By Lisa Pavelka

Materials

Friendly Plastic® Designer Sticks: Solid Teal, Solid Indian Red, Solid Avocado
Lisa Pavelka Embossing Holly and Rose Leaf Cutter Sets
(4) 6mm Silver Jump Rings
(1) Pair Silver Fish Hook Ear Wires
Olive Oil
Cosmetic Sponge
Optional: Swarovski Elements pendant crystal #6000 (Light Siam)

Tools

AMACO® Non-Stick Work Mat
AMACO® Round PolyCutters: Set #6
AMACO® Needle Tool
Jewelry pliers (round nose, chain nose, and wire cutters)
Heat Embossing Gun
Metal Kabob Skewer or thin gauge knitting needle
Scissors

Create these bright and beautiful projects for the holidays. The wreath is ideal as a tree ornament or even a photo frame for a “gifted greeting” card. The complimentary earrings make a great companion gift to complete this set. Whether you make one or both, these projects are sure to be a holiday hit.

Wreath
1. Pour a small amount of olive oil onto the cosmetic sponge. Rub the sponge on the leaf cutters with the plunger depressed to prevent them from sticking to the warmed Friendly Plastic. Soften Friendly Plastic in hot water (140°-150°F, 50-60°C). Use care immediately after removing the plastic from the water, as it can be hot. It cools very rapidly, so it’s best to work quickly.

2. Working on the non-stick mat, press the cutters down over the plastic with firm pressure around the outer collar to cut the leaf shape first. Then, holding the cutter in place, press the plunger down firmly into the plastic to emboss the vein leaves. Clean and re-grease the cutters after each use. Tip: use scissors to clean up any uneven edges after the plastic cools. Create seven Avocado leaves using the medium rose leaf cutter and 6 Teal leaves using the large holly leaf cutter.

3. Cut out small circles (using the second from the smallest round PolyCutter) to make the holly berries from softened Indian Red Friendly Plastic. Make a total of 10 berries.

4. Arrange the seven Avocado leaves in a circle over the non-stick work mat, tip-over-end. Heat with the embossing gun until these leaves fuse together. You can deepen the vein lines of the rose leaves while the Friendly Plastic is warm using a skewer or knitting needle, to give greater detail and to secure the leaves together.

5. Add the holly leaves over the rose leaves as shown and repeat the directions in Step 4.

6. Lastly, repeat Step 4 to attach the Holly berries as shown.

Earrings
1. Cut two Holly Leaves using either the small or medium cutter as directed in Steps 1 and 2 of the wreath directions. Work on the non-stick mat.

2. Create six holly berries using the smallest round circle cutter from the PolyCutter collection. Reheat the holly leaves to soften and press the berries (three each) at the top of the holly leaves. You can use the skewer/knitting needle to deepen the detail of the holly leaf vein lines.

3. Reheat/soften the leaves and berries and pierce a hole at the top and bottom of each leaf for the jump rings. When cool, attach the ear wires and crystals through the top and bottom holes using the jump rings and the jewelry pliers.