with Sue Heaser
Art Clay Silver clay is made of pure silver powder, water and binder.
It can be modelled like modelling clay or polymer clay and easily
fired at home using a gas hob or a blow torch. Here is a beginners’
project to get you started - the little frames can be displayed in a
group on a shelf, used to decorate a dolls house, or turned into
pendants. Most of the tools and other materials you may already
have in your home.
You will need the following items to make the frame:
7g Art
Clay Silver 650 (makes 3 frames) - Slow Dry is easiest to use, a small ceramic tile to work on, a saucer of water, baking parchment - about 15cm (6in) square, a craft knife, vegetable oil, a stamp for creating texture and
decoration (optional), cling film, rolling strips - 1mm (1/32in) thick (or
use thick cardboard) and a small, smooth rolling pin (browse
Silver Clay products).
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| You will also need a paper template (see right) or you can use two different sized cutters. The bigger cutter should be
approx. 10mm larger than the smaller cutter
(e.g. 20mm and 10mm).
The range of precision cutters offer a variety of
shapes and sizes - the heart and oval shapes being perfect for
pendants! |
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Step 1
Open the packet of silver clay and knead the clay until it is smooth.
Smear the clay surface with water occasionally as you knead to keep
it moist.
Roll the clay into a log and flatten it a little. Lay
it on one side of the baking parchment square and fold the parchment
over to cover it. Lay the two rolling strips on either side of the
clay and roll to flatten the clay into an even sheet. Remove the
clay sheet, which will not have stuck to the parchment and place
it on a tile. Roll over it again lightly.
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| Step 2 |
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| Smear
the clay surface with vegetable oil. Lay the cut-out template on
the clay and use the knife or blade to cut out the shape. Do not
attempt to move the cut-out frame until it has dried or it will
distort - remove the waste clay from the centre of the frame with
care. Dab any waste clay with water, wrap it in cling film and return
it to the re-sealable packet to keep moist for another project To
make your silver frame into a pendant you will need a pure silver screw
eye and Art Clay Silver 650 Paste. Put a dab of Art
Clay Silver 650 Paste in the centre of the top of the frame and
press the pin of screw eye into the moist clay. Cover the pin with
more paste. Allow to dry. |
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Step 3
Leave the clay to dry completely on the tile. You can use a hairdryer
to speed up the process or place in an oven on 120ºC/265ºF
for about 20 minutes. Remove it from the tile. Use a fine sanding
pad to sand away any lumps or bumps. The clay is about as
strong as dried plaster so take care not to snap it! If you do snap
it, you can mix a little clay with water and use it to repair the
break.
Step 4
Fire the frame using a gas hob, bow torch or kiln, find out more
about
Firing
Art Clay Silver Clay |
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| Step 5
Once fired, the piece will look frosty white - not
silver at all! But this is the best bit: brush all over the frame
with your stainless steel brush and the surface of the silver will
turn into beautiful silver.
Now sand the piece again with the sanding pads, working
from coarse to fine and finish with silver polish.
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Mounting the Pictures
Lay the completed frame, face up, onto one of your pictures so
that the image is in the right place, and draw round the frame.
Cut out the image inside the pencil line and glue it to the back
of the frame with
PVA glue. Cut out the frame back and frame stand
in dark blue card. Glue the frame back onto the back of the frame.
Score the frame stand and bend it out a little. Glue the top to
the back of the frame so that it stands up.
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