Project designed by Donna Kato. Materials:
FimoSoft - white #0, transparent #01, and choice of other transparent
FimoSoft colors
Nublade clay blade
gold or silver leaf - composition or real
pasta machine
Steps:
Mokume Gane Slab
- Loosely mix transparent with a bit of colored transparent. Roll through pasta machine on thinnest setting. Trim the edges neatly. Carefully lay sheets of leaf on the clay sheet, covering one side.
- Cut the sheet in half and stack one atop the other. Repeat two more times.
- Press items into the top of the slab. Tightly texture the leafed surface if desired.
- Cut thin slices from the top slab using the Nublade clay knife.
Simple Stained-Glass Cane
- This cane is composed of three transparent bull's-eye canes. Begin by rolling thick cylinder of transparent colored FimoSoft. Wrap each of the cylinders with a thin sheet of white FimoSoft ,then a thin sheet of black. The white acts a barrier to keep the colors clear.
- Reduce the three bull's-eye canes to a length of 10". Trim the ends, then cut each reduced cane into five equal pieces approximately 2" long. Select the center color. Wrap around with five other colored cylinders. Press five more pieces around, placing them in the indented areas of the other cylinders.
- Once the cane is arranged, compress using hands. Finish by reducing to desired size.
Simple Transparent Striped Cane
- Loosely mix transparent Fimo with a transparent Fimo colored clay.
- Roll through the widest setting of the pasta machine.
- Lay a thin sheet of white Fimo on top. Cut in half and stack one atop the other, then roll through the pasta machine again.
- Cut in half and stack two more times to make a thick slab. Trim all edges.
Simple Transparent Windowpane Cane
- Roll a large cylinder of transparent color FimoSoft. Wrap with a thin sheet of white, then a thin sheet of black.
- Reduce the cane to a length of 24". Cut into 12 equal-length pieces. Lay four pieces side by side on work surface to form row 1. Place four pieces atop the first four pieces to form row 2. Continue stacking to form rows 3 and 4.
- Roll all sides with a brayer to remove air pockets and square up the cane.
New Improved Jellyroll
- Roll a sheet of transparent and a sheet of white.
- Place one sheet atop the other and trim edges.
- Roll through the pasta machine on the #1 setting, then the #4 setting.
- Fold the sheet in half. Roll up tightly from the fold. Trim the ends.
Assembly
- Roll a ball of white FimoSoft.
- Cut thin slices from the transparent canes and lay on the surface of the base bead. Continue layering the transparent cane slices until the bead is covered.
- Press slices from the mokume gane slab onto the bead, then roll to smooth.
- Using a skewer or needle tool, "drill" a hole in the bead.
- Bake bead for 20 minutes in a 265-degree oven.
- To achieve a high-gloss finish, wet, sand and polish the bead. Begin with a 400 grit paper, then 600 grit. Use wet/dry sandpaper and sand under water. Finish by buffing on an electric buffing wheel for a high sheen. For dull sheen, rub in a circular motion on denim fabric.
Tips:
- Cover area with a slice from the transparent white jellyroll to reduce color intensity.
- Roll the bead against the work surface instead of in hands to reduce line distortion in the canes.
- Cut pieces instead of slices if desired.
RESOURCES :
Fimo polymer clay - AMACO
American Art Clay Co. Inc. (AMACO)
Website: www.amaco.com
GUESTS :
Donna Kato
Artist and owner of Prairie Craft Company
Florissant, CO
Website: www.prairiecraft.com
| ALSO IN THIS EPISODE: | | Easy Polymer Clay Beads | | Ghost Beads |
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