Amazing Casting Products: #Cre8time Peace on Earth... Polymer Clay Dove Ornaments by Tracy Alden

Saturday, December 23

#Cre8time Peace on Earth... Polymer Clay Dove Ornaments by Tracy Alden

Hello! Tracy here with another tutorial using Amazing Casting Products! Around the holidays I often find myself making last minute gifts to complete a package or basket... and this year was no exception. Harking back to the traditional theme of doves as a symbol of peace and goodwill, I decided to create "Peace on Earth" Dove ornaments.

Supplies:

Amazing Remelt
Alumidust
Original Sculpey Polymer Clay
Stylus (small sizes)
Pasta Machine (optional but helpful)
Ceramic Tiles
Craft Knife
Emery Board
Small Paint or Makeup Brush
Thin Width Ribbon

Using a pasta machine (devoted to craft use only) set on the thickest setting, I conditioned some polymer clay. I stacked two pieces of the now smooth clay on a ceramic tile and rolled an acrylic roller over the stack to make them stick to each other.

I drew a simple dove outline on a piece of parchment paper, then placed the paper on top of the clay. I traced the dove outline with a stylus to transfer the image.

Using a craft knife I cut out the dove shape, being careful around the edges to not tear the clay. I then smoothed out any uneven cuts in the clay with a stylus.

Instead of stamping images into the clay (like I have done with these tag ornaments), I create a free form pattern of swirls and dots as a decorative element on the clay dove. Using a small diameter stylus I gently press into the clay – drawing on the clay, not going too deep but just enough to get a visible pattern.

I bake the clay dove on the tile as per the manufacturers instructions. Using an emory board, I carefully sand any uneven raised surfaces created in the drawing process, without removing the dove from the tile.

Now the fun begins...

I condition more polymer clay and create a clay wall around the cured clay dove piece. To make sure I was creating a tight seal with the clay to the tile, I press the clay in place with a metal stylus. I don't need to bake this clay – it is just serving as a wall to contain mold-making material, Amazing Remelt.

I sprayed the piece lightly with cooking spray to act as a mold release. I heat the Amazing Remelt in the microwave, in the container it comes in (click here to view preparation). I pour the heated Remelt into prepared piece on the tile from a 12 -15 inch distance – this distance gives the Remelt a chance to release more bubbles before cooling.

I let the Amazing Remelt cool until no longer tacky or warm. When completely hardened, I carefully remove the tape, clay and the original from the Remelt mold.

Now to make more...

I condition the polymer clay, making sure the clay was soft and warm enough to be pushed into the mold. I push the clay into the mold tight, using an acrylic roller to push the clay further into the mold – making sure the clay gets into the tiny embossed details.

I carefully place the mold, with the polymer clay still inside, face down on a ceramic tile, then gently peel back the mold leaving polymer clay piece stuck to the tile. I refill the mold with more polymer clay and repeat this process again and again until I have plenty of doves.

I made holes in the clay doves with a stylus which will be for adding ribbon hangers later. I applied two to three shades of Alumidust to each clay dove and then baked the polymer pieces to cure.