sculpey iii® glitter clay tie dye hair clips

Protect your work surface with a disposable cover, such as wax paper (or disposable foil).
TIP: Work on a metal baking sheet (wax paper or foil). Uncured clay may damage unprotected furniture or finished surfaces. Be sure to cover your crafting area appropriately.

Start with clean hands, unwrap, and knead clay until soft and smooth, or condition by running clay through a conditioning machine.
TIP: You can also condition by running clay through a pasta machine. Use a designated machine for clay purposes only. Clean hands with soap and water (or baby wipes) before switching clays. Shape clay, pressing pieces firmly together. Wash hands after use.

From ¼ bar of white Sculpey III®, make two thick logs. From 1/8 bar of each glitter pink, glitter blue and glitter violet, make one thick log. Place the logs next to each other sides touching as shown.

Bundle the logs and squish them together in the palm of your hand to make one thick bundle, then gently roll and twist the bundle to make a thick log.

Roll the log flat to form a thick striped slab, about 3/16" [.48 cm] thick.

Use your fingertips to drag the clays into each other making a tie dye pattern.
TIP: You can drag as much or as little as you like. Dragging in different directions will make a more random pattern.

Use the 1" [2.5 cm] circle cutter to cut out a circle from the slab of tie dye clay. This will be the beginning of a star. Use the blunt pointed tool to push five indents around the edges of the circle. This will give you little places to pinch the clay into points. Pinch each area between the indents out with your thumb and fingertip.  Repeat until you have five points pinched out equally. Test how the star will look by positioning it on top of the hair clip.

To create a moon shape, cut out a 1" [2.5 cm] circle, then use the same cutter to step over and turn the moon into a crescent by removing part of the circle.

Preheat oven to 275 °F [130 °C] and bake the stars and the moons for 30 minutes per ¼" [.6 cm] thickness according to package directions. Allow to cool completely before painting.
TIP: For best results:

• Bake clay on an oven-proof surface such as metal or aluminum foil. Oven safe glass or ceramic surfaces are also acceptable for baking; however please note that the baking times may take longer as the glass or ceramic surfaces take longer to heat up.
• Use an oven thermometer.
• Do not use a microwave oven.
• Do not exceed the above temperature or recommended baking time.

When the clay pieces are completely cool, glue them to hair pins with silicone glue. Allow the glue to dry completely before handling.

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