This project will provide two hours of great family fun if you and the kids make it together. Polymer clay is very easy to work with.

You'll need:
360g Fimo modelling clay (from craft stores)
25 x 30cm piece of glass or flat piece of wood covered with aluminium foil
Rolling pin
Knife
Piece of lace or textured fabric
Pencil and ruler
Fimo metallic powdered paints in Lavender, Red, Antique Gold
No 6 or 7 paintbrush
Heatproof clock face, movement and hands
AA battery
Step 1
Cut out the template (see end of instructions) and enlarge 250% on a photocopier. Soften the Fimo modelling clay in your hands by kneading it for 10 minutes.

Step 2
Use a rolling pin to roll out a piece of clay onto the glass or foil-covered wood until it is 1cm thick. Lay the enlarged heart-shape template on the clay and cut around it with a knife. Using the wrong end of a paintbrush, make a hole in the centre of the heart to accommodate the spindle on the clock movement.

Step 3
Firmly press a piece of lace into the surface of the clay, using your hands or a rolling pin to create a pattern. Gently remove the fabric. Use a ruler and pencil to score the surface of the Fimo, creating a harlequin design. Go over the lines with the blunt side of a knife to accentuate them.

Tip
If you'd prefer not to work directly on the Fimo, make a paper template of the diamond design, lay it on the clay and trace over it with a pencil. Remove the paper, then accentuate the lines with a knife.

Step 4
Place the clock face in the centre of the heart, ensuring the spindle holes of the face and heart are aligned. Roll some of the remaining Fimo into a long sausage shape and use it to outline the clock face. Press lightly but firmly to ensure a bond with the surface of the heart. Make 5mm balls of clay and press on the points of each diamond. Make a dimple in the top of each ball using the wrong end of a paintbrush. Roll out another long sausage of Fimo. Wrap it around the heart, leaving 5cm tails at the bottom tip. Roll the tails into swirls.

Step 5
Paint the Lavender and Red powder paints onto the diamonds. Paint the remainder of the clock Antique Gold.

Step 6
Place the clay heart with its clock face in the oven and bake at 130C for about 30 minutes. Leave it on its glass or wood tray - the glass will not break. When ready, remove from the oven and allow to cool completely.

Step 7
Use a knife to gently lift the clock from the glass. Fit the clock movement and hands. Insert batteries, then hang the clock on the wall.

Stockists
A kit containing a heatproof clock face, movement and hands is available from Around Clocks for $15 plus $5 postage + handling. Phone them on (03) 9592 1091 or fax (03) 9592 1778. Fimo modelling clay is available from craft stores.

Enlarge template 250%


Source: Better Homes and Gardens