Note: Please read Polymer Clay Tips and Transparent Liquid Sculpey Tips prior to reading lesson.

Create a reverse mold using Sculpey White Polymer Clay and a stamp. Roll out the white clay on wax paper to an approximate thickness of 1/4 inch. Wading Fisherman 186B is stamped into the white clay, lift stamp and set it aside. Using the exacto knife cut away excess white clay around the stamped image, smooth edges with finger. Bake for 15 minutes at 275 degrees (F). Let cool. This is your reverse image mold.

Note: Don't forget to always brush a release agent on the stamp prior to stamping it in the clay.

Roll out Sculpey III Gold clay on wax paper to an approximate thickness of 1/4 inch. Lay oval template on top of the clay and cut along the template line with an exacto knife, going about half way through the clay.

Remove the template and finish cutting through the clay with the exacto knife. Remove excess clay. Brush baby powder on the reverse image mold and press it into the gold clay.

Remove reverse mold and set aside. Smooth outer edges of oval with fingers. Foliage 035A is stamped into the gold clay around the fisherman. This will texture the background. Bake for 15 minutes at 275 degrees (F). Let cool.

Now it is time to make a rope frame to go around the outside of the clay medallion. Roll out a long skinny snake of the gold Sculpey and fold it so that you have a skinny "U" shape. Twist the ends, like you would a twisty tie, until the rope is as long as you need it to be. The more you twist it, the skinner and longer it gets. You want this snake to be taller than the oval. Set aside.

Brush clear Transparent Liquid Sculpey (TLS) along the outside edges of the oval and set it on your baking surface. Press the rope snugly around the oval, trim off excess rope and press ends together so they fit snugly against the oval. The TLS will act as a glue to affix both pieces together after baking. Bake 15 minutes at 275 degrees (F). Let cool.

Paint the fisherman with Jacquard Neopaque Black acrylic paint. Brush Jacquard Lumiere Pearl Blue acrylic paint over the fisherman's shadow and ripples in the water. Brush Jacquard Neopaque Green acrylic paint on raised areas of the textured background. Paint Jacquard Lumiere Super Copper acrylic paint over every other strand on the rope frame. Let dry.

Tint the TLS as follows:
Ultramarine Blue oil paint + TLS = Blue TLS
Ochre oil paint + TLS = Yellow TLS
Viridian Green oil paint + TLS = Green TLS
Alizarin Crimson oil paint + TLS = Red TLS
Sparkle Gold Pearl Ex + TLS = Gold TLS

If the TLS mixtures get too thick, mix in a tiny amount of the Sculpey Diluent.

Paint water area with Blue TLS, heat set with heat gun. Dab Yellow TLS, Red TLS and Green TLS randomly over textured background for a Fall Floral look, heat set as needed. Bake 15 minutes at 275 degrees (F). Let Cool.

Roll out a piece of white Sculpey Clay to an approximate thickness of 1/4 inch. Using the exacto knife cut out a simple leaf shape. Create veining in leaf using a tapestry needle to draw the lines in the clay. Make the center line/vein first, then pull the needle from the center outwards to create the veins on the sides of the leaf. Use the tapestry needle to texture both edges of the leaf. Make two leaves, do not bake yet.

Spread clear TLS along the edge of the rope where the leaf will be adhered. Gently pick up the leaf and press it on top of the clear TLS on top of the rope. Very gently press it into the rope, and shape the leaf as desired. If any of the detail or texture on the leaf is lost as you adhere it to the rope, simply use your tapestry needle to add the detail back into the leaf. Brush a very very thin layer of Gold TLS on top of the texture background. If you use too much Gold TLS, it will be very opaque when baked and you will loose all your color and detail. Do not paint the Gold TLS over the water area or the fisherman. Bake 15 minutes at 275 degrees (F). Let cool.

Paint leaves with Jacquard Lumiere Metallic Olive acrylic paint, let dry. Using a small spoon (or similar tool) spread a thick layer of clear Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel/UTEE (or similar product) over the entire oval surface. Use a toothpick to spread the UTEE up against the sides of the rope and the edges of each leaf. There should be enough of the UTEE on top of the oval to fully cover it. Bake 15 minutes at 275 degrees (F). Remove from oven and immediately check to make sure there are no air bubbles in the melted UTEE. If you see any bubbles, use a pin (or other sharp instrument) to pop the bubble while the UTEE is still hot. Let cool and spray with sealant to protect the metallic rub-ons you put on the leaves. If any of the UTEE overflowed the edges, you can easily trim it off with an exacto knife. Adhere pin back to back of piece with E600 glue, let dry.

"Gone Fishin'" by Tyra L. Smith October 2000

Finished Size: Oval Pin

Images: Stampscapes®: 186B Wading Fisherman, 035A Foliage

Materials: Sculpey Polymer Clay/White, Sculpey III Polymer Clay/Gold, Grumbacher Oil Paints/Viridian, Ochre, Burnt Sienna, Black, Cerulean Blue, Pearl Ex/Sparkle Gold, Transparent Liquid Sculpey, Sculpey Diluent, paintbrushes, tapestry needle (or toothpick), exacto knife, heat gun, ceramic tile, oven, rolling pin (or pasta machine), artist grade turpentine (or low odor solvent), baby powder, Clear Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel (or similar product), pin back, E600 glue, Jacquard Lumiere and Neopaque acrylic paints, Metallic Gold Rub-ons, Spray Sealant/glossy.

Colour: Grumbacher Oil Paints