Goodie Boxes
Kids have a new polymer clay video created especially for
them. MindStorm Productions presents its second video for
kids who want to have fun with polymer clay, continuing its
"Junior Artisans of Polymer Clay" series.
"Goodie Boxes" once again presents Kris Richards
in her role as teacher, fun-lover and polymer clay expert.
As a professional artist and author, Kris has a wealth of
experience to share. What makes her ideal for this children's
video is her ability to teach while obviously having fun with
her students.
According to Kris, you can use your Goodie Box to store "anything
you want- dead bugs, jewelry, marbles-it's your goodie box."
She begins by reviewing the tools and materials needed. Although
the tools have been selected with safety in mind, viewers
are asked to have an adult watch this early section of the
video because sharp blades and permanent markers will be used.
Then she says "Now the grown-ups can go away and we can
start making Goodie Boxes."
The first project is a coiled round box with a lid. Kris
gives a clear, well-paced demonstration of the basics of making
clay snakes and then winding them to make a freestanding box.
The same technique is shown for making the lid, and when she
gets to the "fussy" interior stopper of the lid,
Kris holds her audience's attention by saying "but the
box is yours and you're going to be able to store all kinds
of cool stuff in it." The box is put aside for later
decoration.
The next box can also be a coiled loop, this time using marbleized
or multicolored snakes. Thin snakes and flat polka dots of
clay are used to decorate this version of a coiled box. The
third box uses "tubes" of clay formed into loops
of different diameters. The result is a beehive-shaped box
whose layers are each a very bright color. This time the lid
is a ball made up of small pieces of the colors used in the
base. And what would a beehive be without a bumblebee? Kris
deftly demonstrates how to make one of these critters complete
with antennae made from dressmaker pins.
Next two important basic polymer clay techniques are shown.
Using two wooden skewers as guides on the work surface, Kris
rolls clay into thin sheets and, using black and white clay,
rolls two sheets into a cylindrical jelly-roll cane. She demonstrates
how to cut the cane (with adult supervision) into decorative
slices to affix to the various boxes waiting to be baked.
She also shows how to roll black and white sheets of clay
and repeatedly cut and stack them to create a striped cane
for additional decorative appliques for the goodie boxes.
Moving from coiled to slab forms, Kris shows her young viewers
how to make boxes which either stand on their own or cover
a paper mache form. She shows how to cut shapes from rolled
sheets of clay, affix them to a glue-covered heart-shaped
box from a crafts store, and make strips for the sides of
the box and lid. As before, she invites her students to bake
the box now "or set it aside and we'll add stuff later
to jazz it up."
Thicker clay slabs are used for the final box, a rectangular
box requiring multiple bakings. Kris introduces the use of
paper and clay templates and shows how to draw a picture on
the baked clay lid with markers; the drawing is protected
with varnish. Cookie cutters are used for decorative cutouts
for one box and rubber stamps are used with All of the projects
are bright, fun and visually exciting. Kris's final comment
sums up the video well: "We've made all different kinds
of boxes for all different kinds of goodies." Kids (of
all ages) who work along with Kris will learn many important
polymer clay techniques and will be inspired to create their
own unique artwork.
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