim a little off one end of the cane. You can now see the pattern created.

To shape the cane into a square do the following: gently roll the top length of the log with the Acrylic Roller, turn the log over and roll the length of it, turn it ¼ of the way around and roll again, next turn it so the remaining rounded portion is facing up and roll that flat. Repeat this process by rolling along the length, ¼ turning the log, rolling again, and so on until you have a nice square. If need be you can use your fingers to gently pinch the corners so you have a nice crisp square shape.

Condition and roll out more Black clay on a thin setting and cut out four pieces of clay that are about 5-1/4” x 4-1/4”. Place one of the pieces of clay in front of you on your work surface. Use the Super Slicer blade to start cutting slices off of the cane that are about 1/16” thick. Place the slices on the sheet of clay so they are butted up against each other in straight rows until you have 4 rows of 5 squares. Once you have the cane slices laid out on the sheet of clay use the Acrylic Roller to gently roll the slices onto the sheet so they are making solid contact. Use the Super Slicer to trim the extra sheet of Black away from the edges of the can slices and set the piece to the side. Repeat this process with the remaining three sheets of Black.

Condition Black clay and roll out a large sheet on the next to thinnest setting of the clay conditioning machine. You will need enough to cut out 4 pieces that are 4” wide by 8” long. Place one of the cut pieces of clay on top of a piece of Plain Copier Paper. Measure 1-1/2” up from one of the 4” wide edges, pick up one of the pieces covered in clay slices you made in Step 9 and place one of the edges that has four cane slices across at the 1-1/2” spot. The cane slice sheet should be the same width as the 4” x 8” piece and when centered top to bottom you should have 1-1/2” of Black off of each edge of the cane slice sheet. If the cane slice sheet hangs over a little side to side you can flip the assembly over and trim away the excess from the backside.

Once you have the first cane slice sheet in place you can use it as a guide to line up the rest. Lay out the remaining 4” x 8” sheets of Black clay so they are side by side and use the first piece as a guide on where to position the cane slice sheet top to bottom. Continue from one piece to the next until you have all four cane slice sheets in place on the 4” x 8” Black pieces. Bake according to the instructions above. While still hot out of the oven place pieces of copy paper on top and stack some magazines or a heavy sheet pan on top, this helps to keep flat.

Scatter a few drops of super glue onto the back of each of the piece you just baked and place them onto the sides of the vase so they are centered on the sides of the vase. Once they are all in place you will notice a small gap at each corner, that gap will be filled in a later step. Let the glue set so the sides are firmly adhered to the glass vase. While the glue is setting condition and roll out a sheet of Black clay on a medium setting. Cut 8 pcs that are a little larger than 4” x 2”. Pick one side of the vase and rub a thin layer of Bake N’ Bond on the section of Black clay that extends past the bottom of the cane slice piece. Position one of the 2” x 4” pieces of black clay so that the 4” wide side is butted up against the edge of the cane slice section. Use the Scotch-Brite pad to lightly texture the clay and use the Super Slicer to trim the excess away from the edges. Repeat this process with the tops and bottoms on all sides of the vase. Once you have all 8 pieces of in place, textured, and trimmed bake the assembly for 20 minutes and let cool completely.

Fill the barrel of the clay extruder with conditioned Black clay, insert the disc with the 1/8” circle and extrude one long strand. You will need 4 pcs of extruded length that are a little over 8” long so you might have to reload the barrel and extrude more clay. Once you have your strands extruded rub a thin layer of Bake N’ Bond into the gaps on the 4 corners on the vase and lay a strand of the Black clay into the gap. Use the Scotch-Brite pad to add texture while applying just enough pressure to get the stand of clay pushed a little ways into the gap so it makes good contact with the edge of the clay pieces on the sides. Once you have the strands in place and textured trim the excess away from the top and bottom. Bake the assembly for 20 minutes and let cool completely.