1. If you’ve never worked with polymer clay before,
click
here to be connected to my Tips and Techniques Page about
polymer clay (a new window will open). Begin by conditioning your clay.
Take the white clay and roll a long rope about 4 inches long. Cut it to
size using the razor blade.
2. Form this rope into a
heart. Pinch the clay with your fingers at the point and the cusp to
make the bends.
3. Flatten the heart very slightly with a roller. This is the base of
your pin, where you will attach the roses.
4. Begin with the red roses first. Roll a thin rope of red, then
flatten the roll with your rolling tool. Cut the two ends clean across
with a razor blade. Beginning at the one end, begin the roll the clay
upon itself tightly, and keep rolling until you get to the end. If the
rose is getting too large, stop at any point and cut the rest of the
clay off. To make the rose look more realistic, slightly angle the clay
as you roll it, so the outside layers are slightly higher (when you are
looking at the front of rose) that the inside folds. When the rose is
done, you can use your fingers to slightly flare out the outer petals.
5. Place your rose on the heart clay base, pushing down ever so
slightly. Don't push too hard or you'll squish your rose. Baking your
piece will also help adhere the roses to the base.
6. Continue to make
several red roses, and place them on the wreath with spaces in between.
Or, you can wait until you have all your roses done before assembling
them on the wreath.
7. To make a lighter shade of red, combine an equal amount of white
clay and red clay and blend well. Doing this ensures you have a color
that matches the red well, instead of just purchasing pink polymer
clay.
8. Use this pink clay to
make several roses, and place them on the wreath in between the red
roses.
9. When the rose pin is done, bake it according to the clay
manufacturer’s instructions.
10. When the rose is
cooled off, brush the pin with a coat of polymer clay glaze, a spray of
acrylic sealing coat, or use clear fingernail polish.
11. When the rose is
dry, turn it over and glue the pin backing to it, using hot glue or
super glue. Your rose wreath pin is now ready to wear for
Valentine's Day!
