Materials
~Wood candle cups-1"H, 1-1/4"H and 1-9/16"H, 1/2" beads, toy
Basic Finial Instructions
wheels, mini pots and 1 1/2" Acorn dowel caps (*Lara's Crafts)
~Sculpey III polymer clay in various colors-I used the 30 color
sampler kit (**Polyform Products)
~Sculpey Clay Gun Tool (Polyform Products)
~Sculpey Slicer blade (Polyform Products)
~Acrylic Roller Tool (Polyform Products) or hand-crank pasta machine
dedicated to polymer clay use
~8"L piece of thin wire
~Pre-made tassels, or long lengths of fibers (or ribbon), ruler,
scissors and a piece of foam core board to make your own tassels
~Strong thread such as upholstery thread and large needle (if
making tassels yourself)
~White index cards or cardstock (for baking surface)
*Lara's Crafts, wood products such as the candle cups for our finials
today can be found in your local art and craft store (Michael's,
or similar). For more information check out their website at:
Lara's Crafts
**Polyform Products, project ideas and loads in information are found on their website, visit:
Polyform Products
1. To prepare wood for the clay, apply white tacky glue to the
surface, spread out to an even thin layer and let dry. Clean hands.
2. Knead clay colors to be used. You may mix special colors at
this point while kneading. Note that colors will deepen in the
oven so make them slightly lighter in intensity by adding a
bit of white or a lighter color.
3. Follow instructions below to extrude the correct shape of clay
by following one of the three techniques demonstrated.
Technique I (Making Variegated Clay Ropes)
1. Pinch small pieces of each clay color and squish into a fat
log that will fit into the clay gun barrel. Choose medium sized
metal circle disk for this technique.
2. Do not wait as clay will become cold. Extrude one, long continuous
rope of clay and wrap around your candle cup or dowel cap from
the top to the bottom edge. If clay breaks easily warm the
rope in your hand as you work.
3. If your wood has a hole through it, make sure it is no clogged with
clay by inserting a pen and twisting it. If there is no
hole, press a screw eye into the top center of the clay until it
stops. Wiggle it slightly. It will bake in place, then later
screw it down into wood to secure.
4. At this point you can embellish the finial with dimensional clay
slices or spirals. Instructions are below (see embellishments).
Bake your project in a 275o pre-heated clay oven (or toaster over
dedicated to clay) for 20 minutes.
Technique II (Extruded Cane Design)
1. Roll each kneaded color of clay into fat logs to fit into
the clay gun barrel.
2. Slice colors into 1/8" thick round disks, and assemble
alternating colors. Load the clay gun with this stack and
secure largest square disk into lid.
3. Allow the thin loaf of clay to cool for 5 min. to become firmer.
You may stack four pieces into a larger loaf (see image below) or
make individual design slices (pictured above), that are 1/32" thick.
4. Press slices onto wood so that they touch each other and cover
all areas. You can add ropes of solid colors or embellish other
finials with single slices as well. Use your creativity here.
Technique III (Solid Shape Designs)
1. Roll out a sheet of clay to 1/16" thick and cover a wood flower
pot, candle cup or dowel cap. Smooth seams with fingertip. You can
also cover wood by wrapping with flat rectangle strands from extruder tool.
2. Extrude a medium round solid clay rope and slice into 1/32"
thick and press onto background for a dot design.
3. Change to the square disk and extrude a loaf. Cut into slices
and secure for a checked effect, alternating with white extruded
squares. Note: Clean clay gun between colors with a straight
(old) fork handle and paper towel, NEVER water.
Basic Tassel Instructions
1. You may use fibers, ribbons, strong yarns etc. to make tassels.
Follow the photo steps above.
2. When you are finished, you may give your tassel a haircut and
trim the bottom edges even. Ribbon however should always be
cut at an angle to prevent fraying!
A Few More Tassel Ideas
