CHADIS CRAFTS' FUN PAGES

Including:
Eileen's Camp Crafts and Other Fun Things!

Http://www.chadiscrafts.com/fun/


Future Craft Lesson Pictures


Find out first what is new on the site plus extra tips.

Chadis Crafts' Fun Pages
POLYMER CLAY FOR SENIOR CITIZENS PAGE

Clay Cover BIC Pens

To see other clay on pen projects see my camp picture pages.

To see more of my clay on yogurt bottles see my Clay covered yogurt bottles page.

See my Basic Clay Pages for lessons on how to use and bake Polymer Clays.

Clay Canes on White Sculpey Base

Pens with Canes directly on pen.


A Senior Citizen Clay class for fun and theraphy was a new class for me. It had interesting challenges. It was suggested by the Senior Coordinator for the Jewish Community Center of South Hampton Roads of Norfolk and Virginia Beach Virginia.

She wanted to have a full day program for Seniors that would possible be theraputic but also would bring out more active seniors then their usual lunch program.

"A Day at the J" was a full day of activities: Chair arobotics, Crafts, Lunch and a guest speaker who covered special interest topics.

I was asked to do the craft class. We picked clay for the craft. We thought if we use a soft polymer clay (this time Sculpey and Sculpey III) the softening of the clay could be great for exercising fingers and hands. Plus if they picked the pen to make,its thickness would be a great for sore or painful hands.

Because we did not know how this class would go we did only one introductory demo at a Senior Luncheon and then planned on one class.

This limits the projects we could do.

Supplies for Clay Covered Pens:

  • Sculpey White Clay in 1 3/4 pound box.
    • Colored Sculpey III
  • BIC pens
  • Pliers
  • Wax paper for clean surface to roll clay on.
  • If using Cane slices some kind of safe cane slicer. I use the blank metal bracelet forms sold for lanyard bracelets.
  • Sculpey Gloss or Future Floor Wax
  • Gold Metallic Powder for Polymer Clay

    • Directions:

    Soften the white Sculpey. Roll into sheets for project base. Cover the pen but not the metal part or the blue plastic part. This allows you to remove the ink supply before baking. Have them trim the excess. Soften the colored clay. Here is where I went wrong. Stick to simple jelly rolls canes or snakes to decorate the first time. Unless you have more than 45 to 1 hour class. Have them make the snakes with multiple colors. If using jelly roll canes have them make their own. Don't try and demo anything fancy on canes. Save that for a class you will have the same students for multiple sessions. Have them gently place the snakes or canes on top of the white. Roll the pen in your hand to smooth. Bake with ink supply is out. Place ink supply back in after baking and when cool use Future Floor Wax or Sculpey Gloss to coat the shine onto project. I used small amounts of gold metallic powder for polymer clay to add some glitter to the project and to hide some of the white clay.

    Cane Slices Directly on Pens:

    I had some extra cane slices and felt bad that some people had not felt well enough to come to the class after they signed up. I took the canes and placed the clay directly onto the pens. Rolling them smooth.

    Clay Covered Dannon Drinkable Yogurt Bottles

    Project can be used for small vase or desk pencil holder.

    I have used these bottles in a few different classes. Preschool to teen. I tried to find another useful project that would fit in our budget. I save these bottles over many months. The students that picked this project used a sheet of white clay then decorated with some jelly roll canes we tried to make. I added gold metallic powder to make them a little more interesting.

    Second Class
    Rubber Stamping Clay Pins Using Brown Antiquing and Gold.

    I taught a second class this summer of Senior Clay. It went much better!

    I concentrated more on playing with clay and less on teaching clay techniques. More therapy!

    In a 45 minute to 1 hour class, we made about 2 pins each.

    We used about 1 oz of Sculpey per pin.

    I had an assortment of large and a few small stamps in both Jewish and other designs.

    I took the finished pieces home to back and I did all of the antiquing.

    See my Clay and Rubber Stamp Pages for more pictures and instructions of stamped pins.

    To see other clay on pen projects see my camp picture pages.

    To see more of my clay on yogurt bottles see my Clay covered yogurt bottles page.

    Some suggestions for group leaders:

    Things I have learned after teaching my first class of seniors!

  • Don't try to be too fancy the first class.

  • Pick one project. Don't assume that you can do different ones because they are not children. Most seniors have not worked with polymer clay before.

  • Because of different levels or skills, some hearing problems etc., work in the middle of the table where all can see and hear you.

  • Have hand wipes ready to use to clean hands when switching colors. Even if the room has a sink.

  • Seniors can get as excited as young children and as bored!

  • Explain the project, if you really must offer a choice, make sure they understand only one project per person. Otherwise some will work too quickly trying to make two things. You might run out of clay or over your budget.

  • The Pasta Machine used in many clay classes is great for Seniors too. It rolls out the clay quickly and in a fun way.

  • Have them scratch their name on their project. Most people do not recognize their finished projects. Especially if you add gold powder to it later.
  • Having their name on it helps if someone else has to give out your projects after you have baked them.

  • Above all be done before someone says lunch is ready!

    • © 1998 - 2024 Eileen Chadis Wood

    Lessons, crafts and recipes can be used in classes with © acknowledged.
    Lessons,crafts, recipes and pictures can not be used for commerical use.

    Chadiscrafts.com and Chadiscrafts.com/fun/ are dedicated to the memory of my father, Max Chadis.
    From whom, my love of the Arts and my art talent came from.
    I see his talent in my sons. Both are students at Maryland Institute College of Art.
    I hope with these lessons to pass his love of the arts on to others.