Mug with polymerclay decor. Sunflower

Author: Ilana Kosenko
Date: 09.2017

• Type: modeling
• Difficulty level: low
• Time: 2 hours

Mugs decorated with polymer clay (bakeable polymer clay) had become very popular recently. This amazing material, so similar to plasticine, is great for creating astonishing crafts, and, at the same time, helps to retain this beauty for many years. The artisan creates these mugs for order, teaches how to work with this clay in master classes and is willing to share her secrets. Be sure to try and work with polymer clay, because creating such gift with your own hands is surprisingly easy!

List of materials:

• White mug
• Polymerclay Premo Sculpey, 5572, Cadmium Yellow Hue
• Polymerclay Premo Sculpey, 5323, Green
• Polymerclay Premo Sculpey, 5392, Raw Sienna
• Polymerclay Premo Sculpey, 5042, Black
• Acetone
• Epoxy glue
• Soft pastel
• Brush, knife, toothpick

1 Use acetone or alcohol to clean the mug from grease.

2 Mix green, brown and black clay to get the desired shade of green.

3 Roll the clay into a sausage shape, form the sunflower stem on the mug.

4 Form the sunflower leaves and attach them to the stem.

5 To get rid of the fingerprints on the clay, wipe the clay with a cottons swab dipped in acetone or alcohol.

6 Knead the yellow clay. Form it into a sausage shape. Cut into equal pieces to make petals.

7 Form the previously cut pieces into droplets

8 Lay down the sunflower petals on the mug in a circle.

9 When the first petal row is laid down, remove the fingerprints with the cotton swab and acetone

10 Using a toothpick create grooves on the petals.

11 Lay down the second petal row, remove the fingerprints and create grooves.

12 Mix black and brown clay, for the middle part of the sunflower.

13 Use the mixed clay to form a ball of the required size and use it to fill out the middle of the sunflower

14 Use the toothpick to create a texture in the middle of the flower.

15 Use toothpick to draw streaks on the sunflower leaves.

16 To make a sunflower look more realistic, tone the raw clay with dry pastel. Use knife to crumble the pastel.

17 Apply pastel on a flower using a brush.

18 Let the flower bake in an oven for an hour. The required baking temperature is different from brand to brand. Premo Sculpey clay requires 130 °C to bake. If the temperature is lower the flower will not bake evenly and will be fragile. If the temperature is higher, the flower might overheat, darken and burn.

19 After baking let the mug and the piece cool down. When it cools down – separate the flower from the mug.

20 Clean the mug surface and the inner part of the decor with acetone or alcohol.

21 For better adhesion, scratch the inner side of the piece with a sharp object. Mix the two-part epoxy glue according to the instructions. For a better result use the adhesive with bond time of 3-5 minutes.

22 Apply glue on a decor piece using cotton swab.

23 Attach the piece to the mug. You can immediately remove the excess of glue with a cotton swab and acetone.

24 You can start using the mug in 24 hours, when the clue has fully dried. It is a real pleasure to drink tea or coffee from such a mug.