Skull Cameo Storage Jars

Hey ghouls and creeps! This project is another one from the psycho stitcher collection! This collection contains a variety of helpful tools, notions and storage solutions to help the functionality of your sewing space all with some creepy flair. These jars will help make your tools more accessible, in addition to adding some color to your workspace.

This project is so easy! The most challenging step for me personally, now keep in mind I am a novice to sculpting two-tone cameos, was limiting the bleeding of the colored clays into the black. My remedy for this was to touch up these areas with a variety of markers and paints (we’ll get into that later), but overall these jars are very easy to make!

Step 1: Tape and Paint Jars: When taping off my jars with the Scotch painter’s tape, I used the embossing on the jars as a reference when trying the get my line straight. I would start on the backside of the jar, 1″ below the top of the oval, hit the 2 cups/16 oz line, leave approximately 1/4″ of the bottom of the “B” showing on the word Ball, and then hit the 500 ml line. Make sure that your tape is firmly secure all the way around so that the paint doesn’t get up underneath.

Get your three enamel paints, and paint each of your jars a different color. I painted below my tape line up until the bottom, leaving the bottom unpainted. You may have to apply several coats of paint to get the level of opaqueness you desire, I ultimately applied three coats before I was satisfied.

Once you’ve applied all your coats, and the paint has dried thoroughly, you can peel off your tape! I used a finger to apply pressure to the paint as I peeled off the tape, just encase the tape tried to remove paint past the line.

Step 2: Making and Baking Cameos: For my cameo mold I purchased a few styles from vendors on Etsy. This particular mold produces a 30X40 mm cameo.

Take small bits of your colored clays and begin filling the subject of your cameo. Place your small bits of clay on top of subject and use clay working tools to press clay into the mold. If you find that your tools are sticking to the clay, cornstarch helps!

Roll black clay into a ball with a 1″ diameter, and flatten it to mimic the oval shape of the cameo. Place black clay in cameo, and press until clay is flush with mold sides.

Gently remove cameo from mold, and trim any excess away with a knife. Repeat above steps for the other two cameos.

Once you’ve finished making your cameos, place them on top of wax paper on a cookie sheet or Pyrex dish, because they will stick! Follow manufacturer’s instructions for oven temperature and baking time. Allow cameos to cool after baking for at least fifteen minutes, and remove off pan/dish.

If you find that your colored clay has leaked into the background of your cameo, I found that matte acrylic paint works best. I attempted to use a fine tip black Sharpie to fill in the flaws, but found that the ink left an iridescent shine.

Step 3: Decorating Jars: Cut 3 16″ pieces of your 1/8″ ribbon, and 3 7 1/2″ pieces of your 1/4″ ribbon. Take one of your 1/8″ ribbon pieces, and wrap it around the top of the jar, making sure there’s no twists.

Synch the ribbon around the mouth of the jar (think the first step to tying your shoes), and adjust to make ends even with one another. Make sure to keep ribbon taught during the next step.

Place hot glue on the back of one of your cameos and press it evenly in relation to the paint line and the jar front, while also sandwiching ribbon ends to keep in place.

Tie one of your 1/4″ ribbon pieces into a bow, trim ends at an angle, and hit with a flame to prevent unraveling. Glue bow to jar under cameo. Repeat these steps to embellish the other two jars.

Great news! You just completed your skull cameo storage jars! Use these as storage for your studio or workspace, or use them as candle holders, flower vases, or a fun way to gift baked goods or pickled asparagus!

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Ready for your next project? Here are some tutorials on the blog I think you’ll like! Frame Flip tutorial: https://britnijade.com/frame-flip/, Macrame Wall Hanging: https://britnijade.com/macrame-wall-hanging-w-bones/, or the Spider Web Macrame: https://britnijade.com/spider-web-macrame/. Enjoy!