MAKE IT EASY: AIR-DRY CLAY COVERED PENS

Everyone uses pens, so you know they're an appreciated gift. Here's three that were decorated quickly and easily thanks to Makin's Clay, an air-dry clay.

First make a 'holding station' to hold a pen upright when either paint or a finish applied to the pen is drying. Place a small mound of Makin's Clay (1 1/2" wide and 2" deep) on a flat, non-stick surface. Push the point of a pen (do not go beyond the black area at the base of the barrel), into the center of the clay; remove the pen. Allow the clay to dry.

Each pen will require a walnut-sized piece of clay that is conditioned until it is soft and supple. Place the clay on a piece of 3mm Foamies (a craft foam) and roll it flat until it is about the thickness of cardstock. Cut the clay in a strip that is 1 1/4" wide and 6" long. Why Foamies? The clay doesn't stick to it, and the soft surface won't mark the clay.

Spread a thin coat of USArtQuest Perfect Paper Adhesive (Matte or Gloss) over one side of the clay strip. Discard the cap from a Bic round stic ballpoint pen and position the pen in the center of the clay strip. Bring up one long edge of the clay over the barrel of the pen; roll the pen over the remaining clay until the two long edges of the clay adjoin on the barrel. Roll the pen back and forth over the foam until the joint is closed and smooth, and the layer of clay is even over the surface of the barrel. Flatten the clay at the top of the barrel, cutting off excess clay if necessary. Use a craft knife to cut away excess clay extending into the black area above the point (see photo).

Red pen: After red clay covering the barrel was dry, a small amount of Jacquard Pearl Ex Interference Gold was blended into a teaspoon of USArtQuest Perfect Paper Adhesive (Gloss) and brushed over the clay with a soft brush.

Silver pen: After white clay covering the barrel was dry, DecoArt Dazzling Metallics Silver acrylic paint was brushed over the clay with a soft brush.

Pinkish pen: Immediately after covering the barrel with white clay, the pen was rolled over a Makin's Texture Sheet. When the clay dried, the pen was rolled over a Clearsnap, Inc. ColorBox Fluid Chalk Pink Pastel pad, and the ink was heat set. The pen was then lightly rolled over a Clearsnap, Inc. ColorBox Fluid Chalk Wisteria pad, and the ink was heat set. (NOTE: Heat set briefly...too much heat will cause the clay to bubble). USA ArtQuest Perfect Paper Adhesive (Matte) was brushed over the pen with a soft brush.

Be sure the 'holding station' is out of the drawer and on the counter BEFORE you apply either paint or a finish to the pen. Trust me on this one...