Bake it to make it

Of the two that we made, this one looked the best

I was so taken with a post of Mari's recently, that I decided to copy it emulate her.

She is, after all, a world-class grandmother (among other equally stellar attributes).

I speak of the time she made baked clay necklaces with her grandgirlies.

I had to buy only a few extra supplies

Dagny was coming over last Thursday and I knew she would love doing this, so on the day before, I made preparations.

This involved a trip to Hobby Lobby, where I bought bake-able polymer clay, a package of jump rings, two tiny rubber stamps, and an assortment of mini inking pads.

Dagny loved working with the clay

I had everything else I needed already at home: parchment paper, a collection of small cookie cutters (although it took me a while to find them), toothpicks, several colors of waxed linen cord, and lots of beads.

And of course, an oven.

I told Audrey to make sure that Dagny brought along her new Rainbow Loom for making bracelets out of tiny multicolored rubber bands, so that we could do that too.

The Rainbow Loom ... for all ages

This was just going to be a big old craft day.

(The loom was a gift from Mari herself, sent promptly as a get-well present when Dagny broke her leg at the end of June.)

Turns out that both Audrey and Erica had already tried to help Dagny make a bracelet, but had become bumfuzzled at one point and given up.

She was busy pressing ink right into the rolling pin

I was confident that I could get them all over the hump.

Haha. I thank you not to snicker.

Well anyway ... let's talk about the clay-baking craft first. To make necklaces.

The light colors did not make the bold statement she was looking for

First we assembled our supplies on the table: the clay, the cookie cutters, the rubber stamps, the little inking pads, the waxed linen cord, a toothpick, the jump rings, and two rolling pins -- one plain, and one embossed with a design.

I also grabbed a few of my bead boxes (my spin on the project, since I like to inject beads whenever and wherever I can), and my needle-nose pliers.

It's how we roll

I broke off a chunk of the clay and gave it to Dagny to start pounding on and rolling out.

While she did that, I set the oven to 175 degrees (as specified on the package of clay).

It was really easy. After the clay was rolled out, I showed Dagny how to ink a stamp and make an impression. I did the first one and she did the second one.

This project was at least twenty-five percent trial and error

Then we chose a shape for her necklaces and I pressed out the first two, using a round cookie cutter.

Brandishing the toothpick, I made a hole in the top of each clay disc.

I popped them into the oven on a tiny tray lined with parchment.

This was the shade of blue that changed everything

They baked for about twenty-five minutes, and I took them out.

In no time, they were cool and hard enough to work with.

Meanwhile, Dagny was playing with the clay and pressing out more and more shapes.

Dagny was riveted by the possibilities in the clay

I showed her how to ink the embossed rolling pin with one of the inkpads, and roll out a fancy design in the color of her choice.

She chose blue, and soon the remaining clay had turned a shade much lighter than the ink color, but still blue. It was an unusual blue, very beautiful.

Dagny continued to roll out the blue clay and press shapes using the tiniest of the already tiny cookie cutters.

She had lots of colors to choose from

She did it so many times that in the end, there was an infinitesimal heart and only a pea-sized piece of clay left over.

Dagny put a hole in the wee blue heart, which for some reason was (or became, in the process) misshapen. It looked like Ember had done it. We laughed about that.

Then we put all of those shapes into the oven to bake, and I went to work turning the first two discs into necklaces.

I should put her to work making fancy cookies

Simples. Am I right?

Well, maybe for you. But I managed to break the first one while trying to get the jump ring closed.

I hate attaching the jump ring! Aaaarrrrrggghhhhhh!

The last blue heart was on the small side

Ugh. We had one disc left intact, and I managed to get it put together, embellishing the cord on either side of the jump ring with a few seed beads.

I think Dagny wanted the necklace to hang maybe a few fingers-width below her collarbone, but since I was using cord and not chain, I had to tie it off and it needed to be big enough to go over her head.

Success proved elusive on the first try

That made it a longer pendant, but still pretty, and I told her that I knew Erica had some chain that could be used to make her remaining designs into shorter necklaces.

We ended up completing two pieces, and I must say that the second one, with the embossed design rolled into the blue clay and cut into a flower shape, turned out prettier than either of us expected.

We turned our attentions to the Rainbow Loom project

Dagny seemed to approve of our results, so we cleaned up all of the necklace making paraphernalia and turned the oven off and got out the Rainbow Loom.

Part Two of Craft Day, as it were.

Using the printed instructions and eyeballing the part of a bracelet that Dagny and Audrey and Erica had already made, I soon became so confused that we decided to start over.

I was the helper while Dagny was the looper

Audrey had mentioned YouTube as a source for more detailed instructions together with some virtual hand-holding, and I took her up on that excellent idea.

We soon found a video of a lady making a simple bracelet with a Rainbow Loom.

Clearing off the loom and organizing our rubber bands into colors, we began. I started it but Dagny placed all but a few of the bands for the first part of the design, onto the loom.

The next step beyond the triangles threw us

Then came the hard part, where you use the hook to drag certain strands out and pull them around and hook them onto another post, being careful to bring out the right ones and attach them just so, and ...

Well. I tried but maybe I was tired by then and maybe it was sweltering in the kitchen (I forgot to add, we could have baked those clay necklaces out on the sidewalk, had we been so inclined, it was that hot outside), but I developed a sizable case of the yips and had to give up.

Dagny was glad to close the lid on that until she got better help

I texted a link for the helpful YouTube video to both Audrey and Erica. Here, I said. You're going to need this.

Then I added: I did the hard part for you. Laughing face emoji.

Dagny and I boxed up the Rainbow Loom with the partially completed second bracelet still in place, hoping that someone -- or two someones, working together -- smarter than either of us will be able to finish it.

I see now that we could have made a better impression

I should say here that I'm glad that one of the crafts was easy enough that I could see it through.

And I'm also glad that the other craft is hard enough to be a challenge for Dagny. And her mother. And her aunt. It will develop their characters.

Dagny wearing one of the necklaces

As for me, the next thing I baked was edible and turned out pretty great. I'll be sharing that with you later in the week.

And that is all for now except to say, it's time for me to go swimming.

Stay cool and be sweet, my friends.

=0=0=0=

Happy Monday :: Happy August

Comments

[Lori]

That is so wonderful for you to spend the afternoon crafting with her. Making memories. I was blessed with two amazing grandmothers that I spent a lot of time with making memories so I speak from experience that she will never forget that day.
I think the necklaces turned out so pretty!!
Have a great week. I can't wait for your next post to see what's been cooking.
Stay cool my friend.

[Ginny Hartzler]

Mari does some amazing crafts with her granddaughters. I have been meaning to try some with our granddaughters, but you beat me to it! You are a real trouper, too. that loom looks like a nightmare, yet they are so popular! Go figure. But the clay necklace turned out so lovely, and was a perfect craft for Dagny.

[Jennifer]

@Lori ... I'm glad you have those memories. I never made anything remotely crafty with either of my wonderful grandmothers, but we had a good time anyway! I always approach those situations with trepidation because unlike Mari, I'm not a natural when it comes to making such things. But Dagny loved it and even said something about enjoying having a cast on her leg because it opened up activities to her that she had really enjoyed doing. I don't know if you'll like what I made last week but I hope so! Stay tuned! xoxo

@Ginny ... Mari surely is amazing in every way with the girls. I love all of the crafts they do and I've tried a few of them, but when I saw her making these necklaces, I knew it was one that Dagny and I needed to try. I hope you'll try this one with your grand girls. The supplies are easy to find and it's such fun. I sure do hope my daughters are able to figure out the Rainbow Loom bracelets because I'm afraid that was too intimidating for me, haahaa! xoxo

[Mari]

I'm glad you had fun with this! I love the idea of using cord and adding beads.The girls want to do some necklaces for their friends so we'll have to try that.
Sorry the loom is so hard! I've never tried it, but Ruby loves making them. I have a feeling that once you figure out the trick to it, it's easy - but until then, not so much!

[Jennifer]

@Mari ... Yes it's a fantastic craft. I can't wait to make some more. I don't think the loom is all that hard, it's just a learning curve getting the hang of it. That kind of thing is not my strong suit, so it's a good thing we have a deep bench and a strong second string, haaahaha! xoxo

[betty]

That loom looks and sounds complicated. Hopefully Dagny's mom will be able to sort it out :) It is neat though so much is available to look at on YouTube for projects like this. I do like the necklace Dagny was modeling and her other clay things she made! At least one thing was a success and I'm sure you both had a marvelous time together just hanging out, right?

betty

[Jeanette]

What a great craft to make with Dagny. I have tucked many of craft of Mari's away for future fun with Maxwell and Levi! Whom I really miss because they all came down with that nasty virus last week. They are recovering but still isolating! Someone will get the gist of that bracelet maker! I's sure it's very cute! XO

[Jennifer]

@Betty ... well that loom got the best of me, that's for sure. Just when I thought things were going so well, haaha! YouTube is pretty amazing; I'm fairly sure you can get a college-level education simply by reading books and watching YouTubes! The necklaces were cute and it was so inspiring to take a few simple things and make something else! We felt like artists, hahahaha! And hanging out together was the best part. xoxo

@Jeanette ... UGH I'm so sorry about the boys and their family being sick! Do Brad and Shauna have it too? So many people we know around here, have had it. So far we in our family have escaped and I pray that the trend continues. Yes I'm confident that the girls will figure out how to make a bracelet out of rubber bands on the loom! And that you'll soon be able to do crafts with Max and Levi! xoxo

[Carla TePaske]

Ha Ha! Crafts, oh I know it. I have tossed the directions a many a time and decided to do it MY WAY.
;-)
Dagny is so pretty. I love her concentration.
xx oo
Carla

[Jennifer]

@Carla ... haaahaha YEP she was into it! I think she'll be willing to do this again! Now as for tossing out the directions, that's an idea but I have a feeling you're smarter than me at going solo when it comes to crafts!!!! xoxo

[Mari-Nanci]

You have so much patience!!!!!!

And how is she doing, with her broken leg summer? Dear little girl... -sighhhhhhhh-

Gentle hugs, Mari-Nanci
🌼🌾🌼🌾🌼🌾🌼

[Jennifer]

@Mari-Nanci ... Actually I am sad to say that patience is NOT one of my (few) virtues! But we really did have a good time making the necklaces. Dagny is doing great considering the whole situation. The first hard cast came off on Tuesday morning and she is doing okay with the boot cast. I didn't see her yesterday but on Tuesday she was still using the crutches. We are fantasizing about throwing them into Lake Murray! xoxo

[Bijoux]

Lol, this takes me back to some epic fails I had with my kids, trying to do ‘kid crafts’ that confounded this kid! Plus, I don’t do messy, so I wasn’t always the fun mom. Someone gave one of my kids a Blow Pens craft set for a gift and I thought I’d lose my mind. Weaving potholders on a loom is more my speed.

That said, I do think your clay creations are pretty. My kids used polymer clay to make Christmas ornaments and we still have a few on our tree every year. Just make a nice size hole that you can put a hook through and you’re good to go. XO

[Jennifer]

@Bijoux ... Sorry Charlie for taking so long to approve and respond to your comment. Last week was a real doozy but that's no excuse. Profuse pirate apols! I am with you one hundred percent on not liking most crafts ... I don't do messy either, and although I HAVE opposing thumbs, they seem to go out of commission in the presence of craft materials. BUT I can see making more necklaces, with a few small improvements! Potholders on a loom is my speed too, although back in the day I crossed a mean stitch, haaahahaha xoxo