Instructions for Making A Jewelry Picture Frame with One Cutter

The directions below are for making a little polymer clay picture frame using only one Poly-Tools clay shape cutter to create the frame, and perhaps a second cutter to use to add texture to the front of the frame.  To make a frame 3 pieces will be needed.  The front of the frame should be cut from clay at the thickest setting of a pasta machine or about 1/8".  The center piece is a very thin piece, it is the piece which separates the back from the front and creates space for a picture to be inserted.  The back piece can be made of thinner clay than the front, but should be thicker clay than the center.  I made all three pieces on our 2" aluminum squares, as it was very easy to just set them in the oven for curing without disturbing them. 

	Place the cutter dull side down on the clay for the frame front.  Clay should be about 1/8" thick.  Cut around the frame with a clay blade or a craft knife.  If there is a rough spot on the outside of the cutter it can be sanded off.		The clay for the back can be thinner than for the front.  About the third thickest setting of a pasta machine worked well for me.  The back of the back can be textured and colored with powder to match the frame coloring.
	This is the middle piece to allow space between the front and the back for a picture.  Pieces of 22 gauge wire could probably be substituted for this piece, held in place with a small amount of liquid clay.		To cut the center out of the piece for the front of the frame, place the cutter, sharp edge down in the center of the shape.  Look from all angles to be sure the cutter is centered.  Then press through the clay and remove.
	The center of the front piece can be removed.		One of the cutters was used (dull side in this sample) to add texture to the front of the frame.  The sharp edge can be used as well, just don't use enough pressure to cut clear through.
	Once the front of the frame is textured, powders can be used to color the clay.  In this sample, Ranger's Perfect Pearls, Aged Patina colors were used.  The edge of the middle piece and back can be powdered as well.		If texturing created any uneven edges, trim as needed, then re-powder that cut edge.
	Here, Fimo liquid clay is being added to the middle piece of the frame, and it will be sandwiched between the front and the back and cured.		Here the middle piece of the frame is set on the back of the frame.
	This is the finished frame.  It can be wrapped with wire, making a loop at the top in the center to hang it from a chain or cord.  A clay bale could have been added to the top of the back.  Just be sure not to block the opening where a picture can be slipped in.		Just a few pictures of some of my friends and family.

Clay Cutters | Clay Shape Cutters | Clay Texture Jewelry | Clay Jewelry Frame | Clay Jewelry Picture Frame | Textured Clay Picture Frame

Images and content © 2002 Poly-Tools, Inc.