ArtFire

This one of a kind Autumn wall hanging was sculpted by hand in in polymer and is a delightful way to decorate your home for Fall. The large polymer clay Maple leaf was cut and shaped by hand, as was the Fall fairy, which appears to be part of the leaf itself. The leaf measures 9 inches tall and 11 inches wide, with the fairy measuring about 6 1/2 inches tall. To make the leaf stronger I sandwiched heavy gauge wire between layers of polymer clay. The wire forms the veins of the leaf. The edges of the Maple leaf have been thinned and curled to give it a more natural, organic feel. The pretty fairy is wearing Oak leaves for a skirt and top. To achieve the unique coloration I dusted the unbaked clay of the leaf and fairy with gold, green, and red Pearl Ex powders, then added a layer of clear Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel over the entire sculpture. I baked the piece for an hour, let it cool then repeated the process for an amazing depth of color (and a very strong finished product). Before baking I embedded a wire into the clay on the back of the plaque for hanging on the wall. I also covered the back of the sculpture with fabric to protect the wall from possible scratches. This sculptural wall art has beautiful depth and texture and would be a wonderful gift for anyone who loves Fall!

There were many inspirations for this wall hanging. First and foremost, it's my entry for the Polymer Clay Smooshers Fall Challenge. I think Autumn is one of my favorite seasons, and I get a creative surge at the end of summer. I find myself making all sorts Fall themed sculptures and home decor. This Fall Fairy was an idea that had been in the back of my mind for some time now. Using the Pearl Ex powders and embossing powder in this manner was a new technique for me, and I think it worked out even better than I had planned!

polymer clay, embossing powder, Pearl Ex powder, heavy gauge wire, fabric