I love working with Polymer clay. I use Sculpty3 and Premo Clays. I bake it in the oven after I create the critter or whatever. Boo wanted me to add it here but I don't really think of it as "Garden ART" I love making it, so will show you all some of my Clay Creations....








this last one is going to England to stay with Muriel and her husband Peter and I don't want to forget my inspiration, Tilly The Cat. Who happens to be a tortiseshell, Talk about fun to make. i had fun blending and making this gorgeous cat.
I put loops on the back to hang these critters with. let me know how you like them, I have more to show if you wish...

New tutorial:
The thread "Polymer Clay Garden Stake Tutorial" in Garden Art forum
http://polymerclaycentral.com/ Check this out for Polyclay help.

Thanks for sharing these clay creations, Charleen! I almost fell over myslef when I saw you post them this morning on Facebook.

I think anything can be garden art...and what you do with clay is fun and gives us all ideas on what we could do to add fun things to our garden!

QUESTION:
If you create a piece of clay, can you add a stake to it so it will harden around it and it could be added to a container?

Wow Charleen - very nice!

Good question Becky

Horse ornaments

Yep!! It can and has been done.


You have to make it thin enough and I use a popsicle stick and COMPLETELY cover it with clay. That wood will draw moisture and rot by itself.

:hurray:
Where do you buy your clay?

See this is for sure garden art!!!!

I have these boring stakes I purchased super super cheap. They are metal and at first I was thinking of painting them but now.......can I cover metal with clay and bake it? I AM EXCITED!

That monkey is absolutely the coolest little thing!!

Oh, Yes, But you have to remember to bake them according to package directions. Metal is even better, I would think.
Are you going to glure them on or create something right over the stake??? Michael's, Joann's both have it and sometimes even Wal mart but not such an array of colors. Michaels and JoAnn's even have coupons to use. I love those two places . they have these wonderful little things that look like cookie cutters for clay. Oh, Boo, you don't know what you're getting into. I also have a pasta maker that's never seen noodles but oh, At the clay it has conditioned. I love to play with clay. I see where you are going to cover it now. You can get a glue that is made specially for clay. Get a bottle of that too. You are going to love it. I am so excited to be such an enabler to clay.....

Charleen the ENABLER!!!
I can't wait to go try this. yes, I will try adding the clay all over the metal stake. I have 4 dozen of them!

Oh, My Gosh!!! Where did you get them?? What kind are they?? Round or flat ???
I got to take a picture of my little drgon flies. BRB.

They are flat....I found them in clearance at a grocery store garden aisle. Now I need to go find them!!!

Also, I can I cover things that are wooden with clay and they won't rot?

YOU, my friend, are creating an addict now! Another friend of mine, Lynn, makes gorgeous jewelry out of clay. But I've never worked with it except for playing a board game my kids have.

You have to completely cover them. Roll the clay verythin and form it around the wooden sticks.

Dragon flies


More dragon flies

Sea horses too!

oh I am jumping for joy!
I love the dragon flies...
Are those sticks actually covered with the clay too? Do you drill the hole before the clay goes on? What is the hole for?

Those are storebought tags. Holes in bottom of tag. to hold them in soil I guess.
I made the little dragons and glued them on those stakes, they are plastic garden tags.

ahhhhhh I get it. So they can be glued onto things after baking.

But it's a GOOD addiction

But they make a polymer glue that is best used. It bonds the clay to the stake. You don't want it braking off. so have to watch how thin you make it. Another thing, I love to use a clay that "glows in the dark" it brings the kid out in me.

An addiction that is no calorie too, right Vic?

Glow in the dark sounds cool. I may not start for a little bit...i want to watch your lesson, Charlene!

Charleen does the greatest polymer clay stuff, doesn't she? I've received several pieces from her and love them all! I'll get a picture of the dragon she made me - it's awesome!

Just a word of caution when using PC, don't use anything you will ever eat from when working with clay. And if you use your regular oven it has to be cleaned very good before you cook in it. The best thing is to get a convection oven just for clay....

Chris, I need more $$$ to buy a special over for my clay? I think I will save $$ and stop cooking in my current one.

That is so true. It does have fumes. I have one cookie sheet that I use only for Clay creations. I also spray them to make them shiny. I have settled for Rustoleum Crystal Clear Enamel. Seems like some of the others make them stick to each other when shipping. I also try to wrap them in Parchment paper when shipping. i think the Spray helps make them a little stronger too!!!