Sculpey III® Wood and Clay "Home" Plaque

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.

Pour some white acrylic paint into a small plastic cup and add water until you have equal parts paint and water. Mix the water and paint together until you have a smooth consistency. Crumple a paper towel and dip the paper towel into the water and paint mixture. Lightly rub the paint dipped paper towel over the surface of the wood plaque; rub the paint in direction of the grain of the wood. Wipe away any excess paint and let the paint dry and if needed use the paper towel to add a second coat of the paint. The goal is to create the look of faded white-wash. Once you have achieved the desire finish set the plaque to the side to dry completely.

Paint the surface of the wood state cut out with the burnt umber acrylic paint. Set the painted state to the side to dry completely.

Condition the Red clay and roll out a thin sheet of clay. Use the Kemper cutter to cut out 2 hearts. Set the hearts to the side.

Once the paint on the state and wood plaque is dry position the state so it is to the bottom left of the center of the plaque. Once you have the location of the state determined glue the state onto the plaque.

Measure the height of the top most slat on the plaque. Based on the position of the state measure the amount of length of the slat in which you want the word “Home” to fit. Use the ruler and pencil to draw the outline of the same amount of measured space on the piece of paper. This drawn box will be your guide for forming the letters in the word “Home”.

Condition the Black clay and roll a bunch of strands that are about 1/8” in diameter and at least 4 inches in length. If you have the optional extruder you may use the extruder in place of hand rolling the strands of clay. Note: To create the letters using the strands of clay you may find it helpful to start by handwriting the letters in the box drawn on the paper. The handwritten letters may be used as a guide for shaping the letters. Begin forming the letters in the word “Home” by shaping one section of a letter at a time. Use the Blade to trim the end of a strand at an angle wherever two sections of a letter will meet. Trimming the end of the strand at an angle will help reduce bulk and make the lettering look more handwritten. Use Oven Bake Clay Adhesive to connect the individual sections of the letters. Once you have all of the letters formed use the Oven Bake Clay Adhesive to connect all of the letters together to form one piece. Bake the fully formed word “Home” and the Red hearts cut out in Step 3 for 20 minutes. Let the baked clay cool completely before continuing.

Use a small paintbrush to paint a coat of Black Liquid Clay over the surface of the word “Home”. Concentrate on getting the Black Liquid Clay over the seams in the lettering. Once you have a thin coat of Black Liquid Clay painted onto the letters bake for 5 minutes, let cool, and repeat the process 2 more times. Note: Adding the Black Liquid Clay not only covers the seams in the letters, giving a better appearance, it also acts as a reinforcement to hold everything together. Bake as directed.

Note: When performing this step do NOT glue anything into place! Place the finished word “Home” onto the plaque towards the top right corner. Place one heart into the opening of the letter “O”. Determine where on the state you want the second heart and put the heart in place. Use the ruler to measure a straight line between the centers of the two hearts; cut a piece of white string to the measured length.

Dip one end of the white string into some glue or mixed epoxy. Press the end of the string to the bottom of the heart you placed into the center of the letter “O”. Press the heart back onto the plaque, inside the letter “O” so the string is sandwiched between the plaque and heart. Let the glue or epoxy set before continuing.

Carefully lift the word “Home” off of the plaque and slide the string through the letter “O”. The heart and string should still be attached to the plaque.

Dip the remaining end of string into some glue or mixed epoxy. Press the end of the string to the bottom of the heart you have placed on the state. Pull the string straight and press the heart back onto the state so the string is sandwiched between the heart and the state. Let the glue or epoxy set before continuing.

Pick up the word “Home” and add a few small dabs of glue or mixed epoxy over the back of the letters. Realign the “O” over the heart so the heart sits in the center of the “O”. Press the word onto the plaque. Let the glue or epoxy, in all locations on the plaque, cure completely before hanging your new home decoration.