Creative Paperclay DT Tryout

Hello everyone, and welcome to my blog.  Today, I am trying out for the Creative Paperclay design team.  Creative Paperclay® is a non-toxic modeling material that can be sculpted, molded or shaped, and air dries (no baking!) to a hard finish that can be carved or sanded.

The idea for my project was inspired by Terri Sproul's weekly live show, Mix It Up With Terri Sproul, at http://www.linqto.com/rooms/terrisproul, where she teaches new techniques each week.  She is teaching us about the basics of Zentangle, and we are all encouraged to play along and try this fun art form in our own art journals.  I have tons of mixed media type paper pads, so I decided to make my own art journal. But, I needed a special embellishment for the cover. Hmmmm......   what to do, what to do?

I did not want the whole cover done in Zentangle, but instead, I wanted something representative of Zentangle.  Then I got this wonderful idea to make a focal piece for the cover using Creative Paperclay.  I am so excited to share this with you.  I call this my faux zentangle technique.

How perfect is this for the cover of my book of Zentangle patterns?

1.  Using the plastic packaging from a 7Gypsies embellishment package as a mold, I pressed Paperclay into the largest opening.

2.  Remove the Paperclay from the package and trim with a craft knife.

3.  Make tiny tick marks around the circumference using a toothpick or skewer.

4.  Remove the ink cartridge from a ballpoint pen and use the empty tip to make circular indentations just inside the tick marks previously made.

5.  Make more textures, as shown, using various metal texture tools.  (Note:  Cake making tools, as well as clay tools, also work well for this.  Let your imagination lead you.)  Allow Paperclay to dry.

6.  Spray piece with Glimmer Mist colors.  You can speed up the drying time with your heat gun.

7.  I am crazy for weathered copper.  I love the greenish blue patina color that develops on the metal.  That is the look I was going for.  I achieved these colors by lightly applying Copper gilder's paste with my finger, just highlighting the high spots.  Next, I used a water brush to apply Black Soot distress stain, then dry brushing Tarnished Brass distress stain over the top.  There is no real recipe.  Just play with the colors until you like it.

Voila!  My focal image is finished.

Now, I need a book to adhere it to.

8.  To make the book, I cut two pieces of heavy duty chipboard to measure 8-1/4" x 8-1/4".

9.  Cover both sides of each piece of chipboard with printed papers.  Distress edges with Aged Mahogany distress stain.

10.  Cut drawing paper to 8" x 8".  Cut as many pieces as you want for your book.

11.  Follow the directions on your binding tool to punch holes in the chipboard and pages to bind your book.

12.  Die cut pearl gold specialty paper using lacy oval die.

13.  Adhere oval to center of book cover.  Center and adhere Paperclay focal piece to the center of the oval.  I added a light coat of 3D Crystal Lacquer to the top of the piece, which gives it this nice shine and a deeper color.

14.  Add trims, flowers, leaves, and gem flourishes to embellish the cover as desired.

Supplies Used:

Creative Paperclay air dry clay
Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist (Dragonfly, Mistletoe, Crushed Shells)
12x12 Printed Scrapbook Paper (My Mind's Eye)
MercArt metal embossing tools (clay or cake making tools can be used)
Empty ball point pen
Toothpick or wooden skewer
Copper Gilder's Paste (Baroque Art)
Distress Stain (Black Soot, Tarnished Brass, Aged Mahogany)
Water brush (or paint small brush)
Lacy Oval die (Spellbinders)
3D Crystal Lacquer (Sakura)
Chipboard
80 lb Drawing Paper (Strathmore)
Binding Tool (WRMK Cinch)
Red O-Wires (WRMK)
Alphabet stickers (Prima)
Various trims, flowers, leaves, and gem flourishes from Prima, Paper Studio, Michaels

I hope you have enjoyed my faux zentangle technique using Creative Paperclay.  This is such a fun product and so easy to use.  There are so many wonderful things you can make with it, and you are only limited by your imagination.

Thanks for stopping by, and remember to come back tomorrow, April 12,  for The Daisy Days blog hop, sponsored by The Robin's Nest.  Each blog will be giving away a Daisy Package worth $15, and there will also be one grand prize worth $25 from The Robin's Nest online store.

Have a wonderful, creative week!

Barbara