Sculpey Soufflé™ Fiji Tiled Planter

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 30 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.

Using Fiji Soufflé clay, make a round cylinder/plug about 1/2” in diameter and 1” long. Make a petal shaped cane approximately the same width and about 2” long.

Using the Canary Soufflé clay, make a petal shaped cane about 1/2” wide and about 3” long.

Roll Burnt Umber clay to setting #3 on the pasta machine.
Wrap the petal shaped Fiji cane, the plug, and the Canary petal shaped cane in brown clay.

Cut the Fiji plug in half lengthwise. Cut 3 pieces of the Canary cane the same thickness as the plug. To determine placement, place the 3 yellow petals around the curve of the Fiji plug.

Roll a thick piece (about a setting #1 on pasta machine) of White clay. Cut a piece to wrap each of the Canary petals. Use your clay blade to slice off the base to make a straight edge.

On each of the 3 Canary petals, use a paintbrush handle, or tool of choice, to make an indentation on either side near the tip of the petal.

Place the 3 petals back against the curved side of the Fiji plug.

In a curved direction, pack around the petals tightly with Ultramarine Blue clay.

Use a large round cutter to carefully slice through the Ultramarine packing and create a smooth, rounded edge.

Roll more Burnt Umber clay to setting #6 on the pasta machine. Cut a strip and wrap the outer edge around the blue clay. Trim away any excess as needed.

Cut two petals from the Fiji cane. Determine placement as desired. My placement is based upon the original Spanish tile which inspired the cane.

Roll Canary clay to about 1/8” thick. Cut strips long enough to make curved details as shown in the photo.

Roll Burnt Umber clay to setting #6 on the pasta machine, and place a strip on one side of each of the 3 Canary strips. Place the longest strip (same with as the base of the cane) curving upward between the two Fiji petals. I used the same large round cutter to be sure it was evenly curved. Begin packing around the petals with White clay.

Continue packing and add two quarter circle Canary strips as shown.

Make a petal cane the same size with Ultramarine Blue clay.
Wrap it with Burnt Umber rolled to setting #6 on the clay machine, then with White clay about 1/8” thick. You will need at least 4. I made 5 to allow for error.

Next, we will continue building the cane to the point.
Add another strip of Burnt Umber against the Canary half circle of clay. Then add a half circle strip of Fiji about 1/8” thick. Using your inspiration photo as a guide, determine placement for one of the Ultramarine Blue petals centered, then slice one petal in half lengthwise and place it on opposite sides of the solid petal. Add Fiji clay to pack around the petals.

Use a small round cutter to cut out where the 3 petals meet to make space for a plug.

Create a Canary plug about 1/2” in diameter and wrap it with Burnt Umber. Insert it into the space made with the round cutter. Use the clay blade to cut away the extending portion of the Canary plug.

We will create the corners on the wide edge of the cane next. Add the Burnt Umber sheet to the edge of the Canary strip. Cut two of the Ultramarine Blue petals in half lengthwise. Arrange them as shown. Pack the space between them with Fiji clay. Use the small round cutter to cut a curve where the petals meet. Then cut the excess Canary plug you cut from the top point into quarter sections and insert in the curved space.

When everything was in place, I used my clay blade to trim the cane as needed to create the triangle as shown.

Let the cane rest. Carefully reduce the cane to the desired sizes.

Covering the Planter

Working one side at a time, apply Bake & Bond to the surface. Use the clay blade to slice even slices from your cane. Begin in the center of the surface you are covering. Place two slices with the wide sides together to create a diamond shape with a full flower in the center. Then continuing adding slices of the cane in the same fashion, matching the elements as closely as you can, to cover the surface. When one side is covered, lay onto a flat surface and use blade to trim away extending pieces.

Repeat on remaining sides until planter is covered. Place a piece of parchment over each side and smooth with a clay roller and your hands to join seems. Be careful and work slowly to try to reduce distortion.


 Bake according to manufacturer instructions and let cool.

To make dimensional embellishments to place in yellow centers of flowers, roll a sheet of Fiji clay to setting #2 on clay machine. Press into desired texture on texture sheet.

Use small round circle cutter to cut circles from textured clay. Add a flat backed hot fix cabochon to centers of circles. Then apply Bake & Bond to where needed and add them to the centers of the flowers.

Roll Fiji clay to setting #3 on the pasta machine. Cut strips of clay the same width and length of the top edges of your planter. Add Bake & Bond and place strips around top edge. I cut my corners at a diagonal so the seams would be cleaner. Use your fingers to gently smooth the seams together.

Use desired texture from texture sheet to impress clay strips. Bake according to manufacturer instructions and let cool.

Bake again according to manufacturer instructions and let cool.

Apply a thin coat of Clear Liquid Sculpey® over the surface of the planter. I did not cover the dimensional embellishments. Bake according to manufacturer instructions. When you remove it from the oven, quickly apply heat with a heat tool to add shine to the liquid clay giving a “glazed tile” effect.

To paint the inside and base of the planter, I created a wash effect by mixing Sea Breeze green paint with water. I like to create a wash rather than paint it opaque because I like the effect of the wood grain showing through.