Premo! Holiday Greeting Door Ornament

Getting StartedPolymer clay may stain. CLAY MAY DAMAGE UNPROTECTED FURNITURE OR FINISHED SURFACES. DO NOT USE polymer clay on unprotected surfaces. We recommend working on the Sculpey clay mat, wax paper, metal baking sheet, or disposable foil. Start with clean hands and work surface area. Knead clay until soft and smooth. For best results, clean your hands in between colors. Shape clay, pressing pieces together firmly. Bake on oven-proof glass or metal surface at 275°F (130 °C) for 30 minutes per ¼" (6 mm) thickness. For best baking results, use an oven thermometer. DO NOT USE MICROWAVE OVEN. DO NOT EXCEED THE ABOVE TEMPERATURE OR RECOMMENDED BAKING TIME. Wash hands after use. Baking should be completed by an adult.Begin by preheating oven to 275 °F (130 °C). Test temperature with oven thermometer for perfectly cured clay. For best results, condition all clay by 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.

Paper template We used a paper template for this project. Which is very helpful especially if you are creating many of them for gifts. If you don’t want to go with a template, you can just cut your door shapes free hand. It’s helpful when you have a design that is flat and angular to make a paper template. Take a piece of graph paper to design and layout your doorframe ornament. By sketching your design out first you are able to figure which pieces will be thicker and how big you want you ornament to be and for what you want to use it for (large tree, mini tree, gift tag etc.). Once you have your design, use a piece of tracing paper and redraw each piece separately, the background door frame shape, the door frame roof, the side polls, and the door. After you have all your pieces drawn, you can scan them in on your computer and you could resize them if needed or just make a copy on white paper, so you can cut them out for your cutting templates for the clay.

Take a piece of white premo clay, condition it and run it through the clay-conditioning machine on the #2 setting (second from widest). This will be for your base shape of your whole door frame. Lay the paper template on your clay and using your super slicer and Xacto knife cut out your door shape. Now use your clay knife to create wood grain texture at the top part of your door. Use the needle tool to make a hole for hanging. (top of the door peak approx. ¼ to a ½ down from the center.) Add your piece to a ceramic tile and in oven according to the manufacturers instructions on the packaging. (1st Bake) By baking the ornament at this stage you get less distortions when handling your ornament when adding other items on top of it.

Making the Door peak (roof) While your base is baking and cooling, Take another piece of white premo clay, condition it and run it through the clay-conditioning machine on the #2 setting. Lay the roof top paper template on your clay and using your super slicer and xacto knife cut out your out the shape. Apply some bake and bond on the back side and lay it on top of the your cooled base piece

Side Posts and textureRepeat Step 3 with the side post templates. Use the clay knife and to make wood grain texture on the added pieces. Set the piece aside and go wash your hands and tools of the white clay before opening up the pomegranate (red) clay.

Making the Red DoorTake the Pomegranate clay, condition it and run it through the clay-conditioning machine on the #4 setting. Lay the door paper template on your clay and using your super slicer to cut out your door shape. Use the clay knife to create wood grain texture to the door. Now take another piece of the Pomegranate clay, and run it through the clay-conditioning machine on the #5 setting. Use the super slicer to cut out slabs of wood to frame around the door. (2 panels for each vertical side and 4 smaller ones for the inside horizontal door panels.)

Construction the doorLay the panels on top of the door base and use the clay knife to create wood grain texture.

Apply some Sculpey Bake and Bond to the door frame base (where the door will lay) and apply your red door to the white base.

Making a WreathWhile your door base is baking and cooling for a second time, take a piece of Bright Green Pearl Premo clay, condition it and roll out a snake coil approx. ¼ thick and 3 ½ long. Make a wreath shape and with the clay knife make pine needle texture.

Apply your some Sculpey Bake and Bond to the back of the wreath and apply it the door. Take a small piece of gold clay and roll into a ball to form a door knob add Bake and Bond and attached. Apply your some more Sculpey Bake and Bond to the back of the wreath and apply it the door. Take a small piece of gold clay and roll into a ball to form a door knob add Bake and Bond and attach that to the door.

Take another piece of Bright Green Pearl Premo clay, condition it and roll out a thin long coil for the door garland. Flatten it with your finger and use your needle tool to make texture, apply Bake and Bond and add your garland around your door roof peak. Add little Cadmium Red berries to your wreath.

PineconesTake piece of Bronze clay, condition it and roll out four small oval shapes. Flatten one side with your finger and use your needle tool to make the texture, apply Bake and Bond and add two pinecones too each corner of the door frame.

Take piece of white clay, condition it and stick it on a piece of wax paper or palette paper, add some Sculpey Bake & Bond and some white glitter and mix it around with your clay knife. You want it the consistency of frosting (not too runny or stiff) Using the clay knife spread the snow on top of the roof along the side and where ever you want the snow to be.TIP: Use a toothpick to drag some of the snow down the roof to indicate icicles.

Brush on some Gold Luster on the pinecones and door knob. (3rd Bake) Add your finished piece to your ceramic tile and Bake piece once again in your oven according to the directions above in Step 1.

16 Embellishing the DoorDecorate the door however you wish. Attach a small bell to your decorative ribbon, Print out a paper banner for your wreath with a name or a greeting on it. Add some paint to the door/ roof to create more depth, glue mini ornaments or presents by the door. Let the magic of the Holidays guide your creativity!