These cute trees are so fun with their tiny presents around the base. I show you, step by step, everything you need to know to create them, so sit back, relax, and watch as first I show you how, then have a go, and make your own.
The music from the video is English Country Garden by Aaron Kenny and Waterfall by Aakash Gandhi, both available from the YouTube Free Audio Library.
If you like my work, then please do have a look at my website, http://www.fionaabel-smith.co.uk/ and follow me on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/fiona.abelsmith and Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/fionaabelsmith.artist
I also have a number of Polymer Clay PDF Tutorials to buy in my Etsy shop, PolyOriginals - https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/PolyOriginals and as a video tutorial here - http://polyoriginals.thinkific.com/courses/winter-petals-summer-blooms-bangle-tutorial
Here is the link to my conditioning Polymer Clay video - https://youtu.be/pFx7frDYJG0
Here is the link to the Skinner Blends video – https://youtu.be/Ad0KmwKyVx8
Polymer Clay is oven baked, always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the brand of clay you are using.
I used FIMO Soft Polymer Clay, but all well-known brands of polymer clay will work well for this project. For the Tree Branches cane I used ¼ oz (7g) of White, Emerald, a lighter Green (½ Tropical Green – ½ Pistachio), and a darker green (1/4 Black – ¾ Emerald). The branch cane slices were – 1. more than ¾ inch(2cm), 2. less than ¾ inch (2cm), 3. ½ inch (1.25cm) and 4. less than ½ inch (1.25cm).
I used 1/4oz (7g) Indian Red for the Tree Pot. For the snowy base I used 1/3 oz (10g) of White. All the other amounts of clay for the ribbons, parcels and decoration were tiny amounts, so use what colours you have.
I used a Pasta Machine dedicated to Polymer Clay use to create blends/thin sheets and condition the clay. My Pasta Machine is an Atlas 180, and it has setting 0 as its thickest and 9 as its thinnest. There is a standard way of calculating the thickness of clay required, by using stacked playing cards. On my machine the thickness are as follows: Setting 0 = 8 playing cards, setting 1 = 7, setting 2 = 6, setting 3 = 5, setting 4 = 4, setting 5 = 3, setting 6 and 7 = 2, setting 8 and 9 = 1 card.
Other equipment you need is:
A polymer Clay Blade / Craft Knife / small roller / 4mm Cable Needle – or something similar.
2mm craft/jewellery wire (12 gauge) - 5 inches / 12.5 cm in length.
Wire Cutters, small round nosed pliers / needle or wire just larger than 2mm to make holes.
Liquid Polymer Clay/small brush (PVA glue would be okay for this project as an alternative) / PolyPaste if you have any, it can be found here - https://www.clayaround.com/shoppage/prod_6840404-Kato-Poly-paste.html - but is not essential.
Foam or sponge texture.
Biodegradable micro glitter – search online to see who has some near you. Bowl/container for the glitter.
Measuring spoons (mine are from Asda/Wallmart), or the Sculpey Hollow Bead Maker, or the cut off (and sealed) ends of 4 drinks cans.
Thick cardboard / 2 inch - 5cm round cutter and ¾ inch - 2cm cutter – not essential, just cut rounds roughly these sizes.
PACPEN – I use tiny cutters from Aggies Miniatures on Etsy. I used the Christmas set 04 - https://www.agneshorvath.co.uk/copy-of-pac-pen - again, not essential.
I used an extruder; you can simply roll the clay instead to a small thin roll. The Makins extruder just so you can see an example, can be found here - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Makins-Clay-Pistol-Multi-Colour/dp/B0018BOXWQ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3KAQI1HDG70R0&keywords=makins%2Bextruder&qid=1699959146&sprefix=makins%2Caps%2C122&sr=8-1&th=1 other retail stores are available. The Lucy Clay Czextruder can be searched for under that name, to see who has one near you.
Biodegradable wet wipes, or wet cloths for cleaning hands/tools.
I work on a large tile and use a small tile to bake on + small piece of baking parchment or something similar to use when putting the tree together.
Aluminium foil to cover the clay while it bakes.
Measuring sheet, or something similar – this is freely downloadable from https://www.printablepaper.net. I laminate mine so I can use it multiple times.
Ribbon to hang your decoration.
I really hope you have fun with this one, and cannot wait to see what you create.
Thank you so much for watching.