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Autumn Reflections Mirrored Votive:

Materials needed:

• Square votive holder 2.5” by 2/5” by 3" tall. One 4" beveled octagon mirror. Mirror was purchased at a hobby store. The votive was purchased at a local Dollar store.
• Polymer Clay: Transparent/translucent, yellow, dark brown, caramel & blue.
• Mica Powder: Pale blue (like Luminarte® "Stargazer", bronze or copper and antique copper. (Like Pearl Ex® Super Bronze and Antique Copper.)
• Strong glue like E-6000® or Aleene's Platinum bond Glass & Bead™.
• Baking Surface: smooth, ceramic tile, index card or other baking sheet covered with aluminum foil.
• OVEN THERMOMETER. Never guess at the temperature. Ovens can vary over 50 degrees at low temperatures.
• Varnish recommended by clay manufacturer.
• Brush: For varnish.
• Optional: Pasta machine dedicated to conditioning clay.

Mix the following colors using these proportions:

Color 1. Light ivory, wings of dragonflies. Mix translucent with tiny dot of yellow and tiny dot of caramel.

Color 2 Light green, body and head of dragonflies. Mix translucent with a tiny dot of green and tiny dot of caramel .

Below: Mix colored clay with translucent in the proportions shown above left to make these five soft, light colors.

Color 3, Light Yellow, leaves. Mix translucent with yellow.

Color 4 Light Caramel, leaves. Mix translucent with caramel.

Color 5, Light Brown, leaves and acorns. Mix translucent with brown.

Mold the following: If the clay tends to stick in the mold, mist mold lightly with water (remove excess), or lightly brush the mold cavity with talcum powder (remove excess). To demold, gently flex in several directions loosening the part, then flex more fully, lifting or tipping the part from the mold.

Light Brown: 4 each L-3 and A-4 .

Light Yellow: 4 - L-3 and 4 - L-4.

Light Caramel 4 - L-3 and 4 - L-4.

1. Mold the dragon fly using the green and Ivory as shown below. First, fill the wings with the ivory clay. Then fill the head and body with the light green clay. Press firmly, flex and remove. You may arch the body as shown if desired. Make four dragonflies. Set aside.

1. Mold the dragonfly using the green and Ivory as shown below. First, fill the wings with the ivory clay. Then fill the head and body with the light green clay. Press firmly, flex and remove. You may arch the body as shown if desired. Make four dragonflies. Set aside.
2. Press the leaves onto the corners of the votive, one color in each group as shown below left. Vary the position of the colors. Set the votive on a baking surface.

3. Press the dragonflies onto the glass above the leaves as shown above left.
4. Press an acorn onto the mirror as shown above right. Gently press one Light yellow L-4 and Light Caramel L-4 on either side of the acorn as shown. Make four sets. Remove from the mirror and place on baking surface.

5. Using light blue mica powder brush the entire dragonfly. Brush the wings lightly and the body more heavily.
6. Brush all of the leaves with the bronze or copper mica powder.
7. Brush the acorns with antique copper.
8. Bake in a pre-heated oven following clay manufacturer’s directions. (Since glass conducts heat so well, we lowered the temperature 25 degrees when baking the parts on the glass votive.) Allow to cool.
9. Remove the baked parts from the glass votive. Note their placement. Clean the glass. Varnish the parts. Replace the parts using strong glue.

10. Varnish the mirror embellishments made using the acorn and two small leaves. Put the votive on the mirror to judge the placement of the embellishments. When the votive fits easily inside of the embellishments, glue them to the mirror as shown using strong glue.

11. If desired, you may eliminate the mica powder and create beautiful fall colors for the leaves.

To use, set the votive on the mirror, lining the corners up with the leaves on the base. Light the candle for a warm glow that gently reflects from the mirror. The translucent clay allows some light to pass through the details. The dragonflies with glowing wings seem to dance in the flickering candlelight.

Caution. Be sure that the candle flame does not come in contact with the molded parts.

Design by Penni Jo

An original design from SweetBrier Studio™
A subsidiary of Miss Martha Originals, Inc.
P.O. Box 5038 - Glencoe, Al. 35905
Telephone 256-492-0221 - Fax 256-492-0261