Spiral Pens

Amy Koranek

Make these cool pens

Getting Started

Preheat oven to 250 °F. Test temperature with oven thermometer for perfectly cured clay. Condition all clay by kneading until it’s soft and smooth or running it through the Clay Conditioning Machine for several passes on the widest setting. Fold the clay in half after each pass and insert the fold side into the rollers first.

Step 1 Shapes

Ball - Take a lump of clay and roll it in your palms until its smooth.

Step 2 Shapes

Teardrop - Start with a ball of clay and then taper it on one end with your fingers.

Step 3 Shapes

Coil - Roll a lump of clay until it¹s long and skinny.

Step 1

Remove the ink cartridge from the BIC pen with the needle nose pliers and set it aside.

Step 2

Roll out 1 sheet of each color, about 1/16" to 1/8" thickness. Place one sheet on top of the other. Starting at one end roll the clay together jelly roll style. You will now have a long coil of clay.Step 3

Step 3

Gently roll the coil on your work surface so the coil is about 3/8" wide. If the coil seems very soft you can set it aside for a while to let it “rest” which will allow the clay to firm up and make it easier to cut slices.

Step 4

With the help of a grown up slice the coil (referred to as a cane) into thin slices with a sharp knife.

Step 5

Cover the pen all over with the slices you have made.

Step 6

Gently roll the pen back and forth on your work surface. Don't roll too much, just until the clay is flat. Over-rolling may cause the clay to pull away from the pen.

Step 7

Trim the ends of the pen case and use one slice to cover the end of the pen. Blend it in.

Step 8

Bake at 250 °F for 15 minutes. Sculpey III usually bakes at 275 °F but to avoid distortion bake the pens at 250 °F. Always check the accuracy of the oven by using an oven thermometer. Use a timer to avoid over baking. Over baking may cause your clay covered pen to darken. Use an oven-proof baking dish lined with index cards. Do not exceed the temperature or baking time so you do not melt the pen. Do not handle the pen until it is completely cooled. Replace the ink cartridge when cool. To push it in completely, press the ink tip into a layer of something soft and stand the pen up. Press the clay cover pen case down onto the ink cartridge.