Stamping School :: Clay play + giveaway

Apparently, I'm on a quest to Banana-Frog as many different surfaces as possible. Don’t get me wrong - paper and cardstock are fantastic, but somehow I can’t help seeking out the ‘I wonder if…?’ option instead. So far, I’ve posted projects stamped on plastic, wood, fabric, ribbon, magnets, and there was even a brief dalliance with snow back in February. It shouldn’t come as any huge surprise, then, that there’s not a scrap of paper involved in my first term at Stamping School. This time, I’ve been tempted to stray by the joys of polymer clay – also known by the brand names Fimo and Sculpey – which makes for wonderful stand-alone projects but can also be used, if you’re more traditionally inclined, to create embellishments for cards and scrapbook layouts.

TO MAKE A STAMPED CLAY PENDANT

You will need:

Polymer clay  ::  Rolling pin  ::  Banana Frog stamps (I used the Backgrounds set, which creates beautiful textural effects on the clay)  ::  Clear acrylic block  ::  Water-based ink pad (e.g. VersaColour or Brilliance)  ::  Cookie cutters or a small knife  ::  Baking sheet  ::  Foil  ::  Oven  ::  Clear varnish or adhesive (optional)  ::  Cord, ribbon or thong for stringing  ::  Beads/jewellery findings (optional)

 

What you do:

1. Knead a medium-sized piece of clay between the palms of your hands until it’s soft and pliable. Roll it out on a smooth, flat surface to a thickness of around 5-7mm. Apply ink to your chosen stamp.

2. Carefully press the stamp down on top of the clay, pressing firmly all over. Lift it back up again to reveal your impression.

Tip: If, at this point, you aren’t happy with how your stamped clay looks, clean away the ink with a baby wipe, then gather the clay back into a ball and re-do the first three steps.

3. Cut out your pendant shape, using a cookie cutter or small knife. For the woodgrain pendant, I used an oval-shaped cutter, with a smaller ‘0’ in the centre to add interest.

4. Cover a baking sheet with foil and place your pendant on top. Bake the clay according to instructions on the packaging (usually around 130ºC for 20-30 minutes). Remove from the oven and allow to cool.

5. To protect, seal and add a sleek finish to your pendant, spray with clear varnish, or apply a coat of shiny adhesive (e.g. Glossy Accents). String on to a length of ribbon, cord or thong and add any extra details, as desired.

TIPS:

• If you haven’t worked with polymer clay before, there are plenty of tips, info and video tutorials online – try a quick search to get you started.
• Mix your own custom-coloured clay by kneading two or more shades together.
• Although most polymer clays are non-toxic, it’s best not to roll or cut it with utensils you’ll later use for preparing food. If you don’t have an old rolling pin, try wrapping your usual one in a thin, smooth layer of cling film which can be removed once you’ve finished rolling the clay.
• For a more subtle effect, stamp with a clear or watermark inkpad. (You can make an impression without using ink at all, but the clay might stick in places and you’ll also find it’s harder to lift your stamp away.)
• Experiment with pieces of spare clay to see which of your Banana Frog stamps creates the best stamped effects.
• If you make something using this technique, take a quick pic and post it in our Flickr group.

Here you go with a couple of my alternative versions using the same Backgrounds stamp set.

So, that's your schooling over for the day, but before I give it the whole 'class dismissed' thing, there's the little matter of a giveaway. If you'd like to win the woodgrain necklace in the first picture, plus a set of Background stamps and a block of clay to try making one of your own, all you need to do is leave a comment below. Let us know which other Banana Frog stamp set you think would look good stamped onto polymer clay, add the info to your comment and a winner will be chosen at random next Wednesday, 3rd June at midnight, UK time. 

Until next time student Froglets.

Kirsty

x

Comments

[Sharmaine]

Wow that is gorgeous!

[Susan McRae]

Love the woodgrain pendant!

[Anne]

I had to do a double take at the picture to make sure that it wasn't real wood! It's gorgeous... I can imagine doing something like this with one of the circles stamp sets.

[Rachel Howells]

Love this idea, I think the cup cake set would make a lovely pendant!

[Jo Firth-Young]

These are FAB!! Can't choose which one I like best! Great idea - thanks for the 'lesson' - with a subject like these it would be a pleasure to be held back in detention! lol
J

[Julie Kirk]

Amazing Stamping School Miss!

If we weren't friends I'd either worship you or just glare at you while envying your talents. Come to think of it, I might still do that ;)

p.s: don't pick me out at random!

[Sarah]

Ooh I "wood" love to try this *cringes at pun*. But I think the concentric stamps would look fab too (though I want to get the background stamps even more now!)

[Kim]

As it is a rainy halfterm day, i'm going to paraphrase a 80's television show and "switch-off-my-computer-and-go-and-do-something-less-boring-instead" So I'm going to dig out the kids Fimo and my stamps and beads and spend the rest of the day making mini works of art. Thanks for the inspiration.

[Christi Snow]

These are absolutely gorgeous, Kirsty! i am going to have to try this technique! I think that this would be fun to play with It's all about...Elegance to see what effects you could come up with... Thanks for the wonderful inspiration! smiles!

[eva p]

WOW! I love the woodgrain stamp! I think that stamp is perfect for pendants!!!

Thanks for the inspiration!

[{vicki}]

WOW how cool is that!!!!!!!!

I think the fireworks would look super great!

[alexandra]

the cup cake stamp will be perfect for girlies !!!

[isabel]

this woodgrain stamp is absolutly perfect for this necklace, love it so much

[zaza]

thanks for the inspiration
tomorrow i'll try to make some jewels with my stamps !!!

[Crystal]

I would love to try this with the Fireworks set. Thanks for the great how-to!

[Leanne]

I think the stars would be amazing, but do love the backgrounds set - thanks for a such an inspirational project, I hope I get to try it sometime soon! Leanne x

[StampinCathy]

OMGosh!! Your jewerly is just awesome. I would love to be the lucky stamper to win this fabulous giveaway. I've been wanting to try this myself. Thanks so much for a chance and a fabulous tutorial.

[Yvonne]

I think i'll have to go and dig out my fimo again! I think the Paisley stamps would look fantastic!

[Hazel]

Ooh what a lovely idea! I think the I Heart You set would look great stamped into clay.

[Lisa]

I think the Concentric stamps would be really cool! Thanks for the chance to win - I just love this idea!

[Tinkersdamn]

I think the Build-a-Bloom set gets my vote, no question. Without much effort there are 13 cool designs, and if you start combining designs and swirling colours of clay together... WOO! Endless fun!

[MarieP]

I really don't think you could go much better than that woodgrain. Yummy! But ... what about the outline bird from the Greenwich Park set?

[kate]

Wow that is soooo cool!I would never have known that was made with fimo. FAB! :0)
As to what stamps would look good the set you used looks great.
x

[Lis Lambertsen]

Wow - this is fabulous. I might have to try this with my alpha stamps - I never get anything hand made with my name on it spelt correctly!!!

[TracyW]

Love the necklace,great idea,must root out the fimo later.
I think the Whirligig stamps would look super stamped on polymer clay.

[Heather]

I think the Build a bloom set for sure. The necklace looks fab, love the idea of using clay to make embellishments - will have to give it a go :)

[Jana D]

Fabulous necklace. I think the fireworks would make a wonderful pendant too.

[calendula fitzpatrick]

What a gorgeous idea!You could use this idea on embellies too!

[nadine]

i love this pendant. polymer clay has long been a love of mine, and I've never before seen a wood-grain stamp. it looks beautiful and is a wonderful example of a relief technique. I think the pattern block stamp set would be really neat to see translated into polymer clay - especially in a mokume gane technique.

[Sharon K]

I would think the elegance stamp set would offer a lot of fancier options, too!

[Judith Aitken]

Love the necklace. It is totally unique. It opens up endless possibilities for stamp use. Thank you for the instructions .... and encouragement.
Judi

[Nieka Apell]

Thanks so much for the tutorial. YAY!

[Nathalie]

Wow, What a gorgeous pendant! And you make it look so easy to create!

[kreativekate]

Fabulous! I think the cupcake would make yummy jewelery, too!

[Heidi H]

I think Dear Joe IV would be cute stamped in the center of the giveaway pendant. I have 2 boys and they would where this if it had there monogram. Kinda like a dog tag. Just an idea! I love all the ideas, thanks for helping us think outside the box!!

[Linda]

I love your necklace, so different yet so elegant. Thank you for sharing your project with us.

have a wonderful week
bear hugs

Linda

[Natasha W]

These look fantastic. This would also look good done with the paisley stamps.

[Sarah]

Beautiful.. very effective

[Kel_eh]

I keep meaning to try molding polymer clay with stamps. I really must get around to that! This necklace looks so great.

[Clair]

These are fantastic and I'd love to see them done with the Concentrics or the Funky Paisley Stamps!!!

[gigi]

I absolutely LOVE the background stamps for this project. Such a cool cool idea!!! Love it! Thank you so much for the inspiration. I see lots of gift making in my future. :)

[Summer Sunflower]

Great necklace, certainly looks stunning, I think any of the Funky Paisley stamps would look great too!!

[ConnieC]

Wonderful necklace. I love playing with clay and stamps.
I think the Concentric set would make neat necklaces.

[Anso]

I think "It's all about circles" could make some cool jewellery :)

[alison]

wow,that necklace is lovely,would be really cool to win it,i like the paper chain stamps.

[Katy]

Love that necklace - I think Circus Stories would make some lovely chunky pendants as well. Haven't Fimo-ed for years, must try it up again!

[Jennifer Hansen]

What a cute idea! I like the paisleys.

[Faye Pleydell]

Oh my god these are yummy!

Makes me want to try this myself!

I so can imagine a stunning necklace using the it's all about elegance set - especially the rectangular stamp with the swirls.

Mind you a lot of the stamps sets would make yummy clay accents.

[Jingle]

These are amazing! I really love them! I think the Fireworks stamps would be great for this technique to create unique pieces!

[Andrea]

oooh, love the necklace! Great tip! Ab Fab!
thanks!

[Faith]

great idea, great tutorial, love your style! I want to try this!!

[Heather]

Love it. Thanx for the tut.!
I'm thinking the 'build a bloom' petals would make very pretty pendants. Especially the 'LOVE' petal ;)

[Suzanne]

I think this is a great idea. I'd go for build a bloom - I'm into flowers right now.
Thank you ;-))))

[MandyKay]

i am a total woodgrain fanatic, so i'd think the woodgrain would be my first choice! this is such a great tutorial and an awesome giveaway! thanks so much!

[Pam]

WOW! That's so pretty! I would have never guessed it was made from clay and a stamp. What a great idea!

[Lay Hoon]

Such beautiful necklaces !!
I have few Sculpey in my drawer, wish one day I able to turn them into beautiful jewerly piece.

[lynn dunn]

Beautiful depth. I'd like to try both funky paisley and perfect paisley to see which works the best!

[Meaghan (bonafyde)]

OMG that pendant is too cool!!! I would love to win as I think the woodgrain Background set is just perfect and I am now itching to play around with this technique! Apart from that The Cupcake Set and Build a Bloom set would be awesome too!

[Phyllis Ho]

Diamonds Forever & Retro Squares would both look great, too.

[Michele]

Very pretty.

[Harley]

Ooh, I wanna win! My fave is that woodgrain pattern. It's so "in" right now, and looks good on everything from jewelry to paper :D

[regina]

This is awesome! Thanks for the great instructions!

[SJ Dowsett]

Oh mai! I love love love it all! I think the woodgrain pendant is so beautiful, gorgeous work!

[Ugg Sundance II]

These articles are fantastic; the information and facts you show us is interesting for everybody and is genuinely good written. It’s just fantastic!!

[new jordans]

A good aritcle is the best of friends,the same today and forever.