I was recently gearing up for a craft fair, and needed a fixture to display bangle-type bracelets. I find the fixtures sold at craft stores to be pricey, and I wanted something with a unique flair, so I built my own using a paper towel roll, a toilet paper roll, and scrap clay.
Here's the finished product:
Read on to learn how YOU can make one too!
Supplies:
1 paper towel roll, 1 toilet paper roll
scissors and tape
about 1/3 LARGE pkg of Sculpey (the white or terra cotta style--the cheaper stuff)
random scrap clay
clay softener (diluent)
liquid polymer clay or glue
acrylic paint
parchment paper work surface
Directions:
First, cut the toilet paper roll so that it sits around the paper towel roll--you are cutting two half circles out of the toilet paper roll to accommodate the shape of the other roll--the picture makes it clearer than words!
Secure with tape once you've cut the shape:
Next, roll out some polymer clay sheets on the thickest setting of your pasta machine, or by hand (about 1/8 in thick). Apply a little glue or liquid clay to the paper rolls for grip, and start wrapping the sheets around the armature, working in neat edges. When you have to overlap a join, smooth with fingers:
As you work, use some Clay Softener ("diluent") on your finger to really smooth the joins...only use a DOT...it's greasy and it goes a long way:
****Once you have the T-shaped armature basically wrapped, BAKE your item as directed (u can underbake *slightly* as item will bake again once or twice more)*******BAKE!
After baking and cooling, you need to construct your base: I used scrap clay, and a little plastic "tray" thing that was part of some discarded packaging as a mold...u don't really need a mold tho, the shape of the base is just a thick rectangle:
Using a little liquid clay or glue to aid the strength of the piece, run glue around bottom of T-shaped piece, and press gently into the base you created--do NOT press all the way thru to the worksurface underneath...press 3/4 of the way down into the base.
Again using a bit of liquid clay or glue, cut circles of scrap clay and press onto outer ends of the T-shape; blend with your finger, making flush with the baked T:
Add any finishing touches: I rolled out a snake with tapered ends and wrapped that around the join between the T and the base: both for style and strength.
******BAKE entire display. After baking and cooling, paint with acrylic paint if desired, and then BAKE again for just a few minutes to heat-set the paint.
Here is your finished display:
And HERE it is being used a craft event! Yay!
Thanks for looking...message me with any questions!
