Hi everyone, welcome to day 3 of the StencilGirl - Craft Attitude blog hop! All this week the StencilGirl creative team has been sharing projects using stencils and Craft Attitude Printable Craft Film. Lately I've been inspired by all of the gorgeous Artist's Trading Blocks that I've been seeing around the web, so I decided to make one for today's post. Here's what I ended up with:
I used my stencils along with polymer clay and lots of beads and other trinkets and then used the craft film to apply photos to the clay. It worked out really well!
Here's a quick overview of how I made mine. I started by picking a few colors of clay and getting them pretty well conditioned, then rolled out a few sheets that were big enough to cover a side on my box (which I cut from chipboard using the Eileen Hull Sizzix ScoreBoards XL Box Die). Once I had those, I pulled out a few 6x6 stencils and used my little clay roller to roll the clay into the stencils to get an impression.
You can see where the clay moved a bit while I was rolling, but it turned out fine. For the ones where it stuck a little to the stencil, I just cleaned it with a baby wipe. I rolled a few more pieces to use as layers on the top and sides - for the one with a 4x4 stencil, I just put it through my clay roller.
For the large square tiles, these are the stencils I used:
- Fishscale Brick Stencil by Lizzie Mayne
- Zen Landscape Stencil by Jamie Fingal
- Doodle It Tornado Bloom Stencil by Maria McGuire
- Seaweed 6 Stencil by Cecilia Swatton
- Square Celtic Knots Stencil by June Pfaff Daley
Then for the layers on the top I used Tiny Medallion Stencil by Maria McGuire (I cut out around the design with a knife) and the Bali Doily Stencil by Lizzie Mayne (cut with a circle cutter.) I also used a circle layer on one of the sides that was cut from the center of the Rose Window stencil, also by Lizzie Mayne.
I made the crown on top from a scrap of clay that I'd embossed with the Seaweed 6 Stencil. Since I wanted to use photos of my nieces and nephews dressed up and posing with princesses at Disneyworld, I thought it would be the perfect topper for my block.
After the clay was rolled out, I used Rub 'n Buff and some Inka Gold to color the clay. This is just after the first layer of color, but you can see how much it makes the texture from the stencils stand out.
From here, I kept adding color and started building layers on top of my tiles. I decided where I wanted my photos to go on each tile and then added embellishments around them. Once I had all the layers the way I wanted them, I baked them and let them cool, then started gluing them onto the cube.
I left the photos and frames off until after baking - I wasn't sure if the film would do okay in the oven and decided not to risk it. I sized my photos to fit the frames, printed them out on the Craft Attitude Craft Film and then cut them out. To apply, I just used spray adhesive and then adhered them directly onto the little clay bases I'd left for them.
I chose to use a light coppery clay with a little shimmer as the background for the photos, so that showed through the film - you can even see the shimmer! It's a pretty cool effect. You could also just use white clay so that the colors in the photo stayed a bit more true.
Finally, after all the glue had dried, I went through with dimensional paints to add details and also kind of act like grout to my clay tiles - I filled in around the edges with gold.
I let that dry and that was it! Here you can see the top and the four sides of my ATB:
I love how it turned out, and I'm excited to use my craft film in other projects - it worked so cool on this!
The giveaway is now closed... thank you to everyone for your comments!
Make sure you check out all of today's posts and don't forget to check in on StencilGirl Talk to make sure you hop to all of the posts this week - not only will you find some fabulous inspiration, but you can enter to win on every post on the hop!
- StencilGirl Talk
- Gwen Lafleur <-- You are here!
- Maria McGuire
- Carolyn Dube
Thanks for stopping by!
Using stencils with clay. Great idea
Posted by: Boo | January 22, 2015 at 02:09 AM
Gwen, this is beyond stunning. It reminds me of a delicious cake - so many layers and colors and embellishments. I just love it.
Posted by: Jessica Sporn | January 22, 2015 at 06:44 AM
Simply amazing!!
Posted by: mjmarmo | January 22, 2015 at 06:45 AM
Gwen, this blows my mind! Truly!!
Posted by: Mary Beth Shaw | January 22, 2015 at 07:16 AM
Oh My Gosh Gwen! This is SO awesome! Love it!
Posted by: Janet | January 22, 2015 at 07:30 AM
mazing amazing amazing - and a crown too - oh the inspiration here! Love seeing how the layers built up - thats for such a fantastic tutorial!
Posted by: Carolyn Dube | January 22, 2015 at 07:31 AM
That is blooming awesome! I had no idea you could use clay that way and will be trying clay with my stencils. Thank you not only for the blog hop but also for sharing the step by step technique, Karen
Posted by: Karen P | January 22, 2015 at 08:11 AM
You are so talented! i love to see what you've been up too. :)
Posted by: Valerie | January 22, 2015 at 08:59 AM
WOW! I have never worked with clay, and would not have thought to use them with stencils! Thanks for showing us your technique :)
Posted by: Shari Czerwinski | January 22, 2015 at 09:00 AM
Your ATB is absolutely beatiful!
Posted by: Mary Ann Gross | January 22, 2015 at 09:25 AM
That is one fabulous box! Love the new stencils.
Posted by: Suztats | January 22, 2015 at 09:25 AM
Clay and stencil...who knew? Cool box :)
Posted by: Tasha Freeman | January 22, 2015 at 09:31 AM
what a fun project
Posted by: ros | January 22, 2015 at 09:36 AM
Yay!! I just love a giveaway
Posted by: Jen Stevens | January 22, 2015 at 10:30 AM
How creative you are, Gwen! This box turned out so beautiful! Love what you do with SG stencils!
Posted by: Denise Huntington | January 22, 2015 at 10:42 AM
wow- what an impressive project! It's very elegant looking and clever too.
Posted by: Linda K | January 22, 2015 at 11:32 AM
Using stencils wit clay - great idea. All the possibilities!
Posted by: NancyU | January 22, 2015 at 11:55 AM
Such a complex project! Your choices of stencils and embellishments all make for a deliciously lavish box.
Posted by: Jo Murray | January 22, 2015 at 12:02 PM
I've got some air dry clay just waiting for a technique like this...how clever!
Posted by: Dotti C | January 22, 2015 at 12:50 PM
Cool project! Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Anne O'Connor | January 22, 2015 at 12:51 PM
Beyond amazing. Something one would expect to see in a royal museum. Wowza!!!
<3 J
jwoolbright at gmail dot com
HerPeacefulGarden.blogspot.com
Posted by: Janis in ID | January 22, 2015 at 01:03 PM
WOW!!! Gwen!!!! This is absolutely amazing! All the work you put into it! I also think the clay sheets just on their own are so so cool!!!!!
Posted by: Maria McGuire | January 22, 2015 at 03:15 PM
I just love all the bling and the color. Really interesting and cool. If it was sitting in a shop somewhere my eye would go right to it and I would need to check it out!
Posted by: Dapoppins | January 22, 2015 at 03:33 PM
Oh, wow, what an amazing way to texture clay! Ideas are starting....
Posted by: vicki miller | January 22, 2015 at 05:25 PM
Wonderful ! Love the use of clay. This is a fabulous box.
Posted by: Denise Spillane | January 22, 2015 at 07:03 PM
Love all the rich, luscious texture, Gwen! You've done it again! :) Amazing the way you combine so many different stencils!
Posted by: Mary C. Nasser | January 22, 2015 at 08:44 PM
your work is so beautiful and awesome!
amantedelpapel(at)gmail(dot)
Posted by: Amante del Papel | January 22, 2015 at 09:55 PM
Amazing project...using clay with your beautiful stencils is a wonderful idea. Love learning about the Craft Attitude, too. Thanks for sharing this :)
Posted by: Marilynne W. | January 22, 2015 at 10:46 PM
Your project is amazing. Craft Attitude is new to me, so I am going to be on the lookout for it.
Posted by: Gail Bassett | January 22, 2015 at 11:59 PM
That is gorgeous. I love the added touch of the crown on the top!
Posted by: ella | January 23, 2015 at 12:20 AM
I love the idea of using photos with attitude craft - this is really beautiful- haven't "played" with clay much but have been playing with wooden "atc" blocks & 3" blocks - you've given us some great ideas
Posted by: kathleen codyrachel | January 23, 2015 at 06:13 AM
What a beautiful box, what a great work of art! Clay and stencils what a great idea!
Posted by: Sherri Scott | January 23, 2015 at 07:56 AM
there are so many amazing ideas on this post, it is REALLY inspiring and spurs me to go make something now. WOW. Thanks.
Posted by: Sallee Haerr | January 23, 2015 at 11:03 AM
Glad to see a pasta machine being used!
Posted by: Cecilia Swatton | January 23, 2015 at 12:11 PM
Very inspirational. Love using stensils
Posted by: Frances quigley | January 23, 2015 at 12:40 PM
Love these hops and the chance to win these great projects!
Posted by: Sharon Lynn Williams | January 23, 2015 at 01:08 PM
What fun - I haven't tried clay before!
Posted by: Gill | January 23, 2015 at 01:17 PM
Awesome awesome project, Gwen! I love the idea of using clay and stencils. Wonderful textures and it's so unique.
Posted by: Martice Smith II | January 23, 2015 at 10:16 PM
Your project is gorgeous. It really shows all the hard work.
Posted by: Vicki Romaine | January 23, 2015 at 11:44 PM
So gorgeous and love all the embellies! Wonderful technique with the clay, love it!Thanks for sharing.
~kim
blueroseblogger (at) gmail (dotcom)
Posted by: kim | January 24, 2015 at 09:13 AM
so creative!! thanks for sharing!!
Posted by: Helen Markee | January 24, 2015 at 10:25 AM
So many layers of texture and color! This is a work of art where you are sure to see something new and different every time you look at it. I love it.
Posted by: Nona | January 24, 2015 at 08:22 PM
Thanks for including us blog readers in your giveaway!
Posted by: Ginny | January 25, 2015 at 05:16 AM
So many ideas from this. Must get out the polymer clay and new stencils.
Posted by: Kim | January 25, 2015 at 10:03 AM
Love the little crown!
Posted by: Joni | January 25, 2015 at 10:18 AM
WOW. This is serious eye candy!
Posted by: Julie S | January 26, 2015 at 08:52 AM
Oh my! What an amazing piece! Love the ideas of stencils and clay. Thanks!
redrider55 (at) gmail (dot com)
Posted by: Cheryl Donohew | January 26, 2015 at 08:55 PM