Saturday, January 22, 2011

Salt Ceramic Glittering Icicle

Salt Ceramic Glittering Icicle


Technique: Modelling

Materials:
1 cup salt
1/3 cup water
1/2 cup cornflour
1/4 cup water, extra
spray adhesive
glitter

Tools:
saucepan
stirring spoon

Combine the salt and 1/2 cup in a saucepan and stir constantly over a low heat for around 5 minutes. You don't want it to boil (and burn), but you do want the water at as close to boiling temperature as you can get it. What you are trying to do is make a saturated salt solution, that is dissolve as much as the salt as possible in the water.

In a separate container combine the cornflour and 1/4 extra water until you have a smooth paste. Remove the pot from the heat and working quickly, pour the cornflour paste into the sauce and mix thoroughly. It should come together into a dough. Cover with a damp towel and allow to cool for around 15 minutes then knead until smooth.

Salt Ceramic, also called Victorian Salt Clay, makes an excellent modelling "snow". It feels very similar to regular playdough but it still has full salt crystals which give it an element of sparkle. To make an icicle simply take a ball and roll it between your palms until you have a cone shape. Flatten off the top a little and push in a stainless steel safety pin.  It must be stainless steel or it will rust! Set aside to dry on parchment paper for a week, and then seal, spray with glue and then glitter.

A word of caution on storing salt doughs. Salt is a humectant, that is it will draw moisture from the atmosphere. It must be sealed thoroughly otherwise over time it will draw moisture into the dough and it will soften.

No comments:

Post a Comment