Rainbow Altoid Tin Polyzine March 2001

Rainbow Altoid Tin

(using a braided cane and a ripple blade)

by Desiree McCrorey

Supplies:

pasta machine

hand roller or rolling pin

ripple blade

pearlescent Premo colors: purple, red, orange, yellow, green, blue

STEP ONE:

Create three multiple colored sheets, each sheet approximately 5" wide X 6" - 7" long and the thickest setting on your pasta machine (#1 on modern Atlases):

sheet #1: purple, red and orange pieces

sheet #2: orange, yellow, and green pieces

sheet #3: green, blue and purple pieces

STEP TWO:

Use your pasta machine to "Skinner blend" the colors of sheet #1, then sheet #2, then sheet #3.

STEP THREE:

Fold each sheet in half so that each color band on one side matches on the other side.

Pass each sheet through the pasta machine, gradually elongating each one until each sheet is approximately 2.5" - 3" wide and as long as you can make it given a thickness setting of 4 or 5 on an Atlas pasta machine.

STEP FOUR:

Starting with the orange end of sheet #1, roll the strip into a log (cane). Starting with the green end of sheet #2, roll the strip into a cane. Starting with the purple end of sheet #3, roll the strip into a cane. You should now have three skinner blend canes:

STEP FIVE:

Elongate each cane until they're each approximately 22" - 24" long.

STEP SIX:

Lay the three canes along side each other. Overlap and press one set of ends together.

Braid the three canes. Once the braid is completed, press the other ends together.

STEP SEVEN:

Begin flattening the braid with a hand roller or rolling pin until it is flat enough to feed into the pasta machine.

With the pasta machine on its thickest setting, feed the flattened braid into the machine. You will end up with an exceptionally long sheet.

STEP EIGHT:

Accordion or zigzag fold the entire sheet every two to two and one half inches.

Pound, smash and shape the block until all sides are regular and even. Let the block rest at least an hour or two.

STEP NINE:

Cut slices from the cane using the ripple blade. Cut along the dashed lines shown below:

If you're having trouble slicing with the ripple blade, rock the blade from side to side, or let the block rest a few more hours.

STEP TEN:

With each rippled slice, do the following: Pass the slice through the pasta machine at #1 (thickest) setting. Rotate the slice 90 degrees, pass it through the pasta machine at #2. Again, rotate the slice 90 degrees and pass it through the pasta machine at #3 setting. One last time, rotate the slice 90 degree and pass it through the pasta machine at #4.

STEP ELEVEN:

Now, you're ready to apply these decorative rainbow slices to any polymer clay safe surface. Until you're ready to apply the slices, place between sheets of plastic wrap or wax paper.

To view more photos of rainbow decorated Altoid boxes, please visit my PhotoPoint album.

Feel free to e-mail me or visit my website.