Tutorial: Polymer Clay Fairy Doors

Step 1: Collect all supplies...

-Pigment powders

-Woodgrain Polymer Clay (see tutorial below)

- Black Polymer Clay

-Wax Paper

-Texture Plates

-Pasta machine or rolling pin

-Polymer clay carving tools

Step 2: Massage clay to soften it until it is the desired consistency. Do not over soften the clay.

Step 3: Roll out clay into a sheet and press the texture plate into the sheet of clay. Make sure you put enough pressure on the plate so that the image is properly transferred.

Step 4: Peel off texture plate and cut the desired shaped door into the clay using your carving tool.

Step 5: Dip finger into Pearl Ex pigment powder and gently rub on top of door, trying not to get the powder into the textured sections.

Step 6: Use a different color to paint the inside of the textured sections. I recommend using a darker color for this part.

Step 7: Use a different color to paint the inside of the textured sections. I recommend using a darker color for this part.

Step 8: Using the woodgrain clay design, cut planks of "wood" and create a door step that is a suitable size in comparison to the door.

Step 9: Place all pieces onto a baking sheet that has been covered in foil. Bake at 275 degrees Fahrenheit for approximately 40 minutes, or 30 minutes per 6mm.

Step 10: Sand down rough edges on both the bottom of the door and the base. When done sanding, wipe off the dust that's been created from sanding.

Step 11: Glue door to base and hold in place till dry.

DONE!

Tutorial: Polymer Clay Woodgrain

Step 1: Get four different colors of brown polymer clay, preferably dark brown, brown, light brown, and cream. These colors can vary depending on the type of look you're going for.

Step 2: Roll out each color into a cane (or worm as they called it when you were little).

Step 3: Put the four pieces together into one large cane and gently twist until it looks like the image. Roll it into a tight cane.

Step 4: Roll, stretch fold, roll, stretch, fold, etc. until the woodgrain is the desired appearance for your project.

Step 5: Use a pasta machine or rolling pin to roll the cane into a plank of "wood".

Step 6: Use your woodgrain canes and planks in various projects. Bake at 275 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes per 6mm of thickness.

Tutorial: Leather Scrap Wrap Bracelet

Inspired by the bracelets worn by Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean.

Step 1:

Collect all supplies needed for this project in order to begin creating the individual sections of the bracelet.

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Step 2:

Start by cutting your leather scraps into strips approximately 1/3" - 1" wide and about 8" - 9" long, tapering the ends to a tip that is about 1/4" wide. See image. Creating a tip at the ends of each strip of leather will allow the metal beads to fit over the leather.

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Step 3:

Fold the end over at about 1" away from the end of the strip and glue it in place, leaving a loop at the end for the jump ring to fit through. Either slip a metal bead over the end or use wire to wrap the end. See image. Repeat for the remaining 5 ends of your leather strips.

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Step 4:

Now it's time to prepare the other sections of the bracelet.

Place a crimp bead at the end of your beading wire and crimp in place, again leaving a loop with enough room for your jump ring to fit through the end. Add your choice of beads; I like wood, stone, or bone for more masculine bracelets and pearls or crystal for more feminine ones. The section of beads should only be about 2" - 3" long. Crimp a crimp bead at the other end of the wire to create a connection for your jump ring and to secure the beads in place. See image.

Use the craft wire and fabric glue to create a loop at the end of your leather cord and repeat on the other end. See image. This strip should be approximately 5" - 6" in length.

Select a chain that goes with the desired look of the bracelet and cut a piece of chain about 5" long.

The bracelet will tie together using two pieces of cotton cording. Cut 2 strips of cord about 5" long. Fold the end over and use the craft wire and fabric glue to create a loop at the only one end of each piece. As always, make sure the loop is big enough for your jump rings to fit through. See image.

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Step 5:

Using jump rings, connect all of the pieces together in this order:
1. cotton cord
2. wide leather strip
3. bead strand
4. leather cord
5. medium leather strip
6. chain
7. thin leather strip
8. cotton cord

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Step 6:

Here's how to wrap the bracelet comfortably around your wrist.

- Hold the cotton cord end of the thicker side of the bracelet with the thumb of the hand that will be wearing the bracelet (usually the right).
- Place a marker or thick pen against your wrist - this sounds weird, but it will keep you from wrapping the bracelet too tightly around your wrist.
- Now begin to tightly wrap the bracelet around your wrist, again starting with the thicker end of the bracelet.
- Tie the bracelet in place, tuck ends under bracelet, and remove the marker/pen.

This will most likely take a couple tries to get just right, but when you do, you're going to love it!

Projects: Jewelry & Polymer Clay

I just wanted to take a minute to show off some recent projects I've worked on.

Fairy Ring Bracelet

Fairy Ring Neclace

Fairy Ring Earrings & Ring

I made this Fairy Ring Jewelry Set by request for a private swap on Swap-Bot.  I've used moonstone, amethyst, and blue chalcedony gemstones as the primary components and have included dainty fairy charms and other silver accents.  The ring of the necklace is reversible; one side shows leaves, the other shows flowers.  The ring is fully adjustable and made of memory wire.

My 1st Polymer Clay Fairy Door (not complete)

My 2nd & 3rd Fairy Doors (not complete)

I wanted to try making polymer clay Fairy Doors and this is the result.  I used black polymer clay painted with Pearl Ex Pigment Powders for the doors, brown or grey polymer clay for the frames, silver poly clay for the hinges and door knobs, and glass pebbles for the windows; texture plates added the designs to the doors.  I'll post a tutorial in the near future for this project.

Unisex Leather Wrap Bracelet

This Unisex Leather Wrap Bracelet was inspired by the wrap bracelets worn by Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean.  I made it from scrap leather pieces, which were cut into strips and attached to other components such as a strand of wooden beads, a chain, and a leather cord.  It's been accented with silver beads at each connection.  I'm currently working on black, navy blue, and light blue versions of this bracelet.  If anyone is interested, I can post a how-to for this project as well.