Quikwood Basics:
- Quikwood is a two part resin. When mixed together you have about 20 minutes of open time before it begins to cure. It will fully cure in 24 hours.
- Only cut off as much as you need at a time.
- Make sure it is thoroughly mixed together (no swirls of color) or it will not cure.
- Do not wear jewelry especially rings when working with QW.
- Apply Avon Silicone Glove before starting and as needed when working with the QW.
- Use DecoArt Extender to blend QW being careful not to use too much or it will make your QW gummy.
- To help assure paint adhering to QW use DecoArt Adhesion Medium with first coat of paint on solid QW areas.
Video on Quikwood Basics:
Getting Started
Drill hole in bottom center of bowl large enough to accommodate a 3/16” dowel. Push 2 ½” ball into hard surface to flatten.
Mix ½” of QW and begin pressing and flattening it on the sides of the ball. You do not need to cover flat area or the bottom of the ball where the legs will be attached.
Mix ¼” of QW and roll into a ball. Pinch with fingers to flatten and press into the bottom of the bowl. Press ball firmly onto QW. Insert dowel from through bottom of bowel into ball with about 1” out of the bowl. The ball should be longer than the skirt. Allow to cure.
Note: It would be easier to paint inside of bowl and areas covered with QW on the ball before assembling them.
Position cone on top of dowel and then remove. Mix ¼” QW. Roll into a ball and then press and flatten and cover bottom of cone. Press cone down on firmly top of bowl. Let Cure.
Making Legs:
Trim pointed end of 2 tooth picks to ¾”. Mix 1” of QW and divide into 2. Let sit 5 minutes.
Roll each into a coil 5” long. Stretch and roll toe to a point. Gently flatten top of leg and then place hole in top with a pointy tool. The legs should now be 5 ½”
Wait about 5 more minutes to attach heels. Lift foot up at about 3/4 “ – 1” mark. Push cut off end of toothpick into back of leg. You should have about ½” of the toothpick exposed. Shape foot so that toe is at the same level as the tip of the heel. Allow to cure.
Mix a sliver of QW and pull off ball about 3/16”. Lay on back of top of heel and blend down on point of heel and up on leg. Repeat for the second leg. Allow to cure.
Blend any extra clay onto Styrofoam.
Making the Cake:
Cut 1/8” dowel 1” long and mix up 1/8” of QW. Lay parchment paper over pattern. Pull off ball of clay about ¼”. Roll remaining clay into a ball. Lay on pattern and begin pressing until clay fills pattern. Roll remaining clay into a ball and lay in center of flattened clay. Gently press then insert dowel into center keeping it straight up and down. Allow to cure.
For flower mix up a sliver of QW and pull off ¼” ball. Roll ball of clay into a coil about 1” long. Lay on parchment paper and flatten with finger. Allow to sit 5 – 10 minutes. Pick up piece of clay and begin rolling at one end to make center. Once you have center then begin pleating bottom to fan out petals. Allow to sit and cure.
To finish cake stand and flower mix up 1/8” of QW. Pull off 1/3 and lay aside. Roll remaining piece into a ball. Lay parchment paper over pattern for bottom of stand. Lay clay on pattern and pat making a dome shape. Sit dowel end of top of stand down into center. Shim against something to keep straight. Divide remaining clay into 5 and roll each piece into a ball. Flatten the first piece to make petal and place on flower center. Continue with the other pieces shaping as needed. Allow to cure.
To finish cake mix up 1” of QW and divide into 4. Lay parchment paper over cake pattern. Roll first piece into a ball and then press on pattern keeping the piece round and all the same height. Repeat with two more pieces of clay. These are the layers of your cake. Lay first layer on top of cake stand and gently tap into place. To make the icing pull a ¼” ball of clay off of remaining clay and roll into a coil about 3” long. Lay on top edge of first layer of cake having the coil meet in the back. Add the next layer and pull off another ¼” and make a 3” coil and lay on top of 2nd layer. Place third layer on top. Pull off small ball of clay for leaves and then roll and flatten remaining clay to make icing for top of cake. Lay on top of cake, pull here and there so that it drips over top edge. Push some of the icing back if needed. Divide small ball into three for leaves. Roll each into a small cone and flatten. Position two leaves on front across from each other and lay flower on an angle between them. Then add a third leaf up from the back on one side. Allow to cure.
Making and Attaching the Head:
Insert 1 ½” of 1/8” dowel into top of cone, then press 1 ¼” ball on top, leave about ¼” – 3/8” for neck. Mix up a sliver of QW and divide into two. Roll one piece into a coil about 1” long and wrap around the top of the cone next to the dowel. Blend edge of clay to cone then blend other edge to the dowel using extender if needed. Roll other piece into a coil and lay on bottom of ball next to dowel. Blend edge of clay to ball and then to dowel. Using fingers to shape neck to keep it straight and smooth. Blend any excess clay onto Styrofoam. Allow to cure.
To cover face with clay mix up 3/8” of QW and begin pinching it between your fingers to flatten. Lay on face and begin pressing and blending until the head is covered. Blend at neck. Using palm of hand pat until the face is smooth. Allow to cure. Note: If you want your doll to hang you can put a hook in the top now allowing room for hair. If you are putting a crown on top you can put your hook in it. Also put a hole for your halo if you are making an angel.
For the nose cut a sliver of QW and pull off a ball about ¼” , roll into a cone about ¾” long and place on center of face. The end of the nose should go slightly below center. Trim end of nose with blade. Allow to cure.
Adding the Hair:
Doll – Mix ¾” of QW and pull off a ¼” ball. Roll into a coil about 1 ½” long and lay on front top of head. Begin waving back and forth as you go down the side of the face with a small curl at the bottom. Repeat for the other side. Pull off smaller ball and roll into a coil about 1” long. Start on one side of the top of the head and have the coil go up and down to other side of head having it end in a curl.
Created second roll on both sides the same way you did the first two starting at the top center. Make a third row the same way, and then begin adding more coils to cover the back. Mix up more clay as needed to complete the hair.
Once you have your head covered with coils pull off small balls of clay and add to any areas you feel that you need more curls. Insert pencil point or tool into each of the balls. Allow to cure.
Angel – Mix ¼” of QW and pull off balls about ¼”. Begin laying them at the hair line. Continue adding another. Using tool press hole into center of each ball either from the top or the front.
Banner:
Mix ¼” of QW and roll into a cone about 3” long. Lay clay on parchment paper over pattern and press and pat to fill space. Press with palm to smooth top. Allow to sit about 5 minutes. Lift fat end and wrap around top of dowel or skewer. Wait 5 minutes. Lift banner from parchment paper and begin lifting and waving starting at back and going to tip. Allow to cure.
Dress Bow:
Mix ¼” of QW and divide into 4. Use ¼ to cover bottom of cone and to fill in any gaps or holes along bottom edge. You will want to cover a little higher than the band. To do this pull off small pieces of clay and then press and flatten with your fingers, and then press and blend onto Styrofoam.
Position cake where it will be in the doll’s hand. Press into doll so that the top and bottom of the cake stand is pressed into the doll. Position banner in other hand, and insert bottom into doll.
Take remaining clay and roll into a coil about 5” long. Gently flatten on a piece of parchment paper until it is 3/8” wide. Try to keep edges even, if needed use blade to straighten. Lift and place on center front of doll and wrap around to the back. Gently stretch if needed. Gently pat into place. Use extender to blend back together. Pick up cake and press into place again, this will place an indent in the band.
Mix up ½” of QW and divide into two. Allow to sit 5 minutes. Set timer for 10 minutes. Roll each piece into a coil about 4 ½” long. Lay on parchment paper and flatten so that each coil is about 3/8” wide. Use blade to straighten edges. One piece will be the loops and the other the tails. Mix a sliver and roll into coil about 1” long and flatten to 3/8” wide. We will let sit until almost cured to attach, this will make it easier.
While waiting for the timer to go off mix up 1/8” of QW. Begin covering remaining Styrofoam with the QW by pinching and pressing between fingers and then pressing and blending into place on body. Leave intend for cake stand and place for banner open. Place mark on center back of ribbon so that you can center bow.
When timer goes off cut each coil in half by making a diagonal line in the center. (Note: if clay begins to get warm before the timer goes off begin working). Lift half of piece that you want for tails. Pinch opposite end of point and place on center of band. Have tail go up and down on dress. Repeat for other side. Lift up piece for loop of bow and pinch ends together. Place on center back. Repeat for other side. Stretch loops if needed and position so they are standing open. Make sure loops of bow are even from the front of the doll. Place other piece over center of bow to form knot. Push extra clay in top and bottom, if needed cut off any excess clay. Keep checking until clay hardens.
Adding Cake, Collar, and Buttons:
Either use a sliver of QW and place into indents in dress band and body or Super Glue gel and attach cake to body.
To make collar and buttons mix 1/8” of QW. Pull of three very small balls for buttons. Divide remaining clay into two and roll each into a cone about ¾” – 1”. Lay fat part of each cone at front center and wrap around neck. Gently pat into place. Roll three small balls for button and lay down front center, gently pat into place.
Attaching Arms:
Mix ½” of QW and divide into 2. Roll each into a coil about 3 ½” long and wait 5 minutes. Position top to shoulders and then wait 5 more minutes. Place hand around cake and position elbow on her right hand. Place hand around banner and position elbow out from body on left arm. Remove banner and keep checking positions of both arms until they are cured.
For top of sleeves mix ¼” of QW and divide into two. Roll each piece into a ball and place on top of each arm and press down on both sides and shape. Allow to cure.
Attaching legs:
Mark on Styrofoam bottom to make sure legs will be aligned both side to side and front to back.
Mix ¼” of QW and divide in two. Cut 2 wires about 4 1/2” long. Fold over wires and insert into top of legs. Insert wires into body where you made the marks leaving about 1” exposed. Roll QW into a coil about 1 ¼” long and lay around top of wire next to body. Blend top of clay to body and shape bottom of clay. Repeat for other leg. Adjust length of wires by pushing in or pulling out further. If any of the bottom still has Styrofoam exposed mix additional QW and cover as you did previously. Allow to cure.
Crown:
Mix up 1/8” of QW and divide into 5. Roll each into a cone about ¾” long. Place cones around bottom of straw (1/4” opening). Try to evenly position them. Blend bottom of crown together, and pull points out. Allow to cure.
Pull straw out. I used my exacto knife to loosen the straw from the crown. Mix 1/8” of QW. Cut 4” of wire to make a hook. Fold over round nose pliers and wrap ends. Trim stem of hook to ½”. Pull off a ball of clay and roll into coil. Insert into top of crown. Pull off a second ball and push into bottom of crown. Blend clay onto top of crown. Flatten excess clay on bottom of crown and blend into place. Position crown on top of head and press into place. Insert hook into top of crown. Allow to cure.
Wings:
Creating Wings: Place a piece of Parchment paper over pattern. Cut a 1/2″ of QW. Pull off 1/2″ ball and roll into a coil about 1 1/4″ long. Lay across middle section of wings. Flatten slightly. Pull off 1/4″ ball and roll into cone and place on top section, repeat for other side.
Keep pulling off balls of QW and roll into cones and place on each section. Each set of balls should be slightly smaller than the previous ones. Press slightly together after each addition so that they connect. Blend and Press bottom of wings together.
It will be easier to attach the wings when they are almost cured. Let them sit, but keep checking them. When they feel slightly warm they are ready to attach.
Attaching Wings: Mix sliver of QW. Pull off ¼” ball and place on back. Position wings on clay. I like my wings bent back. Keep watching wings and positioning until they are cured.