Craft Focus - Dec/Jan (Issue 76)

48 Tips • Air-drying clay can be covered using most paints, inks and dyes. I have used cosmic shimmer intense pigment stains in this project. Dust and paints can also be added once the rose has dried. • This clay has its own glue but if yours is not sticking, fill the water pen and use this as an adhesive. • If you wish to make the centre of the rose fuller, use individual petal cutters and stack them in sets of five before adding to the centre. Inspire your customers with Cassie Brown’s stunning Old English rose project Based on a David Austin bloom, this Old English rose is made using one of my favourite FMM cutters. It makes light work of these stunning roses and is really versatile. The size is also perfect for many different projects. You will need: Smart mat* Rolling pin* Foam pad* Ball tool* Bright & Light clay* 70mm calyx cutter* Water pen* Pink and green colouring 20-gauge wire *Available from FMM Funcraft 1 Add a few drops of pink to the clay and mix well. Roll it out very finely, then lift from the mat to make sure it is not sticking. Place the smallest petal cutter over the clay. Press down, moving a little to make the cut. 2 Move the cut-out shape onto the foam pad. Hold the ball tool half on the edge of the petal and half on the foam pad. Roll the ball around the petal to create a thinner edge – this will add movement. Using the end of the rolling pin, press down into the centre of each petal to create a cup shape. Make five of these. 3 Stack each of the five petal cut-outs directly on top of each other and pinch the sides together. Push the petals towards the centre. If you are adding a wire, use a 20-gauge. Bend a hook into the wire and insert into the back of the rose. 4 Roll out the clay and cut out three of the largest petals. Soften the edges as before and cup each one. Push the wire through the centre of shape and ease the petal up the wire. Hold the rose upside down and move the petals to suit the shape you want to create. Repeat with the other two and leave to dry upside down for around two hours. Roll out the green clay and cut using the calyx cutter. Soften the edges using the ball tool and push it up the wire. Use a little water to attach using the brush. Roll a small pea-sized piece of clay and push up the wire, attaching to the back of the calyx. Make the ball into a cone shape so it covers the place where the wire comes out. This will make it look more realistic. +44 (0)1442 292 970 fmmfuncraft.com