Press a texture of your choosing into the clay. When using Mayco’s mats gently press down in the middle and work your way outward. Once the mat is secure, go over with a rolling pin to be sure the design is applied evenly. Begin rolling lightly in the center and increase pressure slowly until the mat is pressed down all the way. Remove the mat. Depending on how you want to make your monster you may want to leave some of the slabs without texture.
Cut a circle or oval out of the slab and use a Slump & Hump mold to shape it. Let it set up for about 15 minutes before handling. Repeat this step so you have 2 parts to create a shell. I squeezed some of the finished forms to create more of an oblong shape and I cut off excess to make smaller monsters.
Slip and score edges of the forms to attach to make a closed form, or I offset a pair to create a big mouth on one!
Once you have created the form you are free to create little details to add on. I rolled up slabs to make tubes for legs, attached stamped slabs to layer textures, pinched out a big tail, and hand-rolled eyeballs. All to be slipped and scored as attachments.
Once all of the details have been created and attached, cover loosely with a bag so they can dry slow, to help reduce any cracking that could occur.
Once completely dry (after 1-2 weeks) fire to shelf cone 6.
Using a CB-604 #4 Soft Fan or a CB-106 #6 Script Liner, apply 2-3 coats of color to the desired area. Let dry to the touch in between coats.
Supplies
Form
White stoneware clay – LWC 401 B-mix
Colors
SC-11 Blue Yonder
SC-13 Grapel
SC-15 Tuxedo
SC-16 Cotton Tail
SC-24 Dandelion
SC-27 Sour Apple
SC-73 Candy Apple Red
SC-75 Orange A Peel
SC-76 Cara-bein Blue
SC-26 Green Thumb
Decorating Accessories
CD775 Triangle Slump & Hump Mold
CD777 Oval Slump & Hump Mold
CD776 Circle Slump & Hump Mold
CD1072 Spiral Press Tools
CD1223 Celtic and Leaves Continuous Design Press Tools
