Butterflies in Flight Wall Art

Design Team Member Leila Bidler recently shared this colorful Butterfly wall art made with Makin's Clay®.  Leila used a craft punch to cut butterflies from sheets of dry Makin's Clay®.  You can die cut sheets of dry Makin's Clay® too!

It's a Beautiful Day Calendar Page

Design Team Member Nancy Nickel recently shared this pretty calendar page embellished with tiny punched Makin's Clay® butterflies.  Thin sheets of dry Makin's Clay® are perfect for using with craft punches, die cutting machines, and more.  And, Makin's Clay® is acid free when dry so it's safe for scrapbooking and all types of paper crafts!

Butterfly Polymer Trading Coins

Butterfly Polymer Trading Coins by Bea Grob

Let's make some Artist Trading Coins from Makin's Clay®.  It is all the rage right now, the Artist Trading Coins, so I jumped on the band wagon and made my own version of Trading Coins.

Materials:

Makin's Clay® - Concord Blue, Olive, White 

Makin's Professional® Ultimate Clay Machine® 

2 1/4" Round circle cutter 

Script rubber stamp, butterfly rubber stamp 

Butterfly die and die cutting machine 

Embossing ink

Embossing powder (pink)

Makin's® Leaves Push Mold 

Kraft colored cardstock 

Tacky glue 

Faux rhinestones 

Instructions:

I started off with some Concord Blue Makin's Clay® which I ran through the Makin's Professional® Ultimate Clay Machine® on the setting #4.

I put the sheet on a tile and then added some script with a rubber stamp, by pressing it into the clay.

Next I used a 2 1/4” circle cutter to make some round shapes from the printed sheet.

Next, I ran some white clay starting at setting #1 and progressing through setting #9, the thinnest setting. Again I placed it onto a tile and then I dusted the whole sheet with some cornstarch.

 My next step was to add some stamping with embossing ink.

 Next I sprinkled some red embossing powder onto my butterflies.

And yes, you can heat set it with the heat gun. Just make sure that you aren't to close to the clay and that you move the heat gun around all the time. And a nice side effect it does try your clay at the same time, especially because we have the thinnest sheet possible.

Did you know that you can die cut Makin's Clay® when it is dry? As you can see here when you go thin you can use your die cut for making embellishments.

I also made some leaves with the leaves push mold. I simply pressed in some green clay, which I have previously mixed using some olive and white clay.

Next I sanded the blue base for the coins with a simple nailfile, just to make sure that I have a nice and smooth edge.

 

To jazz it up a bit I used some gold colored wax paste and rubbed it just on the top of the coin.

Now comes the fun part, putting all together. I had my coins made with craft colored cardstock (the size of those is 2.5 inch, which is the size a trading coin is usually) , my blue/gold circles from Makin's Clay®, my butterflies and my leaves. I have also grabbed some bling in form of rhinestones.

I used tacky glue to assemble everything together.

I hope you give them a try too, I think they are pretty cute. 

Until next time.

Bea

Altered Bottle Challenge - "Garnet & Wings"

Anita Buckowing has started a Facebook challenge group called BOTTLE UP! 2019.  If you'd like to join the fun, here's what the group is about: 

“Welcome to BOTTLED UP! 2019.

This is a themed project-based group that is open to all with the hope that all participants have fun and enjoy sharing their creations and maybe learn something too.

This Group was inspired by a post on MyModernMet.com that detailed a ceramic artist that created unique bottles for 100 days straight.  After discussion with a few friends, we decided to challenge participants to create a unique bottle every two weeks (total of 26 bottles in 2019).

Since some folks like themes to help provide direction to their creative energy, we decided to publish a schedule (each month has a birthstone color theme and every two weeks has a subject theme).”

While I am not sure I will be able to meet the challenge and keep up with creating a bottle every 2 weeks, I have challenged myself to create at least one a month!

It’s a fun way to think outside my normal “clay jewelry” box these days.  It’s also a great way to showcase not only my favorite glass etching products from etchall®, but to show and share with the group the broad range of applications of another of my favorite versatile products - Makin’s Clay®! 

For my first bottle I’m following the January themes of Garnet & Wings.  Here's how I created the delicate, dimensional butterfly accents for my altered bottle. 

Materials:

Glass bottle 

Makin’s Clay® - Red 

Makin’s Professional® Ultimate Clay Machine® 

Makin’s Professional® Cutting Mat 

Instructions:

Make a sheet of Red Makin’s Clay® by rolling through the Ultimate Clay Machine® beginning on setting #1, and increasing one setting at a time to setting #8. Let sheet dry overnight. Cut to as size that will fit through your die cutting machine. 

Following manufacturer instructions, cut desired number of butterflies from dried sheet of Makin’s Clay®. Makin’s Clay® remains flexible after drying and is lightweight, not brittle, etc. A great option for die cutting to add dimension to your projects. Use clay tool, or craft knife, to remain any unwanted pieces that remain after cutting. 

If you'd like more information on how I created the etched glass effect on the bottle, find those instructions here.  

Use Beacon Mixed-Media Glue to mount clay butterflies to the bottle where desired.  

If you have the desired color faux gemstones, apply as desired to make “flight trails” behind butterflies.   If you only have clear/silver gemstones, a great way to color them is with a touch of alcohol ink.  Non-adhesive faux gemstones can be substituted and adhered with the same Mixed-Media Glue.  

Add a bit of glow inside your bottle and highlight your etched butterfly details with a string of LED lights.  These lights from FloraCraft® can be turned off and on with a simple twist.  I used a touch of the Mixed-Media Glue to actually adhere the plastic battery case to the bottle top. 

Wrap organza ribbon around the rim of the bottle and up far enough to cover the light case.  Tie a bow and the bottle is complete! 

Floral Accessory Hanger

Hi everyone, Steph Ackerman here with a new project for Makin's Clay®.

With Spring finally in the air, I'm thinking of butterflies and flowers.  I found this floral hanger that I thought could be used to hold hats, head bands, hair bows or even jewelry.

Supplies:

Makin's Clay® - White, Red
Makin's ProfessionalⓇ 

• Ultimate Clay MachineⓇ
• Cutting Mat

Makin'sⓇ 

• Clay Roller and Cutters Set
• Clay Texture Sheet - Floral A-D
• Clay Tool Set

Beacon Adhesives - 3-in-1
Prima Metallic Paint
Mod Podge Mold
Floral Hanger

Instructions:

Paint the floral hanger with Prima metallic paint and put aside to dry.

Mix both red and white clays together until you achieve a nice marble effect.

Use the Ultimate Clay Machine® to create a nice thin layer of clay.  Start on setting #1 and move the settings until you get the thickness you desire.

I stopped at setting #5.  Look at that gorgeous sheet of clay!

Next, place the texture sheet over the clay and use the roller to impress the design into the clay.  The harder you press, the more detail is impressed into the clay.

Place the floral hanger over the clay and use the chisel to cut the clay to fit.

Because I was working with damp clay, there are no tears in the clay when cutting with the chisel.

Use Beacon Adhesives to adhere the clay to the hanger.  Allow to dry then use the chisel to cut a hole in the clay and reinsert the hanger.

Use a mold to create butterflies from the remaining red and white clays.

Add assorted flowers and buttons to the left side.  Then place butterflies on top of them for a 3 dimensional effect.  Since I had some extra butterflies, I added them along the right side.

Isn't it sweet?  Do you know a little princess who would love this in her room?

Thanks for stopping by.

Spring Butterflies & Flowers Wall Plaque

Design Team Member Steph Ackerman recently shared this cheerful springtime mixed-media wall plaque.  Steph used Makin's Clay® to create her dimensional butterfly accents.

Fairy Collage Frame

Fairy Collage Frame by Irit Shalom

Hello my dear crafty friends and welcome to my very last inspirational post as part of the Makin's Clay® Design Team  It's not a real tutorial, but just a kind of " how to make this project" with photo steps.

Product list:

Makin's Clay® - White and Natural
Makin's Professional® Cutting Mat
Makin'sR Roller & Cutter set
Beacon 3-in-1 Adhesive™
Assorted molds
Pentart Acrylic paints
Die Versions Die
$1 shop frame

Instructions:

As the first step I made those two Makin's Clay® hearts using  white Makin's Clay® rolled thin and die cut with Die Versions XL Heart die.  As you can see the die cutting was just partial, the intricate details are embossed onto the clay instead of cut from it.  The technique leaves you with fantastic elements for your projects. 

I used different molds  to  cast a variety of shapes using White and Natural clay. I let all the shapes dry 24 hours.

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I used Pentart Acrylic paints (some are metallic) to paint all dry clay shapes. Don't try to paint them perfectly, just add some color over the shapes and let them dry.

Next, I arranged the shapes over the clay hearts and make the collage of vintage shapes, fairies and butterflies.  Beacon 3-in-1 Adhesive holds the pieces together.  Arrange the whole collaged piece over the frame.

Butterflies in Blue Bottle

Design Team Member Lucy Reese recently shared this pretty altered bottle with Makin's Clay® accents.  Makin's Clay® is a perfect way to embellish any creative project!

Decorative Clock

Design Team Member Lucy Reese recently shared this creative clock embellished with Makin's Clay®.  What a great example of the broad range of applications of Makin's Clay®!

Butterflies & Bulbs Bottles of Hope

Butterflies & Bulbs Bottles of Hope by Steph Ackerman

Hi everyone, Steph Ackerman here today with some new Bottles of Hope to share.

Note - Here is a bit more information about what Bottles of Hope are - Makin's Clay® is proud to have our designers supporting this worthy effort through the creation of Bottles of Hope featuring Makin's Clay®.  

Bottles of Hope are small glass bottles covered with polymer clay and given to cancer patients. They symbolize a wish and a hope for health.  This project was started in 1999 by a Rhode Island cancer survivor and has spread internationally. Bottles are made by artists, students, survivors, seniors and many more who volunteer their time and love.   Learn more about this worthwhile project, see a gallery of many creative bottles and more here on their website. 

Supplies:

Makin's® Clay - Earth Tones, Yellow, White, Green, Red

Makin's®

• Roller and Cutters set
• Clay Tool set
• Clay Cutters - Stars, Suns, Butterflies
• Texture Sheets - Set H

Makin's Professional®

• Cutting Mat

Beacon Adhesives - 3-in-1 Adhesive
Sizzix® Dies & Big Shot™ Machine
Tattered Angels Glimmer Mists

Instructions:

I found these cute little light bulb bottles and knew they'd be perfect for the Bottles of Hope.  I wrapped them with white clay working the clay around the bottles and sealing the edges together.  Don't worry about the imperfections because those imperfections give the bottles character.  Use the mallet from the Tool Set to finish the edges around the light bulb.

I let the clay dry approximately 48 hours then added color with assorted Tattered Angels Glimmer Mists.

I wanted a base for each bottle, so I die cut hardened red clay using a Sizzix die (see my earlier post on how I prepared the clay).  I often die cut fresh clay, but I wanted to use clay I had already prepared.   I used Beacon Adhesives to adhere the die cuts to the base.

Next I selected an assortment of clay cutters.

Using the Roller, I rolled out yellow clay and the lightest color of clay in the Earth Tones collection.  Using one of the Texture sheets from Set H, I used the Roller to embed the design into the clay.

From the textured clay, I cut small butterflies.

Cut enough suns from yellow clay and enough stars from green clay to wrap around the bottles and adhere them with Beacon Adhesive.

Add butterflies randomly about the bottles.

And you now have some sweet bottles to give away to brighten the day of someone facing cancer.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Steph

Free Bird Mixed-Media Canvas by Lucy Reese

Design Team Member Lucy Reese recently shared this creative mixed-media canvas - she used Makin's Clay® to create her bird which she textured with Texture Sheets, and some of her flower accents which she made with our Floral push mold.