Making a Tree — Adding Polymer Clay – Orlando Area Polymer Clay Guild

First I mix the clay. I use a combination of brown, grey, black and white to get the color I want. I use leftover mud clay too. I cut thin strips of brown, black and white. Run it thru the pasta machine on 1 or 2.

Fold the clay. Run it thru the pasta machine several times.

The final pass thru the pasta machine on about a 7 on the Atlas. This is an 8 on the dream machine

I don’t mix it completely just a few passes. I stop when I see the streaks in the clay. Then I take small pieces and start covering the tree.

You may want to wear gloves for this step. Your fingers will be stain by the liquid clay. I use black liquid clay. You will need to shape the tree before apply the clay. Most trees will have their branches reaching for the sky. There are other trees like the willow where the branches turn toward the ground. Once the branches are position upward. Then the tip of branches, I level it out a bit to make it easier to attach the sponge leaves.

Now starting adding the liquid clay. I spread all over the trunk and roots. Then I take strips of clay and start building the trunk and roots.

The tree is completely covered in clay. As you can see the clay adds girth to the thin wire at the top of the trees.

Another angle of the completed tree. Once I finish covering the tree. I start add the details of the bark of the tree.

This is a pieces of bark from the tree in my yard. As you can see the dimensions and different tones in a tree.

These are the tools I use to shape and add the dimension to the polymer clay tree.

Now I am adding texture to the tree. I will texture the complete tree.

Now you have to decide what shape base you want for the tree. For this one I am using the circle cutters. Use the roots of the tree to select the right circle cutter.

I trimmed the roots that went over the edge. As you can see there is a gap under the tree and the base.

I add pieces of clay under the tree to fill in the gap.

Now you will need to decide what scenes you are going to create around the tree before you bake it. For instance, if I am going to add a little pond, cattails and rocks. I will make the depression for the pond now. I will use white clay to cover the pond depression. I will form the rocks out of aluminum foil, cover with clay and add some of the rocks now but the rocks can be added later. I will add the holes where I am planning on planting the cattails. It is easier to make depressions and add holes in the uncured clay. Now once you are satisfied with the texture of the tree and the placement of the objects, it is ready to bake. I will bake it in the regular oven if I can’t stand it up in the toaster oven. Some times I will support it with fiberfill and lay the tree on its side. If you do that you need to make sure your base doesn’t get mushed. That is usually why I bake it in the regular oven. Since I used premo, I bake it at 275 for an hour.

Making a Tree — Adding Polymer Clay

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