Sculpey III® Air Plant Hanger

Getting Started:

Please make sure your work area is covered and you are not working on an unprotected surface. We recommend working on the Sculpey® Oven-Safe Work Mat, wax paper, metal baking sheet, or disposable foil. Uncured clay may damage unprotected furniture or finished surfaces. Be sure to cover your crafting area appropriately.

Start with clean hands, unwrap and knead clay until soft and smooth, or condition by running clay though a Pasta Machine. We recommend using a designated machine for clay purposes only. When working with multiple colors, clean hands with soap and water or baby wipes (we have found that baby wipes work best) before switching colors. Shape clay, pressing pieces firmly together. Wash hands after use.

Baking:

Begin by preheating oven to 275 °F (130 °C). After you are done creating; for best results bake clay on an oven-proof surface such metal, aluminum foil, an index card or the Sculpey® Clay Mat at 275°F (130 °C) for 15 minutes per 1/4" (6 mm) thickness according to package directions. Oven safe glass or ceramic surfaces are also acceptable for baking; however please note that the baking times may take longer as the glass or ceramic surfaces take longer to heat up. For best baking results, use an oven thermometer. DO NOT USE MICROWAVE OVEN. DO NOT EXCEED THE ABOVE TEMPERATURE OR RECOMMENDED BAKING TIME.

Chop up 1/2 bar of Pearl and 1/4 bar of each Elephant Gray, Garnet Glitter, and Hazelnut. Use the Clay Blade to chop the colors up into small bits. If you chop the clays up on a piece of paper, this will make it easy to keep the little bits organized in one place.

Push the bits together into a rectangular shape with your hands.

Keep pushing in from all sides so that the bits are sticking together and forming a more tight rectangle.

Roll over the bits with the Acrylic Clay Roller to smooth and to help the pieces stick to each other. You will want to keep the thickness of the slab to about 1/4” so that it is nice and strong.

Cut out the finished size from the clay to 5” x 1.5”. You can use a paper template or a ruler. Smooth the cut edges with your fingertips.

Cut out a hole in the very center with the 3/4” circle cutter. This will be for the air plant to sit in. If you have a larger or smaller air plant you can adjust the size of the hole accordingly using a different cutter or even the 12 mm ball tool.

On each end and about 1/4” away from the edges, use the 6mm Ball Tool to poke neat holes for the chains to go through. To use the ball tool to cut a hole, I press the ball through one way. Then go back through the other direction. Then I keep pushing the tool through until the hole is shaped by the handle above the ball. Smooth all the edges with your fingertips.

Position the clay around the side of a large circle shaped cookie cutter so that while it’s baking, it will have a nice bend in it. Either prop the metal circle on it’s side on your baking pan, or lay the metal circle down with the clay piece snugged up against it.

Bake the piece using the metal circle as a form following the baking instructions for Sculpey III®. Allow to cool completely before handling.

For the chain to hang it, I used a 30” necklace. I removed the clasp and tail chain. I cut two 2” pieces off of the end of the necklace. I draped the 2” sections, one through each hole and fastened the loop with a jump ring. Before closing the jump ring, add one end of the necklace chain.

Sit the air plant gently in the center circle for display.