Day 96 – 100 Days of Polymer Clay

Technique: Trinket bowl with cracked red “gold” leaf
Win: Yes

Challenge

• To create a trinket bowl with an even, functional shape suitable for holding small items
• To incorporate leftover pieces of cracked red foiled clay as decorative elements
• To achieve a balanced design while working within the curved form of the bowl

Lessons Learned

• I have wanted to make a trinket bowl for a long time but was unsure how to achieve a consistent shape. Using a metal cat food dish as a mould worked surprisingly well and produced a pleasing, practical form
• Positioning the circular clay piece perfectly in the centre of the mould is more challenging than it first appears. Small misalignments become noticeable in the finished piece, but this is a skill that will improve with practice
• Leftover decorative clay can be successfully repurposed into a completely different project, reducing waste while creating a cohesive collection of pieces
• Applying resin to both the inside and outside of the bowl enhanced the depth of the colours and added a luxurious, glossy finish that elevated the overall appearance

Confidence Level

9/10

Notes

This project felt like the natural continuation of the cracked “gold” leaf experiments from previous days. I enjoyed transforming leftover materials into something both decorative and functional. The rich red tones, dramatic crackled effect, and high-gloss resin finish give the bowl an elegant, almost jewel-like quality. While there is room to improve the precision of the shaping process, I am very pleased with the result and look forward to making more trinket dishes in different colours and styles in future.