School Days Frame by Madeline Arendt

 School Days Frame 

Designed By Madeline Arendt

With the new school year about to begin here is a "Makin's®" way to display a favorite student.  This was my very first attempt at using the Makin's® Professional® Ultimate Clay Extruder®.

Materials:

Makin's  Clay®

     - Ultimate Clay Extruder™

     - Shape Discs - large round, large flat ribbon

     - Clay - black, white, red, greens (2)

     - Push Molds - fruit, floral

     - Cutting Mat

     - Blade Knife Tool

Beacon Tacky Glue

Blank Wooden Frame (no back)

Deflecto Acrylic Frame

Acrylic Paint - gray

Perfect Pearl Powder - Forever Green, Forever Red

Brushes

Pencils

Toothpick

Brown Paint or Ink

Instructions:

1. Form a roll of white Makin's Clay® to insert into the extruder tool.  Fill the tube.
2. Using the large flat ribbon disc, extrude the clay to form a long ribbon shape onto the cutting mat.
3. Form another roll of white clay and repeat the same process using the large round disc, forming a long tube.
4. Clean tube of any clay before proceeding.
5. Repeat the same steps using the black clay to form the long black ribbon and tube shapes.
6. Straighten the extruded pieces on the cutting mat.
7. Use the floral push mold and make two apple shapes with red clay.  Press one end of a toothpick into the top of the apple for a stem and trim off.  Use the other end of the toothpick for the second apple.
8. Mix two shades of green clay and use in floral push mold to make four leaves.
9. Allow all clay pieces to dry overnight.
10. Paint the wooden blank frame with gray acrylic paint.  Let dry. 
11. Trim any excess clay from edges of the molded pieces if necessary with the knife.
12. Brush the leaves with a small amount of Forever Green powder.  Brush the apple shapes with Forever Red powder.
13. Lay the white and black flat ribbon shapes side by side on the cutting mat.  Cut them into small squares with the blade knife.  
14. Reverse every other square to alternate the colors.  NOTE: The strip should look have a checkerboard effect. Refer to the photo.
15. Position the squares onto to frame on each of the four sides.  NOTE: Center them.  Right and left sides, approximately 13 small square strips, top and bottom, approximately nine small squares. Glue them into place.
16. Place the black and white tube shapes on the sides of the small squares on each side.  NOTE: Begin with the top and bottom strips.  For the right and left sides, place the tubes to meet the edge of the top and bottom.  Refer to the photo.  Glue all the tubes in place.  
17. Paint the toothpick stems of the apples brown.  Glue the leaves onto the apples.  Glue the apples onto the frame at two corners. 
18. Cut two pencils short and sharpen them.  Glue onto the opposite corners of the frame.
19. Glue the completed wood frame onto the acrylic frame.  Add photo.

PERSONAL COMMENT:

          Using the extruder tool for the first time was definitely easier than I had thought.  I will be taking each of the discs that come with the tool and making myself a sample board with the shapes from each.  I think this will give me a better idea of how the tool works and inspiration for future projects.