I've been playing with clay since our clay review month and have used it in many different ways. I saw a great project on Sugarloaf Products using stamps and clay and thought that I would bring you my version here.

You'll need the items pictured here plus a couple more. In all, you'll need:

A paper mache box or something similar. Square is the easiest to work with.
Patterned paper or paint to cover the box
4 wooden knobs or "feet"
White Paperclay or Polymer Clay
Stamp
Versamark Ink & Distress Ink
Acrylic Paint
Sanding block
Square cutter or clay blade
Paint brush
Hot Glue Gun
Stylus Tool
Ribbon or Trim
Wizard Die Cut & Embossing Machine

1. Start by covering your box and lid with patterned paper or paint. Set to the side to dry.

2. Condition and roll out clay to about 1/4" thick. Ink stamp with Versamark and stamp onto clay in random patterns. Use some pressure to get a good texture in the clay.

3. Measure the lid for your box. The sample used in this project was 5" x 5". Since this box is square, four 1" pieces will fit across with a little gap in between them. The lid will need sixteen 1" pieces to cover the entire lid. The small gap allows for slightly misshapen pieces to still fit in your design while adding a nice homemade touch. Any shape can be used to cover the lid. I chose square because the box is square. When you've determined the size and shape of the clay pieces that you'll need for the lid, use a clay blade or clay cutter to cut out the pieces from your sheet of stamped clay.

4. Bake the clay pieces if you're using polymer clay or let the paper clay air-dry if you're working with that type of clay.

5. When the clay pieces are dry, sand any rough edges until they're smooth. I found that the sides needed the most attention. Shake off or blow off any clay dust so that the pieces are smooth and dust-free.

6. Now it's time to start distressing! Take out your choice of acrylic paint color and a non-chisel type of brush. You'll want a brush that has a little "fluff" to it. Pick up some paint on your brush and tap the top of the clay piece with the brush. Continue to drag the brush across the top of the piece to hit the high parts of the stamped image. You'll want to leave the impressed detail of the stamp paint-free, so don't push the brush tip into the nooks and crannies. Don't forget to paint the sides of the piece too! Repeat until all the pieces are painted. Don't forget to paint the "feet" that you've picked for the project. Set aside to dry if needed.

7. Let's distress a bit further with Ranger's Distress Ink. I chose Vintage Photo and Brushed Corduroy to work with on my project. Since I wanted a more muted look and softer lines with this project, I used a Clearsnap Stylus with a foam tip to apply the ink to the clay piece. A makeup sponge or Ranger's Cut n'Dry foam will also work equally well. Pick up some ink with the foam applicator then dab on top of the clay. Apply ink only where you want it - to the edges, to select portions of the top or to the total top of the piece. This will darken and age the clay piece.

8. Repeat this last distressing step to all of the clay pieces. When you're finished, lay the pieces on the lid and move them around to get the best pattern arrangement.

9. Using a glue gun, attach each piece to the lid. Also attach the "feet" to the bottom using the glue gun. Don't worry about being exact on your placement because again, it will add to the homemade feel of this project. Here is a close-up view of the tiles.

10. Add any final touches to the box like ink, ribbon or trim. You're done!

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