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Diane Bishop's "Moose On the Loose"
Cinna-Minnies
Cinnamon Clay Molded Shape Instructions

One package of Cinna-Minnies Cinnamon Clay Mix will yield 4 of the molded moose with a little left over to create some minnie hearts, stars, or whatever. The first thing you need to decide is what mold you will use and how many molded shapes you wish to create. Than you will know how much cinnamon clay you will need to complete your project.

Complete instructions to mix the cinnamon clay, plus tips and hints will arrive with your cinnamon clay order. Rochelle offers her cinnamon clay at a 50% discount if purchased by the pound. If you plan to create more than 4 molded shapes, buying the cinnamon clay at the bulk price will save you lots of money. You can purchase Rochelle's Cinnamon clay at her website http://www.cinna-minnies.com/cinnamonclay.html

Gather all supplies listed within the instructions, including the mold of your choice. Plastic molds can be purchased at a Michaels store, or any candy and cake decorating supply store. Your project will run very smoothly if you have all of your supplies on hand.

After the cinnamon clay is mixed up and kneaded (and Rochelle is correct in that you must knead, knead, and knead so more to make the cinnamon clay smooth and easy to handle and roll out), it needs to rest for 15 minutes in a heavy Ziploc bag. Spray your mold of choice very lightly with Pam Cooking Spray. Wipe the mold lightly with a paper towel, leaving only a light coating of the spray.

After the final kneading, cut off a piece of the clay and roll it out approximately 1/4 inch thick and to the size of your mold (lolly pop mold sizes work best). Push the cinnamon clay down into the mold, checking the bottom of the mold to make certain there are no air bubbles showing on the decorative part of the mold.
 

Push the cinnamon clay down into the mold

Keep filling your mold with pieces of the clay, pressing firmly each time until the mold is full to the top. With a rolling pin of your choice, roll over the top of the mold, smoothing the clay as much as possible. This process will also compact the clay a bit more and give a better impression.

With a rolling pin over the top of the mold smoothing the clay

Using a sharp paring knife, cut away all of the pieces of clay that have spread out around the mold shape. Cut as close as possible without cutting into the molded shape. Check on the underside of the mold to see where you are cutting.

Cutting away the pieces of clay that have spread out around the mold

Allow the mold to set up for at least 15 minutes before you start the release process. To release the mold, start at a small area and pull the mold away very slowly by slightly bending the plastic mold. Once it starts to release it will come out easily and with a wonderful impression. Do not rush this step.

Removing the cinnamon clay from the mold

After your project has been unmolded, it is time to do some fine trimming around your shape. Trim as close to the clay mold as possible without cutting into the main molded piece. For now, you just want to get clean lines around the molded shape. (After it dries, you will sand it and clean up any other pieces that you do not want as part of your shaped mold.)

Trimming around your cinnamon shape

After your mold has been trimmed, you need to decide if this will be a hanging ornament or a pin. If you are going to use it as a hanging ornament, you will need to decide where you want to put the hole for the hanger. If you are handy with a drill you can wait for the molded shape to dry and drill a very fine small hole, or, you can use a toothpick to make your hole right after it has been released from the mold. While the molded shape is still able to take impressions, you can also use a toothpick or any other tools to make decorative impressions in the clay if it adds to the overall design.

DRYING YOUR MOLDED SHAPES

There are several ways to dry your molded shapes, with the best being on a screen that you can build yourself. If you decide to build a screen for this project, here are some guidelines. Your screen size should be no longer than 17" across, and no wider than 11" wide. Wire screening is the best as it has very little give if tacked to a wood frame top to bottom first, and than side to side. Keep the screening taut and tight as you tack it down. (This is a great option if you plan to create a lot of cinnamon ornaments.)

Drying the molded cinnamon shapes

Another option that works equally as well to aid the drying process is to purchase a large 10" to 14" embroidery hoop and place a piece of muslin in between the two hoops. This will require two hands as you want to make the muslin taut--very tight, and flat like a drum.

A third drying option is to use old newspapers. Take newspaper sections and put one inside another for some bulk, keeping the newspapers flat. Then take paper toweling and put three layers on top of the newspapers.

Using your choice of drying methods, place your cinnamon mold flat side down on this surface. Turn it over the next day. Than turn it over twice a day until it is completely dry (approximately 5 to 7 days).

FINISHING STEPS

After the air drying process is complete, use an emery board to sand off any remaining rough edges. Then it will be time to decorate your dried shape, and this is when all the fun starts. Using acrylic paint, paint whatever features you desire on your object.

Painting the details

After the paint has dried, add some floss, ribbon or jute as a hanger. Or, if you've made a pin, glue a fastener to the back of the item. Now your beautiful project is complete and ready to adorn your winter coat if you created a pin or your home or the home of a friend or family member if you created an ornament.

The finished Moose On The Loose


To Place Your Order For Cinna-Minnies Cinnamon Modeling Clay Click Here