Stamped Paper Clay Charms

In honor of the upcoming charm swap (which is still open if you'd like to join) I thought I'd share a fun way to make some stamped charms....

Paper Clay

Stamped Charms

All you need to begin is the paper clay, a few rubber stamps and some eyelets.  I should warn you, clear - polymer stamps don't work well for this technique.  The polymer material doesn't have enough body to make a clean image...they come out all smooshy and deformed looking.

Here's what the paper clay looks like...almost like regular clay but it's got a feel all it's own.  It might be my imagination but you can almost feel the paper pulp in it... it's not as smooth or slick as regular clay is.

It starts to dry out quickly so I usually just tear off a small hunk that I can use within a few minutes.  When I'm done with that bit I tear off another chunk.    Leave the rest in the package with the opening folded shut....just keeps it moist enough to work with till you need more.

As far as the stamps go, you'll need stamps that have bold areas without too many fine lines.  The Graphic 45 eye stamp (between the poison & owl stamps) didn't work very well.  There were lots of tiny lines really close together and it just didn't translate well when stamped into the clay.

The rest of these images worked just fine.

Stamp Credits: Eye, Bee, Graphic 45; Owl, Cat, Witch - Artistic Outpost; Skulls, Poison, Spider - Alpha Stamps

Now, knead a small piece of the clay and gently form an oval, ball, square as needed.  Press the clay flat with the back of the stamping block. You can make the charm as thick as you'd like but the thicker it is the longer it will take to dry.  I usually press mine so it's about 1/4" thick.

Press the plain un-inked stamp into the clay and peel the clay off the stamp if necessary. 

Now press an eyelet into the clay where desired.  Don't worry if it doesn't go all the way through...this is just to ensure there will be a hole in the finished charm.

One package of paper clay made 25 charms and several tiny frozen charlottes and one medium sized charlotte.  

Now comes the hard part....letting them dry.

You can speed drying in a very low oven but I've never had much luck with it.

I usually just let my paper clay items dry naturally.  Depending on the temp/humidity it may take up to several days for the charms to completely dry which is why I started them today. 

They should be ready to decorate on Monday :)

So, this is where I'll leave you today.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!