Embossed Clay Cards

Hi everyone, Steph here wishing you a Happy New Year.   Today, I wanted to show you some cards I created using Makin'sⓇ Clay, clay tools, embossing folders, and inks.

Supplies:

Makin'sⓇ Clay - White, Red
Makin's ProfessionalⓇ Cutting Mat
Makin'sⓇ Clay Roller and Cutters Set
Makin'sⓇ Clay Ultimate Clay Machine
Beacon Adhesives - 3-in-1
Joy Clair and Penny Black stamps
Spellbinders Dies
Cuttlebug Embossing Folders
ImagineⓇ Inks
Ribbon
Cardstock


Did you know that you can emboss damp clay?  Clay can be easily embossed with an embossing folder while still damp and no special preparation of the embossing folder is necessary.  Embossed clay is perfect for creating backgrounds for cards as the clay adds very little weight to cards. 

For my Valentine's Day card, I started by mixing red and white clay. I blended them creating pink clay.

Once blended, I rolled the clay through the Ultimate Clay Machine® starting at the highest setting.  I repeated the process, moving the dial down a level and rolling the clay through the clay machine until I had the thickness of clay I wanted.  I ended on the 7th setting and had this lovely thin piece of clay.

I placed the clay in an embossing folder and used the cutter to cut away the excess clay.

And this is the embossed panel.  All the details are clearly visible in the damp clay.  I allowed the clay to dry 24 hours before continuing.



Using Beacon Adhesives, I adhered the embossed clay panel to black cardstock.  Then I wrapped red twine down the left side.  The panel was added to the card with foam adhesives to create dimension.  The sentiment was stamped on a white oval and placed atop a black die cut.

For my next two cards, I rolled white clay through the clay machine starting at setting 1, and moving the dial as noted above.  I also ended on the 7th setting.

I spritzed the panel with Fireworks Summer Sky spray ink, then placed it in a winter embossing folder.  

Again, I used the clay cutter to cut away the excess clay.  

With this method, the spray ink becomes embedded in the crevices as the panel is embossed.  I allowed the clay to dry 24 hours before continuing.

The panel was matted with black cardstock and wrapped with ribbon.  Using foam adhesives, the panel was added to the card.  Winter Wonderland was stamped, die cut then added to the card.

Finally for my Christmas card, I repeated the above process using the left over white clay from the winter card.

I placed the clay in a Christmas embossing folder and used the clay cutter to cut away the excess clay.

After embossing the clay, the details are amazing.

Next, I used assorted VersaMagic Chalk Inks to ink over the embossed clay.  I allowed the clay to dry 24 hours before continuing.

I matted the clay panel with red and black cardstock using Beacon Adhesives.  2 different ribbons were added around the panels which were then adhered to the card.

Remember that clay adds no weight to your creations, so these cards can be easily mailed with negligible or no additional cost.

Thanks for stopping by.

Blessings Canvas Panel

Blessings Canvas Panel by Steph Ackerman

Supplies:

Makin'sⓇ Clay - Persimmon, White, Green
Makin's ProfessionalⓇ 

• Ultimate Clay MachineⓇ
• Cutting Mat

Makin'sⓇ 

• Clay Push Mold - Leaves
• Clay Cutters - Ovals
• Clay Roller and Cutters Set

Beacon Adhesives - 3-in-1
Joy Clair stamps - Fall Leaves
Tattered Angels spray inks, paints
Memento Inks
Spellbinders dies
Raffia
Doily
Canvas Panel

Instructions:

Roll white clay in the clay machine on setting #1.  Reduce the setting on each pass until you have the
thickness you need for your project.

I wanted to add texture to a canvas panel, so I placed the clay on the canvas panel.  Then I used the roller to roll out the clay so it fit the panel.

Next, I scrunched the clay to give it some texture.

I carefully unfolded the clay and glued it to the canvas panel.  Once it dry, I cut off the excess which I put aside for another project.

Using assorted Tattered Angels spray inks, I added color to the background.   Once it dried, I inked over the textured background.

Using left over white and green clays, I created assorted sized leaves using the Leaves push mold.  To simulate the colors of all, I inked the leaves with a variety of colors.  Next, I poured on embossing powder and heat set quickly for a shiny effect.

Roll out light adobe clay and use oval clay cutters to cut 6 large ovals and 3 small ovals.  Adhere 3 pieces together to create each pumpkin.  While still wet, clay will adhere to clay.  But if you need to you can add adhesive. 

Add the larger pumpkins to the canvas then paint the bottom edges.  Add the small pumpkin on top of the larger ones.  Place die cut swirls behind the pumpkins and scatter the clay leaves.  Roll up some little scraps of clay to create the pumpkin stems then paint them brown.  Glue the stem behind the pumpkins.  

Stamp the phrase on white cardstock using green ink.  Die cut and add to pattern paper then place on top of a doily.  Adhere to the canvas.  

Glue raffia to the lower left corner surrounding the pumpkin.

Glue raffia to the top of the panel pulling the doily forward creating a 3 dimensional effect.

Are you ready for fall?

Thanks for stopping by.

Flowers & Angel Altered Bottle

Altered Bottle by Steph Ackerman

Hi everyone, Steph Ackerman here today with an altered bottle.  I picked up this bottle from my local dollar store knowing that it would be fun to alter.

Supplies:

Makin's® Clay - White

Makin's Professional® Cutting Mat

Beacon Adhesives - Tacky Glue

Prima Mold, Paints, Flowers

Rinea Foiled Papers

Spellbinders die

Instructions:

Condition white clay then wrap it around a glass bottle.  As you force the clay around the bottle, allow some texture to form - don't look for a smooth finish.  This adds some nice character to the finished project.  Allow to set before continuing.  Since I wasn't sure what I was going to do, I put it aside for about 2 weeks.  When I picked it up again, I had this fun dimension.                                                                                                      

I pulled out Prima acrylic paints and began by painting it with Red Gold.

Next, I painted over it with Gold paint.

 

Finally, I added some touches of Blue paint.  Then I used a baby wipe to remove some of the colors creating a patina effect.

I created the winged angel using white clay with a Prima mold.  After letting it dry for several hours, I painted it with Red Gold and Gold acrylic paints.  Then I used a baby wipe to blend in touches of Blue acrylic paint.

To finish, I adhered the angel to the bottle with Beacon Tacky Glue then surrounded it with flowers.

I dry painted some Red and Gold paints to give the flowers a touch of color.  Using Spellbinders dies, I die cut Rinea Foiled Paper and added some leaves around the flowers.

A little bird was created with white clay and then painted with Gold and Blue acrylic paints before adding it amongst the flowers.

Finally, I painted the stopper with Blue acrylic paint since I'm not yet sure what I'm putting in the bottle and I wanted it to be complete.

What do you think?

Thanks for stopping by.

Steph

Signs of Spring Cards

Springtime Greeting Cards by Steph Ackerman

Hi everyone, Steph Ackerman here today and we are still waiting for signs of Spring.  In order to remind us that Spring is on it's way, I created some cards.  Makin's Clay® is a great way to embellish paper crafts as it is lightweight, flexible and acid-free when dry.  It can be push molded, rubber stamped, and even die cut or cut with paper punches when rolled thin and allowed to dry.

Supplies:

Makin's Clay® - Red, White, Black, Earthtones Makin's® Push Molds - Gardening Tools, Florals Spellbinders dies                                       Clearsnap Ink                                                   Hero Arts Stamp                                              Beacon 3-in-1 Adhesive™

Makin's® has a wide variety of push molds that are quite detailed.  Once you remove your clay, those details are quite visible.   You can easily add your clay to the molds in specific areas, like I did to make these multi-colored gardening tools.  There are two ways to mold - simply push the clay into the mold, remove, and then trim around your shape.  Or, since the molds are flexible and you can see through them, it is easy to ensure that the clay stays within the shape itself while molding, therefore eliminating the need for trimming afterwards.  Simply flex the mold and you can remove the molded shapes while the clay is still fresh.  I kept the gardening tools in the colors I used to mold them, but decided to add color to the flowers with ink.

I love creating shaker cards and decided to use some small flowers in the shaker.  Behind the window I stamped a Spring Phrase then placed the flowers inside.

I stamped some stems and added the flowers, then placed the gardening tools in the corner.

For my next card, I repeatedly stamped the sentiment to create the background.

I die cut an oval for the center of the card then placed gardening tools and flowers on top.  I used Beacon 3-in-1 Adhesive™ to mount all the elements. 

Is it Spring yet?

Steph

Clay Roses

Hi everyone, Steph Ackerman here today with a bouquet of roses created with Makin's Clay®.

Supplies:

Makin's Clay® - White Yellow, Green
Makin's Professional®

• Cutting Mat
• Ultimate Clay Machine®

Makin's®

• Roller and Cutters set
• Clay Cutters - Round

Beacon Adhesives - 3-in-1 Adhesive
Spellbinders® leaf dies

Instructions:

Using the roller, I rolled out white clay on the cutting mat until I had the thickness I desired.

Then I used the medium sized round cutter to cut 6 white circles from the clay.

Next, I lined up each circle one at a time and pressed them firmly in place.  Fresh clay sticks to wet clay so no adhesive is necessary at this stage. 

I allowed the circles to set for a few minutes, then used a thin paint brush (you can use a straw or wood skewer)  to roll them up.  Gently push the piece off the paint brush and seal the edges together.

I thought this rose was a little too thick, so I took some more white clay and ran it through the clay machine.  I started at the highest setting and ran it through the Ultimate Clay Machine® until I had the thin layer I wanted.

To add some color to the clay, I spritzed on Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist and allowed it to dry.

I also painted additional white clay with Prima Gold Metallic Paint.

Once the paint was dry, I cut out circles with the round cutter.

I also wanted some leaves, so I mixed green, yellow and white clays then ran them through the clay machine until I had the thickness I wanted.

Using Spellbinders dies, I then die cut an assortment of leaves.  Fresh clay die cuts easily, but remember to use wax paper between the layers so the clay does not stick to the dies.

I wanted some shape to the leaves, so I placed them on pens and let them set over night.

I placed the roses on skewers and formed the petals.  Using Beacon 3-in-1 Adhesive, I adhered the leaves then let them sit overnight before proceeding further.

I arranged the roses in a watering can, pushing the skewers into styrofoam to hold them in place.  Next, I added shred around the roses.  These roses look extremely life-like and look amazing in the watering can.

It's almost Valentine's Day and this would be a wonderful gift for someone special.  But also think Mother's Day or a birthday as these roses will last forever.

Thanks for stopping by.

Steph