Finally finished a project and I love it! 🥰 I have been working on it for months, but truly, it’s like a two hour project total. However, given I have a serious diagnosis of severe “shiny object syndrome”, I always have at least 5 wip’s (works in progress) in progress. This week though, I decided they ALL have to be completed by Sunday, so time’s almost up.

At the beginning of the year, I decided my colors were gonna be terra cotta and green. So, my whole new crafterroom is being decorated with those colors in the mix. The green can’t just be any green, yet anything dark academia inspired or olive. With those colors in mind, the new creation is fitting right into the crafterroom decor. 👇🏾

So, if you wanna learn how to make this Raffia Moon, steps and materials are below.

Materials: I got most items at Michael’s except the Raffia and cardboard.

Hoop (Wire or deconstructed Ashland Wreath Ring)

Raffia (Mine is from Wool and the Gang)

Craftsmart Modeling Clay (you can also use Sculpey Clay) the Modeling Clay can not be heated. Sculpey can.

E6000

Cardboard circular cut out (from a shipping box)

Scissors

Measuring tape for 1 inch measurement

Gather your supplies and first trace your cardboard piece using your hoop as the template. Then, you will need to measure out 1 inch and trace another inner circle from previous.

Next, cut raffia pieces off the spool in measurements of 10 inches each. Double up and hang all raffia pieces with a lark’s head knot all the way around. It takes quite a few pieces. I didnt count but it’s morr than 50 pieces.

Get your clay out and make many, many mini 1/2 inch balls. So many that they can fit all the way around the inner circle. They do not have to be perfectly round 1/2 inch balls.

Grab your cardboard circle and place it under the raffia laden hoop. The circle will go underneath and the hoop will lay in the middle all the way around. Once it is lined up, place a sliver of glue all the way around. Then, put the raffia hoop atop the glue of the cardboard.

Grab a heavy book to lay on top to let the glue set overnight. 🌚

After cardboard is set to the raffia hoop, add a thin layer of glue in quadrants as you work your way around the cardboard part. Obviously, the balls are inside the hoop.

Then, place the little clay balls side by side, touching the one beside it. You kinda have to squish them gently together.

Once you’ve kinda wedged the last ball in, gently and carefully smooth out any fingernail or rough spots in the clay balls with your fingertips. My hands were very green after rolling the balls. You will have to dishwashing soap your hands well to get the clay off.

Next step is optional, get a hair dryer and heat the balls up for about 10 minutes. Basically, going around and arouns. Or, you can let them bake in the sun (provided it’s hot out) for 15m. I did not do this last step, I placed mine near the heat of our fireplace. If you want your mini balls to be hard, heat them in your oven on 175 degrees for 12 minutes before placing them glued to the cardboard. (Let them cool down first).

If you do heat them in the oven on wax paper, you will have to add more than a thin bit of glue when setting the mini balls though.

Voila! You have a beautiful and textured raffia moon slash lion mane on your wall. I was surprised how much I love this piece. It sparks a lot of joy when I see it in my crafterroom. I hope it makes you happy as well. 😊

Ps. I do have a post coming this week on how to make the cast offs rug featured in my most popular post. The pattern is just taking longer than expected, but is mostly done.

Happy Making

eitm