by Shara Reiner & Jane Allen
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.
Video on Quikwood Basics:
Getting Started
Insert Dowel into pointy end of 2.5” Styrofoam egg, and then place 1” ball on top of dowel leaving ¼” for the neck. Mix up sliver of QW and divide into 4. Roll ball into small coil about ¾” long. Wrap around bottom of neck and blend into egg and then dowel. Blend until smooth using extender if needed. Roll second ball of QW into coil and wrap under head, blend onto ball and down dowel. Shape making sure to keep neck thin and have QW blended onto the egg and ball. Allow to cure.
Mix up ¼” of QW and divide in two. Roll clay into a ball and then start pressing and pinching to make a flat pancake . Lay on front of face and begin pressing and blending over head using extender if needed. Keep blending until clay is evenly distributed and smooth. Repeat for second doll.
Note: If you are going to make a hanging doll, now is the time to add the hook. Cut a piece of wire 1/5″ and push into head.
Adding Nose:
Mix up a sliver of QW and pull off a small piece for the nose. Roll into a cone shape and attach to face. Nose should start just below center of head and go up to forehead. Use fingers to press and blend nose as needed. Use blade to flatten bottom of nose. Allow to cure.
Video for Adding Nose:
Note: Any time you have extra QW wood you can flatten it and blend it on areas of the doll that are still Styrofoam. Be careful not to add the QW to an area that we are going to need to insert something like the legs and the head.
Creating and attaching Legs on Princess:
For Princess (doll holding bird) cut off 1/4” QW and divide into 2. Roll each piece into a coil about 3” long. Slightly flatten top of leg and then using pencil or tip of tool make a hole in the top of the leg. Allow to cure.
To attach the legs cut 1/4” QW and divide in 2. Cut two pieces of wire about 3” long and use round nose pliers to fold in half. Slip wires into legs and insert into the bottom of the body. Leave about ½” of the wire exposed. Also allow yourself enough room to work between the legs. Roll the clay into a coil about 1 ¼” and wrap around top of wire next to body. Blend clay into egg and then shape top of leg with fingers, using extender if needed. Repeat with second leg. If needed use an old paint brush to blend the clay between the legs. Adjust length of wires if needed by pushing in or pulling out. Allow to cure.
Mix QW up a sliver at a time. Taking a small piece at a time, flatten and press and blend to any Styrofoam area on the doll.
Video for Creating and Attaching Legs, for Princess:
Creating and attaching Legs and on Queenie and Creating her Star:
For Queenie (doll holding the star ) cut off 3/8” QW and divide into 2. Roll each piece into a coil about 4” long. Slightly flatten top of leg and then using pencil or tip of tool make a hole in the top of the leg. Let sit for about 10 minutes and then bend feet up. Allow to cure.
Star – Cut sliver of QW and roll into ball. Press and flatten on parchment paper. Press into clay. Remove excess and allow to cure. Wipe off cutter with baby wipes to keep the tool clean.
To attach the legs cut 1/4” QW and divide in 2. Cut two pieces of wire about 3” long and use round nose pliers to fold in half. Slip wires into legs and insert into the bottom of the body. Leave about ½” of the wire exposed. Also allow yourself enough room to work between the legs. Roll the clay into a coil about 1 ¼” and wrap around top of wire next to body. Blend clay into egg and then shape top of leg with fingers, using extender if needed. Repeat with second leg. If needed use an old paint brush to blend the clay between the legs. Adjust length of wires if needed by pushing in or pulling out. Allow to cure.
Star – Cut sliver of QW and roll into ball. Press and flatten on parchment paper. Press into clay. Remove excess and allow to cure. Wipe off cutter with baby wipes to keep the tool clean.
Mix QW up a sliver at a time. Taking a small piece at a time, flatten and press and blend to any Styrofoam area on the doll.
Video for Creating and Attaching Legs on Queenie and Creating her Star:
Creating Bird for Princess:
Bird – Cut 1/8” of QW, pull off a 3/8” ball. Begin pinching and pressing to pull up a head. Your bird should be shaped like a pear. Cut off end of toothpick and insert into head to create beak. Pinch off two little balls for wings. Roll into cone shape and flatten. Attach wider part to each shoulder. Pull tip of wing out. Allow to cure.
Video for Creating Bird:
Creating and Attaching Arms and Star for Queenie:
Cut ¼” of QW and pull off a small piece Attach it to the back of the star. Decide where you want the star and press against body. Remember you will want to keep the star and arms high enough so that you can easily add the tutu. Divide the remaining clay in two and roll into two coils about three inches long. Position one hand on star and take it up to the shoulder. Remember to give her and elbow. If you have too much clay pinch off the excess. Repeat for the other arm. Press gently into place and blend in shoulders. Allow to cure.
Video for attaching Queenies Arms and Star:
Creating and Attaching Arms, Bird and hair for Princess:
Cut ¼” of QW Decide where you want the bird and glue in place with Super Glue Gel against the body. Remember you will want to keep the bird and arms high enough so that you can easily add the tutu. Divide the remaining clay in two and roll into two coils about three inches long. Position one hand under the bird and take it up to the shoulder. Remember to give her and elbow. If you have too much clay pinch off the excess. Repeat for the other arm by placing hand under other hand.. Press gently into place and blend in shoulders. I keep the hands out from the body so that I could slip tutu under them. While the clay is still soft I push my blade behind my hands and pulled them out. I then added a piece of parchment paper behind them until they cured. Allow to cure.
Hair for Princess – Cut a sliver of QW and divide in two. Roll into coil about two” long. Begin rolling at one end until you get the desired size bun. Attach to each side of head. Remove excess clay and blend into place.
Note: Attaching bird with a small piece of QW will extend it out from body. Then lay hands on bottom of bird, this will assure you have room for the tutu.
Video for Attaching, Arms, Bird, and Hair for Princess:
Hair and Crown for Queenie:
Hair & crown For Queenie: Cut a sliver of QW and divide into two. Roll ½ into a ball and place on top of head, insert crown. Blend QW onto crown and head. Divide remaining piece of QW into 4, roll each piece into a ball and attach to sides of head for hair.
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