Moonlit Wolf Mountain Scene Door Hanger Project

Mould the Wolf and Moon
Begin with the Cosmic Shimmer Wolf Moon Silicone Mould. A pale bisque-coloured air dry clay works particularly well; mix a little brown and a tiny touch of orange into white clay to create a warm neutral base. Apply a very thin film of vegetable shortening to the mould, or lightly dust it with cornflour. Press clay firmly into the wolf, concentrating first on detailed areas such as the face and mouth. Push the clay well into every recess before removing the excess and flattening the reverse as much as possible. A flat back will make assembly easier later. Flex the silicone around the edges, then carefully release the wolf without pulling directly on the clay. Repeat with the moon. As this section is shallower, hold the clay securely while pressing and smoothing it evenly into the mould. Tidy the edges and flatten the back before releasing. Leave both pieces on kitchen paper to dry, ideally overnight.

Create the Mountains
Use the Cosmic Shimmer Mystical Mountain Scene Silicone Mould to create the mountain section. There is no need to completely fill the mould, but extend the clay beyond the area you expect to use. Condition the clay thoroughly, then press it firmly into the mountain detail. Work from the main focal area upwards, applying even pressure. Once the detail has been captured, press directly down rather than rolling across the surface. Rolling can move clay that is already seated in the mould and cause a doubled impression. Carefully release the casting and trim away any large areas that will definitely not be required, leaving plenty of material for final positioning and allowing for some shrinkage as the clay dries. Allow all the moulded pieces to dry thoroughly.

Trim the Mountains
Place the dried mountain casting over the door hanger and decide which section of the landscape to feature. Temporarily position the moon as well so there is enough room for both elements and a good balance between the mountains and open sky. When happy with the composition, turn the mountain piece over and trace around the hanger with a gel pen. Using a metal ruler and craft knife, make several light scoring passes along each straight edge before cutting through fully. Cut just inside the marked line so the clay does not extend beyond the wooden base. Trim across the bottom and use scissors to softly round the corners. Test the fit and make any final adjustments.

Paint the Moulded Pieces
Dilute a tiny amount of mustard-yellow ink with plenty of water and brush it over the moon. Use a soft tissue or water wipe to remove most of the colour from the raised areas, leaving a subtle warm tint inside the craters. Once dry, lightly dry-brush white gesso across the surface to brighten the moon and emphasise its texture.

Mix charcoal or black ink with a smaller amount of blue to create a deep blue-black. Work the diluted colour thoroughly into all the recessed mountain detail, including the edges. Before it dries completely, wipe the raised areas with a soft water wipe.The dark colour will remain in the valleys and engraved lines while the exposed areas become lighter, instantly revealing the detail. Once dry, add snow with white gesso. Load a flat brush, remove most of the paint and lightly drag it across the peaks and raised surfaces. Build the white gradually in several thin layers rather than applying one heavy coat. The moulded texture will naturally catch the brush and create the snowy highlights.

For the wolf use a warm brown as the main colour, blending in touches of orange, deeper brown and black directly on the moulded piece. Keep the top of the head and muzzle slightly lighter to suggest moonlight, with deeper shadows underneath, around the ears and in recessed areas. Use a muted pinkish brown inside the mouth, add a darker lip line and keep the teeth light. When dry, gently dry-brush white across selected areas of the fur to enhance the texture and moonlit effect. If the highlights become too strong, soften them with a damp brush or restore shadows with a thin wash of brown or black.

Create the Night Sky
Paint the entire door hanger with black gesso, including the front, back, inside of the opening and all edges. Leave to dry thoroughly. Use blue acrylic or chalk-style paint with plenty of water to create a translucent wash. Apply more colour towards the lower area of the sky, gradually diluting it as it moves upwards so more of the black base remains visible at the top. While the paint is still damp, use soft tissue to lift colour from selected areas. These irregular patches will form the darker foundations of the clouds.The background does not need to be perfectly even; slight variations help create a softer, mistier night sky.

Place a little white gesso on a palette and allow it to thicken slightly. With a fairly dry flat brush, dab and push the gesso into soft cloud shapes. Keep the strongest white towards the upper edges, then blend the colour out towards the bottom. A small stiff round brush can help soften the edges. Vary the size and position of each cloud and allow some to overlap for a more natural effect. Alternatively, leave the sky darker and flick diluted white gesso across the background to create a simple starry scene.

Assemble the Door Hanger
Check the reverse of each clay piece before gluing. If necessary, lightly sand any uneven areas to provide a flatter surface. Apply Cosmic Shimmer craft glue to the back of the mountain casting and align it with the bottom and sides of the hanger. Press firmly, particularly around the mountain peaks. Glue the moon into the open area of the sky. Finally, position the wolf over the lower mountain scene. As the mountain surface is heavily textured, use extra adhesive to bridge the small gaps between the two dimensional elements. Hold everything securely until the adhesive begins to grip, then allow the project to dry completely.

Protect the Finished Project
Because the colouring inks are water based, the finished hanger benefits from a protective clear coating. A matt polyurethane spray varnish is ideal as it protects the surface without disturbing the inks or adding unwanted shine. Always apply spray varnish outdoors or in a suitably ventilated area and follow the manufacturer's safety instructions.

This design is easy to personalise. Try a different night-sky colour, replace the clouds with stars or change the position of the moon and wolf. Initials or a name could also be added to create a personalised gift, while individual moulded elements can be omitted or substituted to create completely different compositions. With the detailed Wolf Moon and Mystical Mountain Scene moulds providing the focal elements, a simple wooden door hanger can be transformed into a striking dimensional mixed media project.