Coffins With A Twist.

Coffins. Usually in design quite strait forward,  the typical coffin shape with R.I.P written on it. I sometimes make little items of jewellery like this but I tend to make more decorated coffins, something outside the norm (even for a coffin). When making coffins I focus more on the shape and what I can incorporate on to it, like roses, skulls, swirls, bats, sparkly glass crystals, and much more. The design of a coffin shape for me to cut free hand on the polymer clay is rather difficult because it's such a simple shape that the mistakes I make (before I get it right!) are quite a lot. So I drew up some templates so I could just cut out the shape from polymer clay without mistake after mistake.

I also use a polymer clay conditioning machine to, well condition the clay!. After I've conditioned it and have the thickness I desire I set about cutting out the coffin shape. When the basic shape is done I start thinking about what I could put on to the coffin. I put a very simple rose and leafs on a coffin I made yesterday, I also rolled out some small bits of polymer clay into long strips. Once they where rolled out I carefully made swirl designs on the surface of the pendant, I also made an oval shape from some effects polymer clay and put a Czech drop bead in the centre of the effects polymer clay (pearl white clay). I then baked the coffin and put a very thin glaze over it ready for the resin glaze I will put on it later on in the month. I also made coffin earrings which are made in the

same basic way the pendant was made, except that I mixed red and black clay along with blue and green on the other set of earrings to give a marbled effect

On another note I made a skull with some sparkly glass crystals into the forehead of the skull, I also set some in to the eyes for effect.

People often ask are skulls easy to make?. Well what's your definition of easy?. So I'll answer that question this way, baby skulls are very easy to make, baby skulls just refer to cute skulls, you may see them in cute Gothic jewellery. Often worn by lolita Goths or perky Goths. You can see my version of baby skulls on my blog about skulls. They are the cute ones with either flowers or swirls or maybe even both!. The more realistic skulls. Well they are much harder to make, but once you master them they become easier. Don't let making a skull that has gone wrong or looks a bit off deter you. We all make mistakes in the beginning  On one note I will say don't make them to rigid or without character. The skulls I make don't tend to be to realistic even though I can make realistic looking skulls. I personally love that bit of fun and it being slightly quirky and different. If your having trouble making skulls just by looking at a picture, I would suggest you find out if someone in your area is a jewellery artist and works with polymer clay. It's always easier to watch how someone else makes something as it gives you some new skills. Which can be invaluable.  Also ask what styles they can do as most people who work with polymer clay don't always make Gothic jewellery. A Gothic jewellery artist is hard to find especially in rural areas or small towns/city's. So those in the highlands of Scotland know they have one nearly on their door step hehe!.  

I hope you guys and gals enjoyed reading this as I enjoyed talking about what I love. 

KEEP IT SPOOKY CHILDREN OF THE NIGHT!!