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.
• Before painting wipe surface with baby wipe to remove any oils.
• To help assure paint adhering to QW use DecoArt Adhesion Medium on first coat of paint.

Video on Quikwood Basics:

Sculpting Instructions:

Mermaid Getting Started:

Lay a piece of parchment paper over pattern. Cut 1/8” dowel 1 ¼” long. Mix 1/8” of QW and roll into a ball. Lay over pattern for face, begin pressing and patting to fill pattern. You will want to create a dome shape with it fatter in the center and thinner around the edges. Once you are satisfied with the shape lift bottom of face with blade and slip dowel in place.

For the top of the body mix ¼” of QW and roll into a log. Lay over pattern. Begin pressing and patting to fill in shape making sure to keep the neck in place. At bottom press and flatten making it thinner since the tail will be going over top of it. Allow to cure.

Merman Getting Started:

Lay a piece of parchment paper over pattern. Cut 1/8” dowel 1” long. Mix ¼” of QW and divide into two with one piece larger than the other (almost 2/3 :1/3, but not quite) . Align neck and roll smaller piece of clay into a ball. Lay over pattern for face, begin pressing and patting to fill pattern. You will want to create a dome shape with it fatter in the center and thinner around the edges

For the body mix use the larger piece of QW and roll into a log. Lay over pattern. Begin pressing and patting to fill in shape making sure to keep the neck in place. At bottom press and flatten making it thinner since the tail will be going over top of it. Allow to cure.

Mermaid Tail:

For the Mermaid tail mix ½” of QW and roll into a cone about 6” long keeping the end skinnier. Position over pattern, gently pat to filll in pattern applying more press when I get to the top. At the top push and fill out the pattern. Allow to cure.

For the bottom of the tail mix ¼” of QW and divide into 2. Roll each into a cone about 1 ¾” – 2” keeping the ends skinny.   Position over pattern with the fat part of the cone attached to the end of the tail, and gently pat into place. Blend end of fins to tail using extender if needed. Using knife shaped tool place notches on bottom of tail to created a scalloped shape.   Curl points of tail making sure top turns down so you have a place for a hook. Allow to cure.

Merman Tail:

For the Merman tail mix 1/4” of QW and roll into a cone about 2 1/2” long keeping the end skinnier. Position over pattern, gently pat to fill in pattern, applying more press to the top. At the top push and fill out the pattern. Allow to cure.

For the bottom of the tail mix 1/8” of QW and divide into 2. Roll each into a cone about 1 ¾” keeping the ends skinny.   Position over pattern and gently pat into place. Blend end of fins to tail using extender if needed.   Curl points of tail making sure top turns down so you have a place for a hook. Allow to cure.

Noses, Bra and Belt:

Mix up a sliver of QW and pull off a ¼” ball and roll into a cone to make a nose for the mermaid. Position nose on face and either cut off bottom of nose with blade to flatten or push up on bottom with blade. Repeat for merman making slightly smaller. Divide what is left in two and roll a coil about ¼” wide and lay across chest for her top. Gently flatten. For his belt use half of what is left and roll into a coil about 1/8” wide and lay across waist. With what is left flatten and cut out star using kemper star cutter. Lay on center of belt. Allow to cure

Adding Arms:

Mermaid- Mix ¼” of QW and divide into two. Roll each into a coil 3” long. Position over pattern and attach arms to shoulders. Bend arms following pattern. Allow to cure.

Merman- Mix 1/8” of QW and divide into two. Roll each into a coil 2 1/2″” long. Position over pattern and attach arms to shoulders. Bend arms following pattern. Allow to cure.

Hair:

Mermaid – Mix up 1/4” of QW and pull off ball that is 3/8” and roll into a coil about 3” – 4”. Starting at bottom and following pattern begin positioning on head having the hair wave up and down. Continue adding coils following pattern making sure curls connect to each other. As the curls get shorter use smaller balls of clay. Mix additional clay if needed. Allow to curl.

Merman – Mix up sliver” of QW and pull off very small balls for ears, rolling into oval and attach to side of head. Pull off small ball of clay and roll into 1” coil”. Following pattern begin positioning on head having the hair wave up and down. Continue adding coils following pattern making sure curls connect to each other. Allow to cure.

Finishing Mermaid and Merman:

Mix 1/8” of QW. Make hooks for top of heads by folding over a piece of wire and cutting to ½”. Pull off ball of QW and lay on back of head at hairline. Insert hook into clay. For him do the same thing. On the back of each add QW anyplace there is a weak spot like the joint on the tail, their shoulders and neck and top of neck. Add a piece of clay and blend to existing QW. Make sure clay does not show on the front. Allow to cure.

Fish:

For the smallest fish mix up 1/8” of QW and pull off 3/8” ball.   Roll remaining clay into double pointed cone. Lay parchment paper over pattern and place clay on body of fish. Begin pressing and patting to fill in shape keeping more presser on outside edges so that the body in thicker in the center. Roll remaining piece of clay into a coil about ¾” long. Lay on pattern and join to body of fish. Blend tail to body using extender if needed. Allow to cure. For the medium fish mix 3/8” of QW and pull off a ½” ball for tail. Roll tail into a coil about 1” long. For the large fish mix 1/2” of QW for the body.  For the tail mix 1/16” of QW and roll into a coil about 1 ¼” long. Create the med and large fish the same way you did the small fish. Allow to cure.

To add the fins, eyes, and lips mix 1/8” of QW. For the large fish pull off two balls that are about 3/8” for the fins. Roll each into a coil about the length of the pattern and lay next to body, keeping the contour of the body. Press and flatten. Use Exacto knife and cut front and back edge of fin. Pull off small ball for eye and lay on face. Pull off two small balls and roll into two small cones about 3/8” Place first cone below point of face and the second one below the first cone. Pull off ¼” ball of clay and press flat forming a rounded triangular shape. Lay pointed edge down on face with fat end lifted up to form side fin. Continue for the two smaller fish. Mix another 1/8” of clay, if needed to finish the other two fish. Using tool or pencil, press in center of eyes. Allow to cure

To make hooks for back mix 1/8” of QW and divide into three. Make hooks by folding over a piece of wire and trimming to ¾”. Roll clay into a ball and lay on the back of the fish and press the hook into the clay. Allow to cure.

Sun:

Mix ½” of QW and roll into a ball. Lay a piece of parchment paper over pattern. Lay clay in center and press and pat and fill space applying more pressure on the outside edge to create a dome shape. Allow to cure.

For nose mix a sliver of QW and roll into a long skinny cone for nose. Place in center of face.   Use blade to either cut off bottom of nose or to press up and flatten. Allow to cure. For the sun rays mix ¼” of QW and divide in two with one ball slightly larger than the other. Divide each ball into four. Lay parchment paper over pattern. Using the larger pieces make each into a cone about 1” long. Position at 3, 6, 9, and 12 on pattern with about ¼” amount on the inside of the sun. Roll the smaller pieces to ¾” and position between the other rays with about ¼” on the inside of the pattern. Pick up sun and lay on top of rays and gently press into place. Allow to cure.

To place hook on back of sun mix a sliver of QW and roll into a ball. Lay on the back top of the sun and press onto sun. Using pointy tool push through each side of ball until opening meets. Allow to cure.

Base & Tree:

Getting Started: For the tree cut a 3/8” dowel to 21”. Cut a 1/8” dowel into the following lengths: 15”, 11”, 1 ½”. Drill holes for 1/8″ dowels starting 3 ½” from top of 3/8” dowel. Place next hole 3” below top hole, the last hole 4 1 /2 “ below previous hole.

To center dowels in tree, measure each cross dowel, minus ½” and divide in two. Measure that length from end to center and place a pencil mark, place another mark ½” from that mark. Insert dowels into tree, place a drop of Super glue Gel on center section of dowel and then center dowel making sure they are straight. Wipe off any excess with a paper towel and allow to dry.

To make tree branches more secure. Cut 1/8” of QW and divide into 3 and then divided each piece in half. Roll into a coil about 3/4” and wrap around each branch next to center. Blend to branch and tree using extender. Allow to cure.

To make the pointy cone on top of the tree cut ¼” of QW and roll into a cone that is about 1” high. Flatten bottom by sitting on a piece of parchment paper. Allow to cure. Glue to top of tree with Super Glue Gel.

To add balls to tip of 2 lower branches cut 1/4” of QW and divide into 4 equal pieces. Roll each into a ball. To make it easier to work with allow to sit about 10 minutes.

Using pointy tool or #2 pencil press opening in each ball. Working one at a time, place a dot super glue gel in hole then place on end of branch. Gently pat and press until you get desired shape. Continue until all balls are on the tree. When happy with shape of all balls let tree stand to cure.

Drill hole in top center of 4×4 to insert tree. To attach dowels at each corner of base mix 1/8” of QW and roll into a 6” coil. Lay on corner of base and press into place. Blend edges with extender. Press dowel into place. Continue to blend QW if needed. Repeat for second corner. Allow those two to cure and then repeat with other two corners. It is up to you which size dowel you place at each corner. For cones on corners mix ½” of QW and divide into 4. Roll each piece into a fat cone about ¾” high, sit on parchment paper to flatten bottom. Allow to cure and then glue on top of dowels.