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Need more help getting started with QuikWood (QW) go to this page: Quikwood Tips and Tricks
Getting started- Making accessories:
Tree- For this you will use the 3 star clay cutters. Mix ½” of QW and pinch and make a 1/8” pancake and cut the largest star, reroll clay and cut medium star, and reroll and cut the smallest star. Then using Kemper stars cut 1 next to largest star, and then cut 1 next to smallest stars and 5 medium stars. Wait 5 minutes and make remaining items while waiting.
Put a mark on your skewer at 2” from the top. Pick up largest star and lay on skewer with the top of the two bottom points on the mark on the skewer. Push two side points down and press top point against skewer. Pick up medium star and push two side points down. Lay top point on skewer. Pick up smallest star and push side points down and pull top point up. Lay on top. Pick up largest Kemper star and lay on top of tree. Using any remaining clay pull off small balls for ornaments and place on tree.
Banner – Using remaining clay, which should be about a 3/8” ball. Lay parchment paper over pattern and roll clay into a coil. Lay on pattern and begin pressing and filling in the shape of the pattern. Lay skewer with pointy end up, on clay leaving about ½” above banner so that you have room for snowman. You should be about ¼” from the end. Fold clay over skewer and back onto banner. Blend clay together. Using exacto knife cut v out in front of banner. Lift banner from paper and then lay back down creating a little wave with the clay going up then down and then the ends back up. Allow to cure.
Nose – with remaining clay pull off a ¼” ball and roll into a ¾” cone for a nose. Allow to cure.
Holly – Pull off a ¼” ball and a 3/8” ball to make holly. Lay parchment paper over pattern. Roll clay into a coil the length of the holly and flatten. Using your fingers begin pinching and creating indents and points in the holly. As it stiffens pick it up and continue to shape it. While on parchment paper lay across QW tube to give it a little bend.
Star Tree Hat – Mix ½” of QW and cut out the following : a medium and star, one each of the 5 Kemper stars and an additional small star. Using end of toothpick push in center of each star except one of the smallest Kemper stars. You will want to make sure the hole goes the whole way through so keep checking them and working with them while they cure. They should be snug but you should be able to get the toothpick through them.
To assemble the tree measure an 1” up from the bottom of thootpick. Cover the remaining toothpick with carpenters or white glue. Push the largest star down the toothpick to the mark. Keep adding the stars to the tooth pick leaving a little space between them. They should go from the largest to the smallest and the tip should stick out the top so that you can add the star. I have all the star points line up with each other. Keep adding glue as needed.
Candy Cane – Using remaining clay, roll into a 2 1/2” coil and lay on parchment paper over pattern. Gently flatten and allow tocure.
Gingerbread cookies & snowman on banner – Mix ½” of QW and pinch and flatten. Use medium gingerbread cutter and cut one, reroll clay and cut a second one. Allow to cure. For snowman body, pull off 3/8”ball and roll into a small oval and flatten bottom. Using pointy tool put hole in bottom. Pull off a small ball for the head and cut tip of tooth pick (about ¼”) off for nose. Place glue in bottom of snowman and slip on top of skewer. Attach head, and put small hole with pointy tool for nose. Put a drop of Super Glue Gel in hole and insert nose into hole. Allow to cure.
Roses- pull off two ¼” balls and roll into a 1” coil. Lay on parchment paper and flatten. Allow to lay a little to stiffen. Pick up and begin rolling from one end on an angle. Continue rolling keeping the inside bottomedge tight and the top edge flared out. Allow to cure.
Roll remaining clay into a coil and lay on back of Christmas tree. Blend to back of tree making sure the clay doesn’t show from the front.
Angel Wings:
Place a piece of Parchment paper over pattern. Cut 1/2″ of QW. Pull off 1/2″ ball and roll into a coil about 2″ long and 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. They should get gradually smaller. Press slightly together after each addition. Blend and Press bottom of wings together. Allow to cure
To attach the wings, mix a sliver of QW and pull off a ¼” ball and place on back of collar. Lay wings on top of clay and press into place. Allow to cure.
Note: Before filling shakers you will want to have your stars painted. If time permits it will be easier to have all of your accessories painted before attaching them to the shakers.
Filling Shakers:
If is up to you to choose what you would like to put in your shakers. I put red seed beads in my bird and Santa. I used a paper cone that I cut the tip off of as a funnel to put the beads in. It is also up to you how many you would like in the shaker. I put about an inch in the bottom of each and then put two painted stars in each. For the snowman I put a 3” bottle brush tree in the jar. I put super Glue Gel on the bottom of the tree and inserted it into the jar and held it in place until it set. I then put glass glitter in the jar up to the bottom of the tree. I was going to glue the star to the top of my tree, but it was too tall so I laid it on the snow.
Glue small star to top of the bird’s tree hat using Super Glue Gel.
Note: Cover the bottom of the jars with saran wrap so that you don’t get QW finger prints on them. You can also keep wiping them with baby wipes as you work.
Starting Snowman:
For the head use a 1 ½” Styrofoam ball and mix ½” of QW. Roll clay into ball and then pinch and flatten into a pancake. Lay on ball and then begin pressing and pulling the clay to cover the ball. Roll between hands to smooth out. Press and spread any thick areas on clay and then roll again. Continue working until you get it smooth. Press firmly to top of shaker. Insert nose into center front of face. You will want the face to be in the center of one of the panels on the shaker. Press clay around nose if needed. I like to have the nose turned up a little. Allow to cure.
For the halo wrap a piece of wire around the top of the bird shaker, having it loose enough so that you can get it off. Wrap ends together leaving about an inch. Trim and insert into back of head.
For the collar mix ¼” of QW and roll into a 4” coil. Lay center of coil on center front of shaker rim. Wrap around rim and connect in back. Begin flattening and pushing up until clay connects to the neck.
To attach the holly to the collar mix a sliver of QW and pull off a ¼” ball and lay in center front of collar. Insert leaves in ball. Pull off 1/8” balls for holly berries and place over clay above leaves. Allow to cure.
Starting Santa:
For the head use a 1 ½” Styrofoam ball and mix ½” of QW. Roll clay into ball and then pinch and flatten into a pancake. Lay on ball and then begin pressing and pulling the clay to cover the ball. Roll between hands to smooth out. Press and spread any thick areas on clay and then roll again. Continue working until you get it smooth. Press firmly to top of shaker. For the nose mix a sliver of QW and pull off a 3/8” ball. Roll into a 5/8” cone that is fat at the bottom and skinny at the top. Lay on center of face. Shape at the bottom by creating a triangular shape. Insert pointy tool in bottom to create nostrils. Allow to cure.
For the collar mix ¼” of QW and roll into a 4” coil. Lay center of coil on center front of shaker rim. Wrap around rim and connect in back. Begin flattening and pushing up until clay connects to the neck.
Starting Bird:
Head -For the birds head, start with a 1 ¼” Styrofoam ball and cut off ½” of the ball. Mix a sliver of QW and roll into a 2” coil and lay on top rim of jar. Pat down and lay piece of Styrofoam firmly on top. Allow to cure.
Mix ½” of QW and divide in two. Roll first piece into a 4” coil and wrap around birds neck next to rim. Press and push up to Styrofoam keeping the bottom of the clay thinner. You are trying to keep a round shape for the head. Take the other piece and roll into a ball and then pat into a 1 ½” pancake. Lay on top and blend edges together using a little extender. Keep shaping until you are satisfied with the shape of the birds head. Allow to cure.
For the crest on the bird mix a sliver of QW and roll into a 7/8” cone and place on top of head, blend edges to head. Continue shaping and push front back a little. Insert tree hat into top of bird’s head, reshape crest if needed.
Bird Beak -Mix a sliver of QW and pull off a ½” ball. Roll into a ½” cone and place on center front of face. Blend edges of beak to face. Reshape into nice little cone shape and then let sit 5 to 10 minutes before cutting beak open. Using exacto knife begin cutting at one side from the tip of the beak to the back of the beak. Do the same think from the other side. Use blade of knife to reopen. Reshape if needed and allow to cure.
Collar – For the bird collar mix 1/16” of QW and roll into a 4” coil. Lay center of coil on front center of bird. Wrap around neck and cut off excess. Gently pat into place. Blend back in place. Pull off a very small ball and lay on back of top star on hat tree. Gently blend into back. Pull off a ¼” ball for leaf and roll into small cone. Flatten and place on collar. Create a second leaf and place beside first leaf, then place flower beside leaves Allow to cure.
Santa Beard and Hat:
For Santa’s beard mix ½” of QW and roll into a 1 ½ ” cone. Lay on parchment paper and gently flatten. Begin pushing down in top center and pulling up on each side to make sideburns. Lay on face under nose leaving enough room for the mustache. Bring sideburns up to hat line. For the hat, mix 1” of QW and roll into a 1 ¾” fat cone. Roll the end so that is now about 2 ¼”. Pick up and flatten top end of cone. Using a pencil or pointy tool, push in top and roll to open up. Then begin pinching between fingers to make larger. If needed insert pencil deeper to open and then pinch between fingers. When large enough place on head and then pat edges in place, keeping them even.
Lift beard and have it wave up and then back down with tip turning up. For the hat band, mix 1/8” of QW and roll into a 4” coil. Place center of coil on center front next to hat and wrap around. If needed tug to stretch in back. Blend together in back and gently flatten. Pull end of hat down and then up making sure the tip has a little point on it so that you can add a ball later.
Mix a sliver of QW and pull off two balls that are less than ¼”. Roll each ball into a cone and then gently flatten to make leaves. Place on hat band and then place rose between leaves. Allow to cure.
Making and attaching Bird wings and Tail:
For the wings you will be using the center set of wings in the mold. Lightly spray mold with vegetable oil and pat off excess oil. For each wing mix ¼” of QW and roll into a 1 ¼” cone. Insert point into tip of wing and then begin pressing and filling in mold. You will want to make sure you get the clay right up to edges so that you don’t miss any details. Allow to sit in mold until clay is set and then remove from mold.
For the tail mix 1/8” of QW and divide in two. You will use the same mold you used for the wings. Check to see if you have enough oil on the mold, if not re-oil it. Roll each piece of QW into a 1 ¼” cone. You are going to lay the cone in the widest edge of the wing with the widest part at the tip of the wings .The bottom should fill two to three wing tips. Press into mold pushing the clay down and then up against the edge of the mold. Allow to sit in mold until clay is starting to set. Them remove and push edges together to form tail. If the tail has already set, join together with a little super glue gel. Allow to cure.
To attach wings and tail mix 1/16” of QW and divide into three with one piece being a little smaller for the tail. Roll into balls. Put a ball on center front of each side of body and place wings on top of balls. Make adjustments if needed. Off of the remaining ball pull off two small balls of clay for eyes and place on each side above beak. Place small ball and roll into cone and place on top of tail and attach to back center. Allow to cure.
Finishing Santa:
Mix 1/8” of QW and pull off two ¼+” balls for mustache. Roll each into a ¾” cone and place fat part under nose. Gently press in place leaving pointed ends sticking out. For the eyebrows, pull off two smaller balls about 3/16” and roll into a ½” cone. Place on edge of hat band with centers pointing up. Roll remaining clay into a ball that is ½”. Using pointy tool, place hole in ball. Add a drop of Super Glue Gel in hole and place on end of hat. Allow to cure.
Mix a sliver of QW and pull off ¼” ball . You are going to use this to hold the tree. Place the ball about 1 ½” from the bottom and a little to the right. Position tree there you want it and then press the trunk of the tree into the clay and then lift the tree out. Allow to cure.
Put a couple drops of Super Glue Gel into channel you created in the ball of clay and then position tree and hold in place until it sets. For the arms mix 3/8” of QW and divide into two. Roll each piece into a coil that is about 2 ¾”. Place ends of arms on collar. Bring hands over to cover QW that is holding the tree in place. Adjust arms as needed. Allow to cure.
Bird attaching Banner:
Mix a sliver of QW and pull off ¼” ball. Position banner under wing. Use a pencil to mark area of skewer that will be under wing. Place Super Glue Gel on skewer where it will attach to wing. Hold in place and then cover with ball of clay. Allow to cure.
Finishing Snowman:
For the arms mix 3/8” of QW and pull off a few small balls to place candy cane and cookies , then divide remaining clay into two. Roll each piece into a coil that is about 2 ¾”. Place ends of arms on collar. Pull off small ball and place on back of candy cane , then position on shaker and bring arm up and over to hold in place. For the gingerbread put a small piece of clay on the back of the first piece and then add the second one using a little piece of clay on back. Bring arm over and down over gingerbread.