Recently, I was presented with the challenge of coming up with a headpin component that could be used as a functional embellishment to another flat component. With our fearless leader,
Jennifer Cameron's gorgeous glass headpins as inspiration, I decided to try my hand at polymer clay ones.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8LX_RFvLB1DZp8L1y5iijA2anl1Dg5akcZv6FVFjJLNUy2YsHlu8wW1h7DeyA9Omn7KhV7kJJz6XgkjhYdSJvG0WtEw9YuQziStVZaUFk5XH1ZHE0YKDpHD3XIOMGCmviWtYWYFxE3fCR/s640/6.jpg) |
My finished pin bouquet! |
I started by making balled headpins of 18g copper. Then I formed small round balls of clay. Initially, I wanted to keep them round and embed the copper pin within the ball, but they kept getting way distorted and plus, I wanted to texturize the clay. I opted to flatten the balls by pressing them into my rubber stamp, then pushing the headpin through the middle.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Tc-jBSdzagd2ZpEdL__3LayLe_GNJHx0VYUxFpzofxuxqQpkD3dRnOZi5W6iH3KjzC-U5IQKw6TuSYHnB3ypQuBF4zjLbE7bLpWKFq2vna22Id8cnT-yre3d0f455d2deWSLwhSKWvvE/s640/2.jpg) |
Raw clay with headpins, and little balls waiting to be smushed. |
I questioned whether just baking them as is would be strong enough for functional use, so I added liquid clay between the pin and clay.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSQmMxlOj21SOcjRaXTUWNXPpYeR4ddAKEXOGXE8CwjFwzCsEWa1IgeDFEljEAVWPxdTqoJqR-EVUNtJiAOgbIBOmseklzxCWvHOm6jPXjSQ84uCFnCP1i1WWnUMyohqfAa0BKdWJnA6LN/s640/3.jpg) |
Translucent liquid clay around the base of the headpin. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVTq76bhUZOE91PVOktvJ5k0DrHhnUI-EmQuzlrWygxd3zLBEk8yOM6zjo37EcenMW5sB-XvwcNVVAqDkZHp5zlhgX1z4MBf2kagzf5pb7ue7NQll7lBBfucJd5rmLNHkSGDCi8EjWopAG/s640/4.jpg) |
I pushed the clay base up to the pin, then cleaned off the excess liquid clay. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfrxOZvgD3YZEr8VP9wonafVm_dMyqyrF-LsiopLvDIoOB1qX51e4kshaHD06KXY8JBijKvgRJeGoueHEDrFmxH43JBupsjo-QBMCumv3khOvNfJF-IbmFpesh9rPDBjkLC9PD0mfHcTb2/s640/5.jpg) |
I also added it to the back of the piece, trying to work it down in the crevice! |
I let them dry overnight and then debated how I was going to color them. I decided I wanted them to have an "old world" feel to them and the texture plate I had used reminded me of a damask-type pattern, so I opted to use Pearl-Ex powder before baking, which left them with an irridescent glow.
After baking, I sealed them with Varathane in a matte finish. Success!
In a light bulb moment, I thought this design would be cool with translucent clay, and had recently acquired a few packages of Pardo Translucent clay. After I first started playing with polymer clay, I purchased a great tutorial by
Ginger Davis Allman, of The Blue Bottle Tree, featuring faux glass effects and wanted to give it a try.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi99tic2Df12WlHVAXcKvYV_kshBCg3vEtJ7iyGillc1ntMwXqlwaAPLwdfA69NQQwWEOYjOYEY8wboqY83ijey1jYBkApFPNjaaESQSQ8E4NufyJXfS7VF1D5GsiZRBzyNwGoPAwFlzJD1/s640/7.jpg) |
After tinting the base clay with various alchohol inks, I made my bases as before. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizTDjOiiTTypjt5VyQ5klEUF8L4ZK_hq2hFrR6n0SNOXB0x6Llwe3pvU2FuN0mYw2PVwAGq60WmJsm3MgcI0g-dim-vpwV8pISt29pfwdp0GgP7WKr3BgXxYFb9RTdvxZLCrhmbSzZ2nL6/s640/8.jpg) |
After adding liquid polymer and Pearl-Ex, plus some additional texture. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw3rwnFthkcTj6dixGk91BOvijlCo_j36l4GxVcGac97HlQY7mGrZbe5KU_eM2TShYGyXNg2EtOfLhzi-17L1MDVmsKDR9c0eszVWVYnL85rGmcKNHp8RByuwHo6YL-kOutjfND8E_S5km/s640/9.jpg) |
These turned out just ok...not very translucent though. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8wiASgI8FqIjt4uuaB1IJO06X6VlD_wQNoAEQkEayZ0-4iZSgS6fy6lLRwShSD4DyG7QhyoygDCqJKLngjn1o3E-1bBmIPPeY-Reoj0g6_xguC6kJRqrHvqTBRCeuFFiYMuGBcHDyCxAk/s640/10.jpg) |
These, however, turned to molten blobs! |
Well, as you can see, I need to go back and figure out my baking time/temperature for these! My hubby really liked these burned ones, though! I definitely will be adding some of the original ones to my shop and will be playing with the translucent ones some more...stay tuned!
Thanks for stopping by!
How fun Melissa. I have made a few polymer clay headpins but I shaped them like the teardrop lompworked headpins that I have seen. I like your discs.
ReplyDeleteVery cool. I loved seeing how these worked. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThese are beautiful little creations! Love the pin bouquet! I even love the burned blobs!
ReplyDeleteI love that Jesse thinks the burned ones are the best. haaaaa.
ReplyDeleteI'm with your husband. I really, really like the burned ones. Call me goofy, but I love the gritty, art noveau look. As Bob Ross always said, "There are on mistakes, only happy little accidents."
ReplyDeleteI like this idea.
ReplyDelete