Autumn Mushroom Planter

Autumn Mushroom Planter by Bea Grob

Welcome to my project for the fall season, at least here in Switzerland month of october is the mushroom season.  So I decided to have my own mushrooms (guaranteed non-toxic!) Not for cooking, but as a nice decoration around the house. 

Materials:

Makin's Clay® in white or natural, both work. The amount depends on how many and how big you want to make them. For mine I used about 60 gr.

Makin's® Clay Roller and/or Makin's Professional® Ultimate Clay Machine®

Makin's Professional® 

• Clay Cutter, square Set Nr.  36002  
• Professional Tool Kit

A spray bottle with plain water

a piece of plastic wrapping or household wrap

Instructions:

I started with making the hats first, right out of the package you can form the Makin's Clay®, without having to condition. I first made a ball and then formed a sort of a cap.

I also formed a log, to smooth out any irregularities I use a damp wipe most of the time.

To make the mushroom look more natural, I added indentations and little slits, just like they would have if you see them in the woods.

To give more of the appearance from a mushroom used the Feather

point Tool from the Makin's Professional® Clay Tools Set. 

At the end I had a bunch of mushrooms which I had to dry for about 24 hours. 

Next, I poked a hole, and then added some wire so that I can add them to my moss covered basket.

To color the mushrooms I used the Lindy's Stamp Gang Starburst Sprays in different colors. 

I did let the first coat dry right in the basket and then added a second layer of purple just to top part.

To give some extra sparkle I did add some embossing ink just partially to the top of the mushrooms … and then sprinkled some embossing powder with glitter.

You can heat emboss the Makin's Clay® with no problems. Just don't get too close (like you would also when working on other materials).

Now you are ready to arrange your mushrooms for a fall decoration. 

Holly Wreath Wall Clock by Lisa Haney

Holly Wreath Wall Clock

Designed by Lisa Haney

Supplies:

Makin’s Clay®

Basic Colors – Red, Green

Recommended Makin’s® Tools

Makin’s™ Cutter Set – Christmas A (Holly Leaf)

Makin’s Professional® Ultimate Clay Machine®

Makin’s® Push Mold - Borders

Makin’s® Push Mold - Christmas Nature

Makin’s® Roller and Cutters Set

Makin’s® Texture Sheets (Set H) – Abstract B

Other Materials:

Beacon™ Tacky Glue

Clock

 

Method:

Find a round clock to transform into a holly wreath.  This plastic clock came from a thrift store.  Makin’s Clay® is ideal for this project because it does not have to go into the oven to cure making it the perfect clay to cover the plastic clock.

Start by using the Makin’s® Push Mold - Christmas Nature and the red clay to mold a bunch of the holly berries.  (I made 30 but only used 15.)  Set aside to dry.

Using the Makin’s Professional® Ultimate Clay Machine® and the green clay, roll out a sheet of clay on the #3 setting or a standard playing card thickness of 4.  Use the holly leaf cutter from the Makin’s™ Cutter Set – Christmas A to cut several leaves.  (I made about 100 but only about 16 at a time.  I put the leaves between two pieces of silicone to keep them from drying out while I used them.)  Using this method will make all of the leaves the same size and thickness.

Use the Makin’s® Push Mold - Christmas Nature and press one of the leaves made in the step above 

into the holly leaf mold.

Remove the leaf from the mold, bend the two sides of the leaf together, and gently arch the leaf.

Place the leaf on a curved surface and let dry. 

Once the leaves are dry, use the Beacon™ Tacky Glue to glue together three leaves together topped with holly berries to make an arrangement.  (I made 15.)  Let dry.

For the background of the clock, roll the green clay out on a #6 or #7 setting or a standard playing card thickness of 1.  With the cutter from the Makin’s® Roller and Cutters Set, cut the clay into strips wide enough to cover the edge of the clock.  Beginning at the face, press the pieces on and wrap around to the back of the clock.  Fill in the spaces between the strips, usually triangle shaped, with more strips pushing the clay seams together.  Do not worry about the seam around the clock face because it will be covered in a future step.

Once the entire clock is covered, press the Abstract B texture sheet from the Makin’s® Texture Sheets (Set H) all over the clock to give it texture and help heal the seams.

Press green clay into the bottom mold of the Makin’s® Push Mold - Borders to make leaves to go around the clock face.  Make enough to go around the entire clock face.  Cut away any leaves to make a partial border if needed.

With the tacky glue, glue the border around the entire clock face.

Begin making the wreath by gluing one of the three petal arrangements to the clock.  Fill in around it by gluing single leaves under the leaves.  Continue adding the three leaf arrangements and single petals all the way around the clock.

Let the entire piece dry and then hang on the wall!