Egyptian polymer clay trinkets ruled today. I decided to add the trinket as my focal point to next months Milwaukee Live ATC Group meeting. The theme for our trade is "Jewel of the Nile." Now all I have to do is come up with the background. Maybe I'll draw King Tut or Queen Nefertiti and put the trinket in a headress??? Haven't decided yet. Well enough chatter, here is a photo:

How did I make them you may wonder?

 
First I made some molds out of various Eygptian ephemera I had buried in my studio. It was almost like an archaelogical dig. Pun intended.

I then baked the molds. Per manufacturer's instructions.

Next, after the molds cooled I pushed some more clay into the molds, trimed the edges with a scissors. Helpful hint: lightly dust mold with corn starch or flour for easy removal. Another hint that helps with easy removal is to make sure there is a lot of extra clay on the edges. Something to grab on to to help pull it out with minimal distortion.

Back into the toaster oven they go again.

Adding color:  I painted the pieces with black gesso.  After the gesso dried I added various stamping inks with a brush. When finished, the flesh colored clay had a nice weathered patina. 

Best hint for last, I learned this from Mystele Kirkeeng: the use of Super Sculpy and gessoing over it. The clay is non-toxic and you don't have to spend "forever" conditioning it. It's soft and so easy to use. I may never use the other colored poymer clay again.

Comments

[Carolyn B (vintagepix)]

These are fabulous, Dianna!! Can't wait to see what you do with them! Glad to see you're blogging too :D