whimsical bud vases

I love collecting little flower buds from the garden and I thought a set of tiny whimsical vases would be a fun way to display those bouquets.

I decided to use Fimo for this project- it is easy to use, affordable and from my experience, (and research) it is waterproof once baked in the oven.

I started by sculpting a simple head.

I added rabbit ears and small details.

I made a hole in the top of the head,  (deep) enough for a small flower.

The last step was to paint them with a light coat of pink acrylic paint.

Such a cute way to display little flower clippings!

oven bake clay pinch pots

There are so many different ways to use polymer clay and recently I decided to make some cute stamped pinch pots.

Using Sculpey I kneaded and then rolled out the clay.

Using my own rubber stamps, I stamped into the clay. Lucy helped me with this step and LOVES this process- It is simple yet exciting enough for a toddler to join in!

Next, I rolled the clay into the shape of a little pot and lightly pinched the seam together.

I added a round piece of clay for the bottom and again, lightly pinched the seams together.

I used a knife to add a little bit of texture around the top and bottom.

I baked the little pots in the oven according the directions.

After baking the pots, I got busy adding color. You could leave them white but I wanted to add a little extra color to really bring out the pattern and texture on the surface.

Using acrylic paint, I cover the surface.

While the paint it still wet, I used a damp cloth to wipe the paint away. You are left with a light wash of color and darker pigment in the impression of the design.

At this point you can leave it as is or you can seal it. I like using the same product I use to seal many of my painting projects- Golden Acrylic Polymer Varnish

I think these little pots so cute are perfect for tiny succulents!

clay plant stakes

If there is one thing that I love to give and receive it is plants and with Mother's Day right around the corner, I thought I would share one of my favorite ways to add a little bit of whimsy to a plant. Adding a decorative stake to a potted plant is a really fun way to incorporate something fun, especially when giving a gift.

I used oven bake clay because it is super easy, colorful and a fast!

I created round flowers and leaves- I kept the design of the flowers simple because Lucy was helping with this project- she was in charge of rolling out all of the little balls of clay.

I poked a hole in the bottom of each flower and then baked them in the oven according to the directions. After removing them from the oven I mounted the flowers onto stakes.

I love that there are endless ways to put your own spin on this project! I also love that with a few simple supplies, a pretty plant becomes even prettier!

oven bake clay present toppers

Oven bake clay is a great alternative if you want to play around with clay projects! One of my favorite things to make during the holidays is present toppers that can double as little ornaments.

I started with a few different colors of Sculpey oven bake clay - red, black and off-white. I grabbed a few of my favorite flower stamps from my collection. Anything that makes an impression can be used to make an impression or stamp into clay-stamps, leaved, flowers, decorative buttons, decorative jewelry are all things that can be pressed into clay!

I rolled my clay into little free form disks and then pressed my stamp into the surface and carefully pulled it away.

I poked a hole in each of my clay disks.

Next I baked the clay in the oven according to the directions on the packaging (275 degrees for about 15 minutes)

Once the clay cooled I painted the surface. I completely covered the entire surface with black acrylic paint.

While the paint was still wet, I wiped it from the surface with a damp cloth. The paint settles into the nooks and crannies of the designs!

The end result are rustic looking little present toppers that can also be hung on the tree!