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Dimensional Artwork — Polymer Clay Flowers On Weathered Wood

Last Updated on February 12, 2017 by Kristi Linauer

Have you tried polymer clay? I’m here to tell you that the stuff is addictive! I bought my very first package last week, and then proceeded to make just under 100 flowers for this artwork that I’ve wanted to make for well over a year now.

The best thing about this artwork is that it cost me less than $10.  It’s true!  Then only thing I had to purchase was the polymer clay, which I believe was $8.99.  (It would have cost less if I had taken a coupon with me!)  I had everything else on hand already…spray paint, scrap wood, hot glue, etc.

There’s nothing difficult about this project…although making almost 100 flowers does take some time. (I timed myself, and found that one flower took 2 minutes 18 seconds.) The good thing is that because the flower design is quite simple, you could easily recruit older children to help make the flowers! 🙂

Want to make your own? Here’s are the details:

Tools & Supplies:

  • 8 0z. package of polymer clay,
  • White spray paint,
  • Scrap wood (pallets, fence boards, etc.),
  • Wood glue,
  • Wood screws,
  • Drill with screwdriver bit,
  • Stain,
  • Polyurethane,
  • Rag,
  • Paint brush,
  • Hot glue gun and glue sticks.

Instructions:

First, use the polymer clay to make all of the flowers.  I used an entire 8 oz. package, and ended up with just under 100 flowers in three different sizes.

To make the flowers:

  1. Start out with three balls of clay that are about the size of peas.
  2. Flatten the ball of clay so that the clay forms a ridge around the top and sides of your finger.
  3. Use your finger to gently even out any harsh edges.
  4. Form the bottom of the circle of clay into a point, and gently lift up on the rounded edge to create a curved petal.
  5. Repeat this three more times, and then place four petals with the points together.
  6. Drop a small ball of clay onto the center and flatten slightly.

Then bake the clay flowers according to the instructions on the package.

After the flowers are baked and have completely cooled, use a spray paint in your choice of color.  This is optional, of course, since polymer clay comes in a variety of colors.  However, I wanted mine to be a brilliant white, and as you can see below, the white polymer clay had a bit of an off-white color to it.

If you want more of a varied color effect, you could also use acrylic paints to paint each flower. (The work of artist Michael Baxley demonstrates just how beautiful hand painted flowers with slight color variations can be. Although his are porcelain, and I would highly doubt that there’s a drop of hot glue anywhere on his beautiful artwork.) 😀

While the flowers are drying, prepare the wood “canvas”.  I used scrap pieces of 2″ x 4″ cedar (left over from my elevated garden beds), and I cut them into pieces that were 20 inches long.  My “canvas” ended up being 20″ high by about 33″ wide.

Glue the wood pieces together using wood glue (don’t use too much or it’ll run down and get on the front side of your “canvas”, which will affect how the wood takes stain).  If you have a framing square, use it to be sure that the pieces are lined up straight.  Then use thinner scraps of wood and wood glue to hold the pieces together.  To make the piece really secure, follow up with wood screws, screwing them through the thin horizontal wood pieces into the main wood pieces.

Note:  If you have a Kreg jig, use that instead and you’ll end up with a much sturdier “canvas”.

After the glue has dried, give the front of the “canvas” a quick sanding, and then stain and polyurethane the wood.  Once that’s dry, you’re ready to arrange and glue the flowers.

And when you’re done, you’ve got a beautiful piece of dimensional artwork!

I really like the juxtaposition of the shiny white flowers against the rustic stained wood.

 

 

 

 

This will eventually go in my bedroom over my bed, so it might be a while before you see in in place.  🙂

When I make something like this, one of the most asked questions is how to hang it.  Any time I’m hanging something heavy on the wall, I use a French cleat.

You can find these at Home Depot and Lowe’s.  They’re metal, they come with their own level, and they’re rated by the number of pounds they’ll hold.  I use these to hang anything from heavy framed mirrors to even heavier upholstered headboards.  They’re absolutely the best way to hang heavy items!

UPDATE: I ended up using these flowers on a different piece of artwork. Click here to see how it turned out

Vine and dragonfly artwork with polymer clay flowers - main

And click here to check out the small condo small budget bedroom makeover where this artwork was used…

small condo small budget bedroom makeover

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24 Comments

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  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Christine
    May 21, 2012 at 8:13 am

    Thanks so much for sharing!! I can’t wait to try this!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Kelly @ Eclectically Vintage
    May 21, 2012 at 8:14 am

    This rocks – reminds me of the 3-d art that’s all the rage now!

    Against the wood – even better. And I was worried when you said you were hanging it over your bed (thoughts of you being crushed in the night) but that french cleat is the perfect way to hang it (thanks for the tip).
    Kelly

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Shannon Fox
    May 21, 2012 at 8:59 am

    That is really pretty Kristi. I like the brilliant, glossy white against the dark stained wood and the tiny, whimsical flowers are so delicate looking. The whole piece has a really clean aesthetic. It’s just beautiful!!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Western Warmth
    May 21, 2012 at 10:10 am

    Absolutely gorgeous, Kristi!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    brandy~GreyLaneHome
    May 21, 2012 at 11:49 am

    Stunning. This is such a great idea and the flowers are so lovely.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    debbiedoos
    May 21, 2012 at 8:10 pm

    This is gorgeous. I have a few blogging friends that work with this, and they LOVE it too. I may have to try it sometime!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Debbie refreshrestyle
    May 21, 2012 at 8:11 pm

    I love it! The stain and the flowers look great together!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Diane | An Extraordinary Day
    May 21, 2012 at 10:37 pm

    Fabulous art!! You are an artist Kristi!!
    Thanks for the inspiration.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Sandra | Design Home
    May 25, 2012 at 8:44 am

    This is perfect for my daughter’s room!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Dana Lang
    May 27, 2012 at 12:45 pm

    Wow! So pretty and so doable!!!
    I love it, it looks great!! Thanks so much for the awesome Tute!!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    DIY – Painted Glass Bottles With Polymer Clay Flowers
    July 25, 2012 at 9:36 am

    […] added little polymer clay flowers to the bottles. I made this using the same method I used for the polymer clay flower artwork, but this time I made the three different sizes of flowers and then layered them on top of each […]

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Ren
    September 5, 2012 at 6:56 pm

    I love this! I really want to put up a great big board in my bedroom with hundreds of flowers on it now. I think this may be my new pet project for next month if I’m still off work. (My husband’s going to be horrified…)

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Michelle
    October 10, 2012 at 10:30 pm

    I turned this into a head board with some reclaimed cedar. Then I put white Christmas lights behind it about a 1/4 inch from the edge all the way around. It is beautiful. Thank you for the idea

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Gale
    October 12, 2012 at 12:49 pm

    How neat! That’s beautiful!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    DIY: Quick & Easy Artwork – 30 Minute Acrylic Painting
    December 11, 2012 at 1:34 pm

    […] often drawn to DIY projects that are quite time-consuming and tedious (like this and this and this).  I really do have to force myself to think of quick and simple projects.  So when I decided to […]

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Milli Bebe
    January 3, 2013 at 9:12 am

    Hi Kristi,

    I just want to say I just absolutely love your work!! You take such simple materials and create the most beautiful pieces. I can’t wait to start my pistachio flowers ;). Quick question though, do you think you can make the flowers using a salt dough? I have never made it before, but I was planning to use it for some ornaments and wondered if i could knock some of these out with it.

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      Kristi Linauer
      January 3, 2013 at 9:56 am

      Hi Milli~
      Thank you so much! 🙂

      Now about the salt dough…it’s been years…DECADES even…since I used salt dough. I remember making ornaments out of it when I was a kid. But I don’t really remember the consistency. I’ve seen people make some pretty nice things with it, so I’m inclined to say that yes, it will work. At least it wouldn’t be expensive to try it out, right? Hope you’ll do that, and then report back! If it works, I might try to make something with it as well.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Frame update to medicine cabinet « Atop Serenity Hill
    April 1, 2013 at 6:00 am

    […] make some clay flowers and leaves to adorn the corners. I found the idea for adding the flowers at Addicted 2 Decorating and give her credit for her fabulous tutorial and project! I started each flower with 4 balls of white Sculpey clay, flattening each ball out with my finger […]

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Preety
    April 13, 2013 at 7:44 am

    The idea is amazing Kristi!!i jst luvd it!! Nd i em jst adding up a bit 2 it, em gonna drill holes in the place wer em gonna stick d flowers, as in in d middle, nd add christmas lighting 2 it, each small light through the hole, nd try 2 mke a hanging cieling lamp!!hopin it wrkz!!strtd it 2day, hope 2 finish it by monday!!thnx a lot for this B-E-A-utiful idea darling!!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Ali
    July 6, 2013 at 3:10 pm

    Hi there! I love love love this piece! It is so beautiful and I want to make one for my bedroom. The only concern I have is where I would find distressed wood like that. I live in the city and have had no luck on craigslist. Do you have any ideas of where I could get some or perhaps how to make distressed wood? Thanks!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Veronica
    December 7, 2013 at 3:18 pm

    Oh! I’m doing this for sure! Thanks for the idea and inspiration!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Roopini
    February 11, 2015 at 5:34 pm

    Very pretty. Brilliant idea. Love it.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Roopini
    February 11, 2015 at 5:34 pm

    Thank you so much for sharing 🙂

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Carole
    December 21, 2016 at 6:25 pm

    I love this!