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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Autumn Scrapbook Layout

Design Team Member Steph Ackerman recently shared this pretty autumn scrapbooking layout with Makin's Clay® leaf embellishments.  Makin's Clay® is perfect for paper crafts of all types because it is lightweight, flexible, acid free when dry, and can even be die cut!

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.  

Summer Scrapbook Page with Polymer Clay Accents

Design Team Member Steph Ackerman recently shared this fun summery scrapbook page with molded Makin's Clay® embellishments.  Makin's Clay® is perfect for paper crafting because it is lightweight, flexible, and acid-free when dry.  Steph used Makin's® Sea Shells push mold to create the shells for her page.

Cruise Layout

Cruise Layout by Steph Ackerman

Hi everyone, Steph Ackerman here today with a scrapbook layout.  Did you know that you can use Makin's Clay® to create embellishment to accent your layouts?  Makin's Clay® makes perfect lightweight embellishments that truly enhance your layouts, and it is acid free when dry making it safe for your memory books.

I took a cruise recently and knew I wanted to document the trip so I created a 2 page layout.  Rather than using actual sea shells, I decided to create some sea shell embellishments from clay.

Supplies:

Makin's® Clay - Brown, Earth Tones
Makin's Professional® Cutting Mat
Makin's®

• Clay Mixing Ruler
• Push Mold - Sea Shells

Beacon Adhesives - 3-in-1 Adhesive
Stencils
Molding Paste
Spray Inks
Stamps

Instructions:

Use the Mixing Ruler to determine the amount of each color of clay to use.  I wanted them a bit darker so I used more brown; however, you can change the color ratios as you desire.  Then simply mix the colors together creating a uniform or mottled look.

Determine the shells you want to use then push the  mixed clay into the molds.

Once you pop out the shells you can see all the amazing details.  Makin's Clay® will hold their details and, once hardened, will retain their shape.

To create the layout, I selected spray inks in oranges and blues to add some random color on my pages.  I then used several stencils to add dimension with molding paste. 

Place mesh on the page and adhere a photo on top.  Add a wood flag above the photo.

Adhere the shells about the mesh using Beacon Adhesives.  Ink ticket stubs and insert under the photo. 

Randomly stamp a mesh stamp with brown ink around the pages.  Create a pocket page on the right side by adding a strip of wordy paper on orange cardstock.  Adhere the sides and bottom of the panel to the page, leaving the top open as a pocket.  I inserted pamphlets from our trip.  Then I placed several photos.

Makin's Clay® is perfect to use when you want some light embellishments for your projects.

What will you create today?

Steph

Cub Scout Scrapbook Page

Design Team Member Erin Reed recently shared this Cub Scout scrapbook page embellished with Makin's Clay®.  Makin's Clay® is a perfect choice for scrapbooking projects as it is acid free when dry, flexible, and lightweight and can be rubber stamped, die cut, craft punched, and more.

Floral Clips by Erin Reed

Floral Clips

Designed by Erin Reed

I have loved the look of the little paperclips with the embellishments on the end, so when I got my box of goodies from Makin’s Clay®, I had to make a set, but what to make?!? - FLOWERS!!!  But not just any flowers, colorful ones that had a pretty shine and on some fun shaped clips!!

Materials:

Makin’s Clay® in White and Multi Neon

Makin’s® Clay Mixing Ruler™

Makins® Clay Cutters - Round 3 pc

Makin’s® Push Molds - Floral

Makin’s Professional® Clay Tools - Roller and Cutting Mat

Glaze - Tattered Angels

Paint - Craftsmart

Clips - 7 Gypsies & Maya Road & Other

Beacon® 3-in-1 Adhesive

Instructions:

The first thing I did was to blend my clay using the Multi Neon pack of Makin’s Clay® colors and I played blending every shade using the Makin’s® Clay Mixing Ruler™ blending even amount of colors from well E. See the pictures and video below.  You can also use the mixing instructions included with the Clay Mixing Ruler™ to mix a variety of shades of Makin's Clay®.  

The next step was to make the shapes, so I used the Makin’s® Floral Push Mold and made various flowers with the clay colors I made above.  See pictures and video below.

Now for the last set of steps, turning these amazing air dry, no bake clay flowers (I let mine dry over night) into cute little clips, but first let paint them with Tattered Angels Glimmer Glam in various colors such as Icicle, Waterfall, Wicked, Plumeria, and Desert Sun to make them all shiny and pretty!! 

Next, I glued the various shapes of clips to the back using Beacon® 3-in-1 Adhesive.

I wanted make sure the clip was a bit more secure, so I colored a section of white Makin’s Clay® with a drop of yellow acrylic paint, rolled it out into a flat sheet with the Makin’s Professional® Clay Tools - Roller , and then cut out circles with the Makins® Clay Cutters - Round 3 pc.

I then glued the clay discs on to the back of the floral clips and then painted them with the yellow glaze to match the front side.  Let them dry over night to get nice and hard and you have some super cute floral paperclips.

I think my favorite are the yellow ones with the yellow glaze - they just really shine!!

The possibilities are endless for these fun clips, use them on a planner, card, mini book, tag, scrapbook page, and more!!  Now what am I going to use these fun little clips on - maybe a mini book!!  

Romantic Photo Collage Frame DIY When Creativity Knocks Video featuring Kristi Parker

Makin's Clay® is a sponsor of the 2016 When Creativity Knocks All-Star Designers Winter Series.  In this week's episode, Designer Kristi Parker shares her mixed-media Romantic Photo Collage Frame project.  Kristi created Makin's Clay® heart embellishments for her frame.   

By the Sea Mini Album by Cindi McGee

Cindi McGee recently shared this mixed-media mini album here on her blog.  She used Makin's Clay® and our Seashells push mold to create her embellishments for this project.  

Nautical Layout by Irit Shalom

Design Team Member Irit Shalom recently shared this nautical layout with great dimensional accents on her blog.  She used Makin's Clay® to create seashells for her page.  Makin's Clay® is perfect for scrapbooking as it can be die cut, push molded, craft punched, rubber stamped and more and is acid free and safe for memory books when dry.    Find Irit's post here.

Candy Corn Frame by Cindi McGee

Candy Corn Frame 
Designed by Cindi McGee 

Create a fun Candy Corn Frame for your seasonal photos for display on a scrapbook page or in your home.

Materials:

• Chipboard

• Makin’s Clay® - White 

- Clay cutter - water drop from Geo Set  

• Plaid® Yellow and Pumpkin Orange Apple Barrel acrylic paint 

• Beacon™ Tacky Glue 

• JudiKins Diamond Glaze™ 

• Westcott® Trim Air paper trimmer 

• Halloween themed patterned paper

• Paintbrush

Instructions:

Determine the finished size of frame. Cut chipboard desired size, cut opening in center to create display area. For this project, finished frame opening is 3 1/2” x 5”.

Roll clay to approximately 1/8” thickness.

Cut with water drop clay cutter, cut off rounded end to form candy corn shape. Repeat until necessary number of candy corns to cover entire border of frame are made.  Let dry 24 hours.

Once dry, arrange clay pieces around border of frame.  Mount with Beacon Tacky Glue.

Use yellow paint to paint bottom third of each piece.  Let dry.  Paint center area with orange paint.  Let dry. 

Apply layer of JudiKins Diamond Glaze over each candy corn.  Let dry.

If you want to create a standing home-decor style frame rather than a flat frame for a scrapbook page, cut backing piece of chipboard. Measure and cut patterned paper 1/4” larger on all sides than backing chipboard. Cover backing piece,
wrapping edges over to front and mount. Cut piece of patterned paper to fit on front face of frame, mount. Mount finished frame front to back piece applying adhesive only on left and right sides, and bottom. Measure and cut a piece of sturdy chipboard to make stand for frame, cover with patterned paper, mount to frame.

Life with Toby Scrapbook Layout with Makin's Clay®

There are a wide variety of creative project tutorials on the Makin's Clay website - I just love this cute scrapbook layout I recently found in the Netherlands site.  The colors used to create the bird embellishment, along with the texture added make it truly pop!  You can find instructions on how they created it here (they are in Dutch...).   - Cindi