Claymaker Polymer Clay

designed by Fiona Abel-Smith

Daisy beadsCombine petal canes with a loopy base for a darling polymer clay bead.

stepbystepCondition each block of clay (Basics).

Base[1] Roll the color A clay into a cylinder about 1⁄8 in. (3 mm) in diameter. Cut six 1-in. (2.5 cm) pieces and one ½-in. (1.3 cm) piece. Roll the ½-in. (1.3 cm) cylinder into a pea-sized ball.[2] Wrap one 1-in. (2.5 cm) cylinder around the knitting needle, and pinch the ends to make a drop-shaped leaf. Repeat to make a total of six

leaves. Press the pea-sized ball flat to make a circle (photo a).[3] Using the knitting needle, press the tip of a leaf onto the circle (photo b). Repeat with a second leaf, placing it opposite the first leaf. Repeat with the remaining leaves, spacing them evenly.[4] Place a toothpick across two leaves. Repeat twice (photo c).

Daisy petals[1] Roll the color B clay into a cylinder about 1⁄2 in. (1.3 cm) in diameter and 2 in. (5 cm)

long. Pinch along one edge to make a drop-shaped cane. [2] Set the pasta machine to the middle setting, and roll a sheet of color C clay that is about 1⁄3 x 2 in. (.9 x 5 cm). Drape the clay across the point of the color B cane, and press it into place. [3] Cut the cane in half to make two 1-in. (2.5 cm) long canes, place them side by side, and gently press them together (photo d). [4] Reduce the canes: Gently press the sides, evenly distributing the pressure and maintaining the point of the

color C edge, to make a cane that is 2 in. (5 cm) long. [5] Repeat steps 3 and 4 three times.[6] Set the pasta machine to the second thinnest setting, and roll a sheet of color A clay that is about ¼ x 2 in. (6 mm x 5 cm). Drape the clay across the point of the cane, and press it into place (photo e).[7] Reduce the cane as in steps 3 and 4 three times. Gently reduce the cane to ½ in. (1.3 cm) in diameter.[8] Cut the cane in half, and set one half aside. Gently

a b c d

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©2011 Kalmbach Publishing Co. This material may not be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher.

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EDITOR’S NOTES:• copy here• copy here – Editor

materialsdescription• 2–3 item• 4 item• item

For bead colors, go to BeadAn-dButton.com/resources, choose this issue, and click the Materials List downloadable file.

materialsgreen bead 1 in. (2.5 cm) • polymer clay in 4 colors: ½ oz. color A (green) ½ oz. color B (white) 5 g color C (pink) 2 g color D (yellow)• acrylic roller• ¼-in. (6 mm) diameter knitting needle• nonstick work surface• pasta machine*• tissue blade• toaster oven*• 3 toothpicks or cocktail sticks

* Dedicated to the use of polymer clay

turquoise bead colors:• color A (turquoise)• color B (white) • color C (orchid)• color D (pink)

blue bead colors:• color A (blue)• color B (white) • color C (pink)• color D (light yellow)

purple bead colors:• color A (dark purple)• color B (white) • color C (light yellow)• color D (medium purple)

pink bead colors:• color A (orchid)• color B (white) • color C (dark purple)• color D (tan)

orange bead colors:• color A (orange)• color B (white) • color C (light yellow)• color D (yellow)

tan bead colors:• color A (tan)• color B (white) • color C (orange)• color D (burgundy)

e f

reduce the remaining half to 1⁄3 in. (9 mm) in diameter.[9] Cut the cane from step 8 in half, and set one half aside. Gently reduce the remaining half to ¼ in. (6 mm) in diameter.[10] Gently shape each cane into a rounded diamond shape (photo f).[11] Using the tissue blade, cut a 1⁄16-in. (2 mm) slice from each cane (photo g). Repeat to cut a total of eight petals from each cane.

g

Let your imagination go wild with color.

Claymaker

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j k

h

Assembly[1] Place a ½-in. (1.3 cm) petal on the base with its outer point aligned with the outer edge of the base, and press the inner point into place with the knitting needle (photo h). Repeat three times, placing each subsequent petal at a 90-degree angle from the previous petal (photo i). Repeat with the four remaining ½-in. (1.3 cm) petals, placing each of them between the previous petals (photo j).[2] Apply the 1⁄3-in. (9 mm) petals as in step 1, placing them between the ½-in. (1.3 cm) petals, and aligning the inner points of the petals.[3] Apply the ¼-in. (6 mm) petals as in step 1, placing them between the 1⁄3-in. (9 mm) petals, and aligning the inner points of the petals.[4] Roll a 4–6 mm ball of color D clay. Press it into the center of the

petals with the tip of the knitting needle. Add texture with the tip of a toothpick (photo k).[5] Following the manufacturer’s instructions, bake the clay in the toaster oven. While the clay is still warm, remove the toothpicks by gently twist-ing and guiding them out through the space between the petals and the base. Allow the clay to cool completely. w

Fiona Abel-Smith is an artist who paints in oils. She has been beading since 2004, and she started working with polymer clay in 2006. She teaches polymer clay at The Bead Scene in Northamptonshire, England. Visit her website, fionaabel-smith.co.uk.

DESIGNER’S NOTES:• Place a piece of butcher paper or parchment paper on your

work surface to easily rotate your piece as you work and to prevent the clay from sticking.

• Make as many beads as desired before baking the clay.• If the bead cools before you are able to remove the tooth-

picks, reheat the bead in the toaster oven for 5 minutes.