Autumn Leaves Headband

Autumn Leaves Headband by Cindi McGee

An outdated headband is given new life with autumn greenery enhanced with metallic powders.   Makin's Clay® is the perfect choice for these types of projects as it maintains it's flexibility after drying so there is less chance of breakage with regular wear. This headband was published as part of an article in the Fall 2018 issue of The Polymer Arts Magazine.  

Materials:

Makin’s Clay® - Brown 

Makin’s® Leaves Push Mold 

Makin’s® Christmas Nature Push Mold

CreateAlong.com Mica Powders - Copper, Gold, Golden Green

Brown mica powder 

Oak leaf silicone mold 

Fine paintbrushes

Jewelry pliers

Copper wire 

Faux leather headband 

Beacon 527 Adhesive™ 

Instructions:

Use brown Makin’s Clay® to mold acorn from Makin’s® Christmas Nature push mold, multiple leaves from Makin’s® Leaves push mold, and oak leaf from silicone mold.  (Tip:  Makin's Clay® works wonderfully with our flexible Makin's® Push Molds, but also with a variety of other types of molds.  Additionally, our push molds also work well with all types of clay, resin, fondant, gum paste, etc.) 

While clay is still fresh, use gold, copper, golden green and brown mica powders to enhance molded elements.  

Let elements begin to dry, but not fully dry - I allowed mine to set about 30 minutes.  (Goal is to have the clay firm enough so the element will not be distorted when arranging and mounting ot head band.)

I placed the headband around a cooking pot to hold it in place and make it easier to mount the pieces.  Arrange and mount your elements using Beacon 527 Adhesive.  

Let dry 24 hours. 

Use copper wire to add decorative wire accents around the leaves and acorn.

Create for Autumn with Makin's Clay®

There still time to create some amazing wearable art or home decor pieces for autumn!   Makin's Clay® has a clay color to match almost any fall palette, a Leaves push mold and a Christmas Nature push mold that has a great pine cone and acorn, and great Maple Leaf clay cutters too!

Here are just a few examples:

Earth Tones collection is available in a 120g package
These individual colors from the Earth Tones collection are available in 60g packages - Olive, Straw, Persimmon, Light Adobe, Adobe Brown,
Terra Cotta in 500g, 120g, and 60g
Brown in 120g and 60g

Autumn Leaf Baby

Autumn Leaf Baby by Patricia Krauchune

The leaves are starting to fall.  I was looking under one of my trees and there it was...an acorn baby wrapped in swaddling leaves. So come with me and I will show you how to make your own acorn baby.

Supply List:

Makin's Clay®: White/Grape Leaf/Merlot/Peach/Green	Pin Back
Beacon™ Tacky Glue, 527 Adhesive	Small plastic baby doll
Alumilite® Amazing Mold Putty	DecoArt® Americana® Triple Thick Gloss Glaze
DecoArt® Americana® Acrylic paint: Flesh/Yellow/Pink/Blue/Brown

Recommended Makin’s® Tools:

Makin's® Push Mold:Leaves/ Christmas Nature Mold

Makin's Professional® Cutting Mat

Instructions: 

Partially blend some Grape Leaf and Peach Makin's Clay® and push into the smaller leaf of the leaves push mold.

I then blended Merlot and Green clay and pushed into three of the larger leaves of the leaves push mold. I was not sure which leaves I would use, so I made three and decided later which ones I would use.

Mix equal parts of Sample A and Sample B of Amazing Mold Putty and mix until uniform in color. Form a ball and push over the face of a small plastic baby doll.  Let cure about 30 minutes then remove the face image from the silicone mold.

I pushed some White clay in the acorn figure which is part of the Christmas Nature push mold. Then using Beacon™ Tacky Glue I attached the face to the acorn figure. ( I trimmed the acorn cap to fit the size of the baby doll's head.)

I decided on the largest leaf,  turned it over and using Beacon™ 527 Adhesive, attached the pin back to the leaf back.  When the glue dried I covered the pin back with a small piece of leftover clay using the Tacky Glue to secure.

The baby's face was painted flesh color, yellow hair, blue eyes and pink lips...but hey, it's your baby to make up as you please.  The acorn cap was painted brown. When the paint is dry, glue your baby to leaf with Tacky Glue.

I then used a smaller leaf and covered the baby...babies do need to be kept warm.  The leaf was attached with the 527 Adhesive. You can leave the pin as is, but I coated it with Americana® Triple Thick Gloss Glaze.

  



Finito...make sure whenever you are under a tree to look for a leaf baby...they are only out in the Fall!