Decorative Heart Box

Decorative Heart Box by Nancy Nickel

Design Team Member Nancy Nickel shares a great example of how dry, textured sheets of Makin's Clay® can be used to embellish home decor pieces. Dry, textured sheets of Makin's Clay® can also be die cut or cut with a craft punch when very thin. Texture any scrap from leftover projects and save it for future projects...

Materials Used:

Makin’s Clay® - White
Makin’s® Clay Roller
Makin’s® Texture Sheet – Set C 38003
Wooden Heart Trinket Box
Acrylic Paint
Ribbon Trim
Tacky Glue

Instructions:

Roll white clay out using roller. Lay texture sheet on top. Use roller on top of texture sheet. Remove texture sheet. Let clay air dry over night. 

Choose the wooden box you want to use. Then decide which texture you want for the top. Place the box upside down on the wrong side of the clay piece. Trace around using a pencil.  

Cut out the shape using scissors. Glue clay shape to the top of wood box using tacky glue. Put a heavy book on it to adhere it flat. Allow to dry. 

 

Use acrylic paint, in color of choice, to paint wooden box and textured clay top. I chose for some of the white clay color to show through, and did just a light brushing of paint on the top.

Paint a second coat if needed. Adhere ribbon trim around top of heart box, covering edge of clay.

Here’s a closer look at the texured clay top.

One final look at the finished project:

Layers of My Heart Pendant

Design Team Member Patricia Krauchune recently shared  this wonderful steampunk style pendant.  Pat used a Makin's® texture sheet to add this great honeycomb texture to the back of her pendant.

Sharing the Love of Art - Artist Trading Cards

Design Team Member Bea Grob recently shared a tutorial video for creating these mixed-media artist trading cards she made to use as a "Art Abandonment" project.  Bea used Makin's® tools in the creation of her cards.  Find' Bea's video here on her blog - https://beagrob.com/2019/05/08/giveaway-and-art-abandonment/

Hard Hearted Carved Polymer Clay Heart Pendant

Hard Hearted by Patricia Krauchune

I love the fact that there is no waste with Makin’s Clay®. To demonstrate that, I left a package of clay opened for a couple of months to dry out. Here’s how I proceeded!

Supplies:

• Makin's Clay® - White 
• Makin's Professional® Cutting Mat  
• Carving knife
• Linoleum cutter
• Large gear, Small Gear
• Clock hands
• 5 Minute Epoxy 
• Art C® Wax
• Small screws
• Diamond Glaze
• Bead chain 
• Jump ring

Instructions:

Draw a heart shape onto some totally dried out white clay. Cut out with a scroll saw.

Next, using a sharp knife, round off the edges. HINT: Draw a center line around the middle of the edge and round toward the line.

Draw some lines then use a linoleum cutter to make some grooves.

Hollow out an area for the large gear and place the gear over the opening.

Cut a groove at the top of the heart to hold a small gear that will be the bale.  Epoxy the gear into the groove.

Epoxy a small screw through the hole in the clock hands and gear.  Set aside to cure. 

I also added some small screws to the front and back.

The heart was “antiqued” with Art C® wax.  A bit of Diamond Glad was added to the center of the gear.

A jump ring was added to the top gear and the pendant is hung with a bead chain.

Polymer Clay Embellished Valentines' Day Cards

Hi everyone, Steph Ackerman here today with a pair of Valentine's Day cards.  Valentine's Day is right around the corner so it's time to start creating your cards.  ​Makin's Clay can be used for the main element on your cards, or even as smaller elements that help set a theme and add a great dimensional touch to your cards.  Makin's Clay® remains flexible, and is acid free when dry, making it a perfect choice for paper crafting!

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Supplies:

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​Makin's Clay® -   White, Red

​Makin's ProfessionalⓇ Cutting Mat

​Makin's ProfessionalⓇ Ultimate Clay MachineⓇ
​Makin's® Roller and Cutter Set

​Cuttlebug Embossing Folder

​Crafter's Companion, Spellbinders dies
Paint
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​Instructions:

​As I wanted a darker red for my first card, I added some brown paint to the red clay then conditioned the clay to mix in the paint to achieve an even color.  Next, I ran the clay through the clay machine starting on the highest setting (#1).
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I continued putting the sheet of clay through the clay machine, reducing the setting each time, until I had the panel at the desired thickness.

​Once the panel was ready, I cut it to fit an embossing folder, then used the clay roller to imprint the words onto the clay.  With fresh clay and medium pressure, the words become imprinted quickly.  You can also use a die cut machine if desired, just be careful of the pressure used.

I trimmed the panel with the Cutter to approximately 4" square.
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Using the left over clay, I  die cut some arrows.
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​Allow all the elements to dry at least 24 hours before continuing.
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​For the first card, I matted the clay panel with layers of cardstock and adhered it to a striped card.  For a little shimmer, I rubbed  silver paint lightly over the panel.   Love was adhered across the bottom edge.

​For my second card, I used the roller to roll out red clay, then placed a die onto the clay.  Using the roller again, I  forced the die into the clay, cutting the design.  Since the clay was fresh, I only needed light pressure to cut the clay.
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​I created my card and added a large die cut heart.  In the center of the heart I added a die cut arrow, then placed Love across the center.

​Happy Valentine's Day.

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​Thanks for stopping by.
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​Steph

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Stitched Heart Pendant

Stitched Heart Pendant by Iris Rodriguez 

Valentine’s Day is around the corner. Don’t forget to show some love with this stitched heart pendant. Or make one for yourself. Not only is this heart pendant fun wear, they fuss free to make. Simply adhere two water drop shapes created with Makin's Clay® and the Makins'® Water Drop Cutters.

Materials:

Makin's Clay®– Black

 Makin's®– 

Clay Roller

Water Drop Clay Cutters  

Makin's Professional® Cutting Mat
DecoArt Americana Acrylic Paint-True Red
Glue
24 gauge silver wire
Clay needle tool or awl
Drill bit (optional)
Leather or cotton cord

Instructions:

Roll out a ¼ inch sheet with the roller. Cut two water drop shapes.

Make a heart shape by adhering both pieces on the curved end. Play around with the shapes; offset a little or a lot; you can get different wonky heart shapes. 

Glue both pieces together. 

Keep a little a pressure on the shapes until the glue adheres. Allow the heart to cure for 24 hours.

Using a pastel pencil or other water soluble marking tool, make X’s. At the ends of the X’s is where you will poke a hole. Ensure you have enough clay area to poke a hole.

Poke holes into the ends of X’s. For this you can use a drill bit, needle clay tool, or awl. Ensure that your wire will fit through the holes. It’s wise to use a wooden surface or other tough surface, so that you don’t damage your crafting area, mat or table. Use a paper towel or cloth with a little water and wipe off the X marks.

Paint the heart with acrylic paint, wax or other paints. 

Before the adding the wire, seal the clay with a clay sealer, or other type of sealer or varnish. Wrap the wire into the holes. 

Secure the ends in the back by twisting the ends. Run you fingers, ensure that the ends are not sticking out, if so; bend the wire in towards the clay or tuck under another piece of wire.  At this point you can leave it like this or roll out a thin piece of clay and glue to the back, ensuring to cover the back. Add a hole toward the top of one of the sides of the clay; this is where you’ll on hand the chain. Run a leather or cotton cord through the hole. Add a clasp and you’re done!