Polymer Clay Tutorial - Celtic Gold Cookie Cutter Box

A new year, a fresh start. I've been working non stop since the 1st of the month on this Polymer Clay Tutorial. This polymer clay box has been on my mind for some time. I've been itching to do a lesson on vessels and boxes. Here it is!

In this detailed and multi technique lesson you will learn to make a box by using a cookie cutter that will act as a mold or form. The finished box resembles old leather with metal appliqué. The turquoise crackle lid and stamped embellishments add to the overall aesthetics and richness of the vessel. Don't like to sand? No problem, as this project is not recommended for the sanding enthusiast! I'll show you tricks to avoid this chore and how to accomplish invisible seams.

Don't let the look of the box intimidate you, it can be altered to a simpler version by leaving out some of the steps. If you don't have Celtic knot-work stamps, use Asian, Floral or other stamps, however, I've include an On-line Supplier list of both Canadian and US Retailers/wholesalers that ship worldwide, including where to purchase Celtic rubber stamps, Cookie cutters, Paint, Texture plates etc.

Also included with the tutorial is a printable cutting guide.

This detailed 78 step lesson has 80 clear photographs and 29 pages to guide you through 7 parts:

Crackle Technique
Cookie Cutter box form
Bottom
Stamping, Texturing and Embellishment
Molded Lid and Handle
Box Feet
Finishing

With the crackle technique alone you'll be inspired to make beads and pendants :) if not more boxes!
(Box sold separately, please inquire)
The Tutorial is available on my ArtFire.

 

 

Rubber stamp for Polymer Clay

I got to play very little with polymer clay today because of other distractions, but managed to make a rubber stamp and test it. It felt a little intimidating at first because those bright yellow gel packets are a bit messy after doing the exposure....sorry no pics of that because even with gloves on things got a bit sticky and was touching as little around me as possible. Work was done at the sink. But after all was cleaned up and made the final exposure I ended up with an almost clear stamp or stamps because I made two 'hands' on one packet and then cut them out individually.

The nice thing about the kit is that you're provided with an acrylic mount that can be used for all the stamps you created because they stick to the acrylic without glue or tape. You can arrange the two stamps I made any which way, I could have mounted them with fingers pointing at each other, lol. If you make several small stamps you could mount them simultaneously to make a pattern in itself.When done stamping, the stamp can be cleaned, peeled off the acrylic and stored in a ziplock. They should be stored out of sunlight and not be used with solvent type inks. The stamps can be made with high or low relief, depending on exposure time...mine turned out nice and deep which one would want for polymer clay.


Here is the stamped image on ecru mix premo polymer clay with embossing powder inclusion. I find it troublesome that all of my pastamachines have the same 'ripple effect' when running clay through at the larger settings, so I use an acrylic handroller to smooth them. I don't know if anyone else has this dilemna with their machines? The ink is a pigment ink and has to be heated to set.

Finished polymer clay discs....maybe for some earrings....