https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/fish-charms • Posted by Aurum Press
Fish are symbolic creatures in many cultures and religions. They represent fertility, happiness, and good fortune as well as transformation and creativity. This whimsical fish is made hollow for lightness and to be economical on clay. Tropical fish After polishing, color the fish in a variety of tropical colors using glass paints. Applied eye You can alter the features by adding an applied ball of clay for the eye and varying the shape of the fins and tail.
Fish are symbolic creatures in many cultures and religions. They represent fertility, happiness, and good fortune as well as transformation and creativity. This whimsical fish is made hollow for lightness and to be economical on clay. Tropical fish After polishing, color the fish in a variety of tropical colors using glass paints. Applied eye You can alter the features by adding an applied ball of clay for the eye and varying the shape of the fins and tail.
Roll out a sheet of clay, 2 p.c. (0.5 mm) thick, and cut out two circles using the large round cutter. These will form the two sides of the fish. Carefully peel away the waste clay.
Stand the spare cutters onto a ceramic tile and prop a marble in each cutter (or press the marbles onto scraps of polymer clay to hold them steady). Smooth a clay circle onto each marble to form a cup shape. Take care not to distort the shape of the circle.
Use the large cutter to mark the side of the fish’s head. Lightly press the small cutter into the top of the face for the eye, then mark a pupil with the tip of a large yarn needle. Repeat on the second piece, reversing the detail.
Use the edge of the small cutter or a drinking straw to mark scales on each circle, again reversing the detail for the second piece.
Cut out a notch from each piece for the mouth, matching the notches in size and position.
Roll out a sheet of clay, 4 p.c. (1 mm) thick. Using the templates, cut out the fins and tail. Use the large cutter to cut the lower curve of the top fin so that it matches the curve of the fish. Use a fine yarn needle to mark lines on both sides of the top fin and tail and to mark the hanging hole.
Dry all the pieces. Remove the fish sides from the marbles and rub them on sandpaper to smooth their edges. On one of the fish sides, file a notch on the back edge and paste the tail into it. Drill the hanging hole with a 1 mm bit and paste the top fin to the fish. Paste the side fins in place. Dry again.
Check that the two halves will fit together tightly, sanding further if needed, and then paste them together, matching the mouths. Fill any gaps with paste and dry. Sand away any excess and file the mouth opening if necessary to make it match. Fire and polish.