Clay Covered Mini Tins

I wanted to try to cover mini mint tins with embellished polymer play.  I took a couple of packages of blue clay in different tones and conditioned them together and rolled them out with a tube of UPC pipe.

Once rolled flat to about 1/4" i set a piece of EASY gold leaf on top.  Ya gotta try EASY gold leaf (check at Michaels) - the gold leaf stays affixed to the paper, until it sticks to something else.  in this case, the soft clay.  

I learned this cool technique in my workshop with  Laurie Mika at Art is you.

Then you peel off the backing - and bingo - EASY gold leaf!

Next i stamped into the clay and look how cool!  it cracks the leaf creating an instant vintage two-toned effect.

Next i measured out a small rectangle to cover the top on the tin.  allowing for enough to cover the top and sides.  But you can easily trim it.

gently press down on the top and sides.  you end up with little points of excess on the corners.  you can cut them off with a blade - or  just pinch off with your finger nails.

A better look at the corner bits.

 After they have been removed and smoothed, you cannot tell!

 To get the most use of the embossed gold leaf clay i did all my tops, then all my bottoms.

 Just re-roll up your excess - don't worry about the gold leaf.  it will create little flecks in the clay and look cool!

 Surely good enough for the bottom of the tin, amirite?

 Before baking i applied a bit of Golden's quinacridone paint to add more depth to the clay.
I baked them for about 25 minutes at 275.

 I added a small piece of clay to the inside as well.

I tried to "sign" the bottom of the tins but it just looked messy, so instead i added the impression of a little bird charm.  I do not like the paint on the plain clay.  i think i'll lighten them up with more paint. Some i left natural clay colour - i think i prefer those.

But i love the effect of the touch of paint on the gold leaf.  They look like vintage artifacts.  Not Altoid tins!  Actually as i look at them now, they look like tasty glazed biscuits....!!

Check out the projects our class did with the metal leaf on clay HERE.

Altered Tin Signs

 At our first play date of 2013 we each altered a blank black metal sign.  Here is one of mine - "sing with the flowers".  I'll probably add some additional embellishment - like paper flowers, leaves and perhaps a butterfly or two.

 This what the blanks looked like before we started.  painted black - we roughly sanded them to allow our papers to stick a bit better.

You had a choice of a three or 4 section sign.  I purchased them online through Pick Your Plum - one of those daily deals sites.

 First i glued pretty papers to each section  - i used a bit of sand paper to scrape off the edges.

Next i painted my letters.  I added some ink to the edges after they were dry.

Next it was time to figure out the spacing and glue them on.

 For my second sign i glued the letters directly to the signs. Make the people Laugh and Dance and Sing is what i say to my husband when he goes out to play a gig!

I covered the sections with heavy metal duct tape - the kind with the super sticky backing.  I carefully outlined each letter to make them have that embossed licence plate effect.  Then i used adirondak ink - sponged on to give a mottled metal effect.

 Here is Z's sign in progress.  She went with a neutral theme - and used France as her influence.

 Salle de jeux translates as play room or game room. 

 Here K was trying our various funny family expressions. 

 But this is the one she went with - using a masculine black and silver colour pallette.

Here is D's colourful plaque - probably going to hang in her classroom - the lesson for the day: Laugh - Love - Live and Learn!

And finally here is S's sign wiht a collaged background with a cheery message for us all!