Finished COPCG Guild Project

Two weeks ago I taught a Faux Embroidery class at the Central Oklahoma Polymer Clay Guild in Moore Oklahoma. Since I'm a member of the group I teach whenever I can and enjoy the many lessons brought by our members. What a great group! We meet the second Saturday of the month at the Hobby Lobby store in Moore, OK. It faces I-35 and is pretty easy to get to.

This 'embroidery' lesson teaches how scraps of Skinner blends can be used to make 'threads' and 'ribbons' that are variegated, going from light to dark or from one color to another and was demonstrated at the start of the lesson.

Sometimes when demonstrating a stitch or technique I get just enough finished to hit the highlights. I took the unfinished project home with only a vine with a brown to rose flower on it with a few leaves.

When we have a month with five Saturdays, if possible, we will have a play day. I hosted the one today and pulled out the started project and finished the design. Jane and Myra joined in on the fun. Myra working on her project for next meeting... Pandora Beads. Jane brought her unfinished embroidery and we were soon happily working away.

The piece I used for the demo started with a sheet of black clay (I chose a very dark background for the greatest contrast so everyone could see clearly.) textured the clay with burlap and cut into a heart shape. On the black project heart shape I showed how to create a number of stitches, the stem stitch #4, simple leaf stitch #5, large flower stitch #10, french knot #13, tendrils #1 and the border using scraps from all the colors twisted into a colorful rope #14.

Starting with a stem stitch vine on the left, I added leaves and curls. Buds were added to the end of the curls using three #10 Large flower petals. The calyx were added using step #5, the simple leaf stitch.

It was nearly finished but felt... hmmm, a bit boring. Jane had a beautiful blend of orange to yellow orange that she thought 'needed something'. We lightened one end with a light yellow and darkened the other end with burgundy. The resulting loaf was fabulous.

A slice was cut from Jane's orangey loaf and four butterfly wings were created. Black clay added the dots and swirls for a final effect.

Myra finished her tutorial and Jane made a bead as per the instructions while Myra took the step by step photos. It is so very exciting to see how the beautiful Pandora beads take shape and how they can be embellished.

I like my finished project very much but have no idea what to do with it. It seems to be too large for jewelry, 2 3/4 inches wide and 3 inches tall. Maybe a tiny wall hanging? Embellishment on the front of a handbag?

Hummm, gotta think about this a bit more. Any ideas?

Hope you find time to play this week!
Penni Jo

Happy Surprise

There is a program that tells us when there is a mention of our site on the web. This morning it took me to this blog, Oh Schwiet Scrap .

It has wonderful pages and I dearly love the look and the Victorian theme of Stacey's blog.

As for the pages, the interwoven elements and decorative accents are rich and varied using more than just paper. It was a joy to spend time looking at the various elements and how they were woven into the design of the page.

Imaging my surprise after looking at the photos several times this one just 'popped' out. The key and keyhole are from one of our molds PJ024 Key to My Heart.

Thank you Stacey. Your work is wonderful and we are tickled pink to be included.

Penni Jo

More re-sculpted cameos

Four more pretties for the mold! only a ring is left to be made.

The upper left is a tiny one with a bezel. Very sweet.

The two on the right are the same cameo but the lower one was reduced in size using Reducit II. A very touchy material that, when properly mixed, strained then mixed with part A does a fab job of reducing an item with complete clarity.

The lower left is a cameo sculpted from a photo taken of daughter Viktoria when she was just 15. Her photo went into the Fancy Frames, a United Design photo frame line. I'll scan it someday and post it later.

I'll start on the ring tomorrow.

More later. Goodnight all.

Something old is new again!

Like many women, I love cameos. Old ones, unusual ones, face ones, even bird or flower ones.

As a sculptor, they all have one outstanding draw for me.... they are sculptural. Some slightly sculpted and some deeply sculpted.

One of the vintage cameos in my collection was made of Bakelite, a material from the 40's, an early form of durable 'plastic'. The cameo upper left is a part created using a mold that was pulled from the original cameo. The problem, over the years, the original cameo detail has 'blurred'.

Wanting to remedy this and bring greater detail to the design it seemed that the best thing to do would be to try to determine the underlying design and try to restore it.

It has been a long time since I've done much micro sculpting and my eyes are not what they used to be however, this would not keep me from trying. The picture, above right, shows the uber-restored details and the slightly enlarged background.

Next, the cameo will receive an appropriate bezel (setting) that will be part of the finished design and it will become part of a new mold of re-sculpted cameos in a variety of sizes.

Left is an image colorized in Photo Shop showing how the finished cameo might look if the details were molded of white polymer clay and the mold then filled with a soft purple background.

Now, back to work!

Snowman project

Here's a cute idea for a winter project.

Materials needed:
• Best Flexible Mold #017 Let It Snow!!
• Wooden Bird house available at hobby and discount stores. (The one shown cost $ 2.27.)
• Polymer Clay: Red and white.
• Acrylic paint; dark blue, medium blue, black, red, orange and green (or any colors you prefer for the snowman’s hat, mittens and scarf).
• Brushes: 1/2” brush to paint house, smaller brush to paint the hat, scarf and mittens. Small detail brushes to paint snowman’s eyes and buttons and bird’s eye and beak.
• Strong glue like E-6000®.
• Varnish recommended by clay manufacturer.
• Optional: Paper clay may be used instead of polymer clay.
• Optional: Eye screw and 6” of light weight chain or wire for a hanger.
• Free tutorial available on our Free Tutorials Page.

If desired, you can build a light weight birdhouse from foam core board for a center piece or just for fun. Foam core board is not for use outdoors or with birds or animals. Click on the image to see full size pattern.





Have Fun!

More and More Holiday Fun, Elegant Poinsettias!

Holiday time can be beautiful as well as fun.

If you are looking for elegant and beautifully sculpted poinsettias, leaves, holly and winter birds, this is the mold for you. Also included in the mold are holly berries, a poinsettia, leaves and loops corner piece, and a ribbon loop. Shown Left are molded parts from this lovely mold.

There are, in this mold:

• Two poinsettias with two leaves.
• One poinsettia corner piece
• Three holly leaves and a cluster of three berries and a single berry.
• Two perching birds in two sizes
• A single ribbon loop.

All of the parts can be molded in multiples to make larger designs.

The corner piece can be used flat as in this little magnet frame idea, right. This little frame was created by Miss Martha's daughter. The corner was molded in colors. Leaves green, flower centers yellow and the flowers of red clay. A sweet winter bird perches in the flowers and leaves. The parts were attached to a tiny frame, just big enough for a sweet school picture.

If you do not have a tiny frame one can be cut of clay, embellished and baked. After it is cool, a piece of thin plastic can be cut and glued to the back of the finished frame and a favorite holiday photo can be glued to the frame. Add a magnet or two to the back of the frame and you have a wonderful holiday memory magnet.


Each mold comes with the measurements of the amount of clay needed to fill each mold opening and a measuring chart. No need to guess, just measure and press.

Also included is a free tutorial to make the project shown on the right. The elegant footed box project instructions show how to cover a paper mache box with clay and embellished. Also included are instructions on how the corner piece can be bent and wrapped around the corners of the box to form 'feet'. The instructions also Below right is a simpler version of the project that comes with the mold.

The poinsettias, leaves and birds can be used to make a number of jewelry designs etc.

Our flexible molds are made of tough, urethane rubber and are approx. 4 inches by 3.25 inches by 5/8 inch thick. All the parts are from my own original designs and sculptures.

Our Angel Policy: With the purchase of our molds you have permission to make one-of-a-kind pieces in any quantity to sell at fairs, bazaars and craft shows; However, you may not hire employees to make items from the molds or sell through commercial accounts without permission.

Just imagine how many delightful ways you can use the molded parts.

Think jewelry, serving pieces, greeting cards, name tags, Welcome sign, scrapbooking, guest soaps, decorative votives (the polymer clay must be on the outside of the glass and not come in contact with the flame), metal clay, etc.

This mold is available at Best Flexible Molds.

More Holiday Fun! Here Comes Santa Claus

This fun mold will have you humming "Here comes Santa Claus".

Shown left are brightly colored parts from the mold. Santa was cast in a variety of colors of clay as were the Christmas trees, stockings and present. Only Santa's eyes and belt buckle were painted. His cheeks and nose were blushed for that 'rosy glow'. Glitter was added to the balls, swags, tree stand and star on the Christmas tree for that fun, holiday sparkle.

Both the Santa and Tree can be used alone for festive Christmas jewelry. The wrapped present, lights, tiny tree, yummy gingerbread man, stockings and bow make cute holiday charms and earrings. Some of the parts, like the light, tiny tree and stockings can be molded and put back to back for two sided designs.


Each mold comes with the measurements of the amount of clay needed to fill each mold opening and a measuring chart. No need to guess, just measure and press.


Also included is a free tutorial to make the project shown on the right. The Santa project instructions show how to make a note holder magnet. The instructions also Below right is a simpler version of the project that comes with the mold.

The Santa alone can be used a a pin, pendant, added to the top of a candy box, etc.


Our flexible molds are made of tough, urethane rubber and are approx. 4 inches by 3.25 inches by 5/8 inch thick. All the parts are from my own original designs and sculptures.

Our Angel Policy: With the purchase of our molds you have permission to make one-of-a-kind pieces in any quantity to sell at fairs, bazaars and craft shows; However, you may not hire employees to make items from the molds or sell through commercial accounts without permission.
Below are two pairs of earring created using this mold.


Think how well these Cute Wrapped packages
and the sassy Bell and Bow earrings below would sell at a show!.

This mold and other Holiday molds are available on our website Best Flexible Molds. Check us out!

If you are looking for jewelry molds, we have those too!