Sculpey Soufflé™ Mushroom Jewelry Holder

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 (also called Curing):

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 as metal, aluminum foil, an index card or the Sculpey® Oven Safe Work Mat at 275°F (130 °C) for 30 minutes per ¼" (6
mm) of 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.

Start by making a base for the mushroom to sit on. Roll the entire Cobalt Blue bar into a big smooth ball.

Roll thin strings of Almond Rose and apply them to the outside of the ball. Thin strings will yield thin veins in the marbling. Thicker strings will make the marbling look more mottled.

Roll the ball to make the strings flat on the surface of the ball.

Roll the ball into a thick log.

Coil the log.

Roll into a ball again. If you prefer thinner stripes, you can repeat Steps 5-7 until the stripes look as desired.

Flatten the ball into a thick patty with the Clay Roller.
Flatten to a 3” diameter. The base will be about 3/8” thick.

Next, we will work on the mushroom stalk. From 1/2 bar Ivory make a tapered cone 3-1/4” tall.

Position the base on your baking sheet. In this case I’m using a very flat ceramic plate. Stick the base down to the baking surface so that it does not move. This will help anchor the mushroom - which will be top heavy - to the baking surface.

If you are using a round toothpick, trim one end flat with wire cutters. Stand the flat end of the toothpick up in the center of the Cobalt Blue base. Slide the stalk down over the toothpick. Flatten the stalk base to the blue base as shown. It’s okay if the tip of the toothpick protrudes from the top of the stalk a bit. The cap will cover the top of the stalk.

Make the mushroom cap. Use an entire bar of Spiced Rum and create a 3" diameter shallow dome.

Add French Pink spots to the cap.

When making mushrooms, I like the spots on the cap to be very organic in shape and not organized. I do this by pinching small bits of the color directly from the bar between my thumb and forefinger. I flatten them by further pinching, and then press directly to
the cap.

Smooth the spots to the cap with fingertips or even use the Clay Roller with light pressure.

Flip the cap over and use the 12 mm Ball Tool to make a large divot in the center of the cap.

Use the 2 mm Ball Tool to poke holes all around the rim about 1/4” spaced. This will hold dangle earrings from the edge of the cap. Make sure the holes are nice and neat from both sides of the cap.

Carefully place the divot on the underside of the cap directly onto the top of the stalk. Hand form a little shape to the top of the cap if you like. Use hand pressure to make sure the cap is secure to the stalk.

Bake/cure following the baking instructions for Sculpey® Soufflé™ in Step 1 above.
Allow to cool completely before handling.