Mermaid Altered Bottle

Mermaid Altered Bottle by Steph Ackerman

Hi everyone, Steph here today with another altered bottle.  I must say I have been having so much fun incorporating Makin's Clay® products on my bottles.  Makin's Clay® is a fantastic medium to use on glass.

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​Supplies:

​Makin's ClayⓇ - white

​Makin's ProfessionalⓇ Cutting Mat

​Makin's Ⓡ Push Mold - Sea Shells

​Makin'sⓇ Texture Sheets
​Burlap
​Prima Metallique Paints and Art Stones
​Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray Inks
​Ranger Metal Embellishment
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Instructions:
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​Originally, I placed white clay around the bottle, then used the texture sheets randomly around the bottle for texture.  Then I painted assorted colors of acrylic paint.

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​But then I realized I wanted to go in a different direction and painted white gesso over the entire piece.  The gesso covered the paint, but still allowed the texture to show.

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Once dry, I painted the entire bottle with Prima Mermaid Tears for a pretty light blue effect.  Next, I wrapped burlap partially around the bottle and glued mesh on top.  Art Stones in a variety of sizes were glued next on the mesh and allowed to dry.

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​Using the sea shell mold, I created an assortment of shells.  I must say this is one of my favorite molds and I use it quite often. 

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​For color, I inked the shells, then spritzed them with several colors of Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Sprays before adhering them about the mesh.   I spritzed the bottle with several colors of Fireworks! Shimmery Craft Spray Inks, heat setting each layer so the colors would stay true.

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​ Finally, I added chain to a metal charm and placed in amongst the sea shells.

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​ I added more color as I felt necessary to finish my Mermaid Bottle.

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​ What do you think?

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​ Thanks for stopping by.

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​ Steph

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Light House Wall Plaque

Lighthouse Wall Plaque by Panarili

Tools and Materials:

Makin's Clay® white and red 
Makin's Professional® cutting mat
Makin's Professional® Ultimate Clay Extruder®
Clay machine or a roller
Blade
White acrylic paint
Paint brushes
Superglue
Cardboard coaster 
Round Cutter
Brown and blue chalk pastels
Plastic bag

Instructions:

Take some white Makin's Clay® out of the package and roll out a thin sheet either with a roller or a clay machine. Place the rest of the clay in a zip lock bag with a wet paper towel or moist towelette inside. Cut out a shape for the light house with the help of the blade.  For the clay not sticking to the blade, use a plastic bag that you place over the clay.

This is what we get. The shape could differ. 

Apply some water with a brush over the base.

Extrude white and red threads with the help of Makin's Professional® Ultimate Clay Extruder®.

Place threads over the base white, red, white, red, alternating as shown. 

Once you get near the top, make a white thread kind of twisted at the ends.

Cut a circle about 2.5 cm from white clay. Use a plastic bag again for the clay not to 

stick to the cutter. Cut off about a third and place as a topper part of the lighthouse.

Take another piece of white clay and add some brown chalk pastel powder. Do not mix it much, we do not want a solid color. 

Make small balls of different sizes and place them at the bottom of the lighthouse.  These will serve as the stones.  

You may add some texturing with a rounded tool for the stones to fit better.  Do not forget to brush some water to help adhere the fresh clay to the lighthouse. 

Add some shading to the upper part of the lighthouse.

I have some leftovers from another project (Shabby Chic Box) – this is white clay coloured with blue chalk pastel with a gradient. I kept in a zip lock and now can use it for this project.  I just flatten in and rip off a bit, the ripped edge will mimic the waves.

Place those pieces overlapping each other at the bottom of the lighthouse.  

Add some windows.
Let it dry for at least 24 hours.

Take a cardboard coaster and cover it with white acrylic paint.  Let it dry.  Write whatever you would like for a phrase.  

Once dried, glue the lighthouse to the coaster.  Your little motivation board is ready!

 

Enchanted Under the Sea Mermaid "Fairy" Door

Design Team Member Naomi Scarparo recently shared how she created this amazing "under the sea" themed fairy door!  Naomi used Makin's® Wood Grain Texture Sheet and the Makin's® Seashells Push Mold as part of her fabulous design! 

Sea Themed Card with Polymer Clay Accents DIY Video - Makin's Clay® Design Studio

In this DIY episode from the Makin's Clay® Design Studio from our MakinsClayUSA YouTube channel, Cindi McGee shares how to create custom accents for paper crafting projects.  She uses Earth Tones & White Makin's Clay®, along with our Makin's® Sea Shell Push Mold, to make dimensional shells for this handmade card.  

Red Starfish Polymer Clay Pendant

Cindi McGee recently shared this summery red starfish pendant.  Cindi used her favorite Makin's® Sea Shells Push Mold to make her starfish centerpiece for this pendant.

Beach Girl Greeting Card

Design Team Member Steph Ackerman recently shared this cute handmade greeting card with Makin's Clay® seashell accents.  Steph used the Makin's® Sea Shells push mold to make her dimensional embellishments.  Makin's Clay® is perfect for paper crafts as it is lightweight, flexible, and acid free when dry. 

Sea Turtle Polymer Clay Pendant

Sea Turtle Polymer Clay Pendant by Cindi McGee

Materials:

Makin’s Clay® - Olive, Grape Leaf, Neon Green 

Makin’s Professional® 

• Ultimate Clay Machine®
• Cutting Mat 

Makin’s® 

• Clay Roller
• Texture Sheet Set A - Cobblestone
• Clay Cutter Set - Bugs 

Eye pin 

Pearl

Decorative bead (I used a starfish shape) 

Satin cording 

DecoArt® Metallic Lustre - Iced Expresso 

Beacon® 3-in-1 Adhesive 

Instructions:

Begin by making a blend of the three shades of green clay.  I cut pieces approximately 2 1/2”, and 1/4” wide of each color.  Align them as shown with Grape Leaf in center, then Neon Green on each side, then Olive on the outsides.  

Roll with the clay roller to begin to flatten and create a sheet.  

You can continue to roll with the hand roller at this point, but I find it quicker to use the Ultimate Clay Machine®.  Roll the sheet through on setting #1.  Fold in half so ends of “stripes” are touching and roll again.  Continue until the shades begin to blend.   I pushed the outer edges inward each time to prevent a wide strip instead of a longer strip from forming.   I did not want to create a true, finished Skinner Blend, so I stopped blending when I got the effect I desired to mimic the shades of a sea turtle’s shell.   My finished “sheet” is a little less than 1/4” thick. 

Select the area you want to use for the shell and use the turtle clay cutter to cut out.  

Trim legs and head from around shell.   Place the The cobble stone texture sheet, with the texture facing upward (you want the raised texture, not the inset texture) and roll with the clay roller to transfer the texture.  Apply enough pressure to begin to flatten the shell and cause it to expand a bit so it will extend beyond the body and over the legs a bit.  I did not want a perfect circle, as real turtle shells are not round and do not have perfectly smooth edges... 

Roll the scraps from the head and legs to create a small ball about 1/4” in diameter.  Flatten slightly.  Place the shell over the flattened ball and use the palm of your hand to gently press to adhere the two pieces together (fresh clay will stick to fresh clay, if needed moisten slightly with water or add adhesive).  Using the palm of your hand ensure the shell remains in a rounded shape.  I allowed the edges of my shell to extend beyond the mound in the center.

Carefully re-blend the remaining clay and roll again to a little less than 1/4” thick.  Place the texture sheet over the clay with the texture facing upwards and roll to transfer texture to clay.

  

Use turtle cutter to cut out a second turtle from textured clay. 

Re-blend scraps and roll out again, cut third turtle. 

Add pearl and decorative bead to eye pin.  Apply an even coat of 3-in-1 Adhesive over entire surface of last turtle cut.  Place eye pin over head of turtle so that the beads extend out from the head.   Place the textured turtle over the top and gently press with your fingers to adhere the two layers together everywhere. 

Add adhesive to back of turtle shell and mount to body of turtle. 

Use fingertips to apply a very light touch of Iced Expresso Metallic Lustre.  This highlights the texture and gives the mottled effect much like real sea turtles have on their skin and shells. 

Let dry 24 hours. 

Add satin cording and closure.