Thursday, July 23, 2020

Decoupage Air Dry Clay Scalloped Edge Dish

This is my story and I'm sticking to it! Lol! I wanted to make a large air dry clay dish that I could paint and decoupage inspired by something I saw on Mackenzie-Childs' retail site - this time using a purple checkered pattern on plain white napkins that I created myself! Things didn't exactly go the way I wanted them to. It was a comedy of errors but I ended up loving the challenge! 
It started with making the air dry clay dish!
This is the air dry clay that I had on hand - porcelain air dry clay and it looks great here .  .  .
but it was wrapped tightly in a flimsy cling plastic that was hard to remove.
Once I got the clay out of the plastic, I kneaded it until soft, and began to roll it out on a self healing cutting mat, to about a 1/4 of an inch thick.
 Then I tried sizing the almost 12 inch dish I would use to mimic the scallop edges on the clay.  I had a time trying to roll the clay out to fit the dish - so I got a smaller one that was 8 1/2" wide instead. 
Still, I had to cut out an area of clay to fit in the area I needed more of since I had to overlap the clay on the dish. I used water to help pressed the clay down with my fingers to seal the cut out piece of clay to the larger one. 
Then I smoothed it out again with the rolling pin. This time the dish fit. But unfortunately, when I went to remove the clay from the cutting mat, it was stuck to the mat. Getting it apart ruined the smooth finish. Are you asking why didn't I use parchment paper, since that doesn't stick? I tried that too, but it kept getting twisted when rolling, making marks and folds in the clay and I had a hard time getting the marks out!
 So I started again, this time using a silicone baking mat and adding a little bit of cornstarch to the surface. The clay barely fit on the baking mat, but worked none the less.  

I was able to remove the silicone mat from the clay by flipping it upside down and pulling it off onto the dish. 
 Next, I cut off the excess clay around the dish, but had difficulty shaping the clay to the scallop edges of the dish. There wasn't much of any clay scallops showing! They seemed too shallow!
I needed to use something to enhance the scallops and to hold the shape of the clay while drying.  So I grabbed some plastic spoonsding, ding ding! What a terrific idea! It was easy to lift the clay up with the spoons and to prop each spoon (scallop) using small paint bottles while the clay dried. Little did I know that it would take at least five days for the clay to dry.  And for a couple of days, I placed the contraption outside in nearly 100 degree temps to help with drying. I thought, "I should have used oven baked clay - but then, how would I prop up the scallops in the oven?"  

 While the clay was drying, I was finally able to make my own decorative paper napkin to use on the clay dish. This part was really cool! To do this, I found a checkered pattern online that mimic the famous MacKenzie-Childs design, but in purple! How cool is that! I taped a plain white paper napkin to all sides of a sheet of printer paper using painter's tape .  .  .
 and printed out the design - it was that easy! I didn't separate the napkin layers before taping and printing like I should have according to a couple of tutorials I read. But I'm quite pleased how easy the process worked!


Once the clay dish was dry - at least, I thought it was dry, I sanded some of the rough spots and edges and then painted it using white chalk paint. But when the paint dried, I could see tiny cracks all over it. What was I going to do? I decided the cracked paint would be part of the dish's charm.💜

Next, I made a paper template the size of the middle area of the clay dish and cut it out. Then I separated the white layers of the napkin from the checkered design .  .  .
applying Matte Mod Podge to the area. Then I gently laid the design over the area, smoothing it out with a plastic baggy. 
Once dry, I sealed the dish with more Mod Podge and let dry.
The dish needed something more, so I decoupage a cut-out border from a decorative paper napkin to the edges of the checkered pattern. I liked the way the colors in the border complimented the checkered napkin.
Then I added a mishmash of painted dots around the scalloped edges using the end of a dowel rod dipped in paint .  .  .
and finishing the look by painting the edge of the dish metallic gold. 
Once the dish was completely dry, I applied a few coats of a gloss varnish - drying between each coat .  .  .  
to achieve this lovely design - exactly what I was going for!
Disclosure I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites, this post may contain links. I may receive a very small commission at no cost to you! The affiliate money I earn helps pay my crafting expenses. Thanks so much for your support!


Welcome to another Creative Craft Blog Hop created by 
Chloe @ Celebrate & Decorate and Andrea @ Design Morsels!  I've teamed up with a talented group of creative bloggers to bring you lots of wonderful ideas and inspirations! Be sure to check out all of our awesome projects by clicking on the links below!
If you're hopping along this blog hop, your next stop is Sustain My Craft Habit with sisters, Jane & Sonja, sharing their adorable kids' apron pattern! 



Thanks for stopping by!


22 comments:

  1. MacKenzie-Childs watch out!! This is so fabulous Gail, I absolutely love it! I also admire your patience and skill, and how you so brilliantly figured this out! Wow, I am definitely blown away, so fantastic!
    Jenna

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    1. Thanks so much, Jenna! There were times I wanted to give up, but then I had no other idea for this hop at the time. I noticed MC has added a few items with purple stripes. Wonder if they're ever make some in purple checks? Wishful thinking!

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  2. WOW Gail! I have never used the clay before. You are making me want to try it. Love the colors and patterns you used. It is a pretty piece.

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  3. What a fun idea and as always love your color ;) Looks amazing, great tutorial, thanks for sharing, and wonderful crafting with you friend.

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  4. Your dish is beautiful!!! And it's a good thing you didn't use oven baked clay, because it would melt those plastic spoons : ) : ) !!

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  5. Your dish turned out great, I'm so impressed. Using the spoons to create the scalloped edges was brilliant! Happy to be crafting with you today ♥

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  6. This is so pretty, Gail! What a clever way to create scalloped edges! Pinning! Blessings, Cecilia @My Thrift Store Addiction

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  7. Well, it's not the destination, it's the journey and I totally enjoyed reading about what you did you get there! I really think that's what's so fun about crafting. You dodged all the obstacles and ended up with something wonderful! So well done and I love how it turned out Gail! (Sara @ Birdz of a Feather).

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  8. This is so pretty and I love seeing how you made it! Great hopping with you!
    Shelley

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  9. Gail, I always look forward to your purple hue crafts! Your step by step instructions are really helpful. Thanks for the inspiration.
    RR

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  10. wow this is a work of art! The photo with the spoons make is amazing. This is advanced. Thanks for taking part in the hop.

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  11. I've never seen a craft done this way, it's wonderful to see it come together from a lump of clay to a work of art.

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  12. Gail, you may have had challenges making this, but I hope you are happy with the results, because this is lovely! I have never used any clay, but you have me intrigued! I would have thought I needed to paint the pattern, but your idea to print it out and then decoupage it was brilliant! Thanks so much for hopping with us!

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  13. Gail, i came to visit after you commented on my blog post - and my oh my am i glad i did!!! what a creative idea this is, and i just LOVE your finished project! MacKenzie Childs has always been an inspiration to me, and personally i think those 'cracks' in the clay that you 'accidentally' achieved add to the charming handmade effect that is a hallmark of their work... well done! ~ deb @ homewardFOUND decor

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  14. I've never heard of clay air dry or any clay DIY. I'm so impressed that you stayed with the project even when it was giving you fits. It turned out beautifully. Very creative project.

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  15. What a gorgeous project. I love the scalloped edges and the bright colors. So fun hopping with you.

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  16. Wow Gail! This is such a cool project. You really nailed the Mackenzie Child’s look on that plate. I love how you found a creative way to keep the scalloped edges elevated to dry. Now I want to experiment with air dry clay! It was great hopping with you 😊

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  17. Oh that's stunning Gail. Love it. The color, the mix matched patterns and the teaspoon scallop edges. I had to laugh at your comedy of errors though. Geez I probably would have given up half way through

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  18. I love MacKenzie-Childs, too! Your dish is gorgeous! I love the scalloped edge and the gold you painted on it. And I love how you stick to your purple theme. Beautiful! Pinning!!!

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  19. I really love this clay dish, Gail and your persistence paid off. Look out MacKenzie-Childs there's a new kid in town! I laughed out loud at your clever idea for holding the scallops while it dried. Another amazing signature purple handmade craft and you are one of my features this week at the Snickerdoodle party.

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  20. Hey Gail! I selected this awesome dish as one of my features at today's Snickerdoodle Create Bake Make Link Party!! Have a great weekend!!

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  21. I absolutely LOVE this. LOVE LOVE LOVE this. Would like to try my hand at using the air dry clay. My daughter is using something similar to make 'tiny food' for fun. Your plate/bowl is just perfection.

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