Sculpey III Instagram Frame

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® Work ‘n Bake Clay 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 ¼" (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.

Condition the 2 blocks of Black clay and roll out a sheet on the thinnest setting of the Clay Conditioning Machine. Place a piece of plain copy paper onto your work surface. Lay the sheet of clay onto the paper. Place the wood frame face down onto the sheet of clay, do NOT press the frame onto the clay. Use the Needle Tool to trace a faint line around the inside of the photo opening. After you have traced the line lift the frame off the clay.

Line the 3.5” circle cutter in the center of the traced line on the sheet of black clay. Cut the circle out and remove the cut circle of clay.

Use the make-up sponge to apply a thin coat of Bake ‘n Bond over the front surface of the frame. Turn the frame over so it is face down. Line the photo opening in the frame with the traced line on the sheet of clay and press the frame down onto the sheet of clay.

Use the Super Slicer Blade to trim around the outside edge of the frame, remove the excess clay from around the frame. Pick up the frame, turn it over and lift the copy paper off the clay. Set the clay covered frame onto the baking pan and set to the side to be baked at a later point in the project.

Place a new piece of copy paper onto your work surface. Condition 2 blocks of Elephant Gray Roll out a sheet of clay on a medium setting. Fold the sheet in half and use the Acrylic Roller to roll the sheet smooth. Position the 4.5” circle cutter over the slab of clay, press the cutter down through the clay and then lift the cutter out; leave all of the clay intact on the paper. Position the 3.5” cutter so it is centered in the 4.5” circle of clay and push it down through the clay. Gently lift the cutter out of the clay and remove the 3.5” circle of clay so that you have are left with a ring of clay. Bake the clay ring and clay covered frame for 20 minutes and let cool.

Once the frame has cooled place it back onto your work surface, face-side up. Place the ruler onto the surface of the frame so the edge of the ruler lines up with the very top edge of the circle cut-out in the middle and is running straight from side to side. Use the pencil to draw a line along the edge of the ruler.

Condition the Hazelnut clay, set the Clay Conditioning Machine to a medium/thin thickness setting, and roll out a sheet of clay that is at least 9” long by 3” wide. This piece of clay will be used for the color on the top portion of the frame. Place the ruler onto the sheet of clay so the edge of the ruler is along the 9” edge and a little way in from the edge. Run the Super Slicer Blade along the edge of the ruler to cut a straight edge on the clay.

Use the make-up sponge to spread a very thin coat of Bake ‘n Bond to the area above the pencil line on the frame. Gently lift the sheet of Hazelnut clay and line the trimmed edge up with the pencil mark. Lightly smooth the sheet of clay into place being careful to not distort the clean-cut edge of the clay

Condition and roll out the remaining Elephant Gray clay, on the same setting used for the Hazelnut clay. Make sure the sheet of clay is approximately 9” long and 7” wide. Use the ruler and Super Slicer Blade to cut a clean and straight edge along the 9” long edge. Use the make-up sponge to add a very thin layer of Bake ‘n Bond to the remaining Black clay on the frame. Lift the Elephant Gray clay and place the straight edge directly up against the edge of the Hazelnut clay. Lightly press into place.

Turn the frame over, with the clay attached, and use the Super Slicer Blade to cut the excess clay away from the outside edge of the frame and from the inside of the circle cut out in the center.

Turn the frame over so it is face up. Use the 1-5/8” square cutter to cut out a square from the upper right corner (Hazelnut portion) of the frame. Use the needle tool to lift the square piece of clay off the frame. Pick up the baked ring of clay made in Step 5, center it over the circle cut out in the middle of the frame, and press the ring into place. Bake the frame for 15 minutes and let cool.

Adjust the Clay Conditioning Machine to a medium/thin setting. Condition ¼ block each, separately, of Red, Yellow, Green, and Blue. Cut a ¼” wide 3” long strip from each color

Pick up the Red strip of clay. Place the strip of clay 3/8” in from the side on the upper left corner (Hazelnut portion) of the frame. Gently smooth the strip of clay into place. Add the remaining strips of clay to the left of the red in the following order: Yellow, Green, and Blue. Use the Super Slicer Blade to trim the excess strip of clay away from the top edge of the frame and trim along the line separating the Hazelnut and Elephant Gray clay.

Place the frame on the work surface. Open the Ocean Depth ink and dab the tip of the cotton swab on the ink pad. Place the end of the cotton swab in the center of the square cut out in the top right of the frame and swipe the ink towards the outside edge. Repeat dabbing the cotton swab and adding the color to the frame until you have made a full circle with the ink. Repeat this process again with the Turquoise Gem color but be sure a little of the Ocean Depth color is still visible.

Pick up the remaining Black clay and roll out a medium/thin sheet. Flatten ¼ block of the Purple and roll out a medium/thin sheet. Cut out one Black circle and three Purple circles. Condition all four cut circles together until completely mixed with no steaks thus creating a dark purple color.

Roll the dark purple mixture out into a thin sheet, fold the sheet in half, and roll the surface smooth. Roll out a sheet of Black clay on the same thin setting, fold the sheet in half, and roll the surface smooth. Cut a 1” circle out of the Black clay. Use the ¾” circle cutter to cut a circle out of the middle of the 1” Black circle, thus creating a Black ring of clay. Cut a ¾” circle out of the dark purple mix. Lift the dark purple circle off the work surface and place into the middle of the Black ring. Gently press the Black ring up to the outside of the dark purple circle.

Lift the Black rimmed dark purple circle off the work surface and place in the center of the square cut out in the upper right corner of the frame. Lightly press the circle into place. Bake the frame for 15 minutes and let cool completely. Once the frame has cooled paint the remaining exposed portion of the frame with black acrylic paint.