Transform an Empty SPAM Tin into a Dragon Desk Caddy

Mould the Dragon Head, Claw and Wing
Lightly coat the detailed areas of the Dragon Head and Claw Feet Silicone Mould with a tiny amount of vegetable shortening to help the clay release. Press black air-drying clay firmly into the dragon head cavity. Apply plenty of pressure so the clay reaches every scale, ridge and pointed detail. Flatten the reverse, remove the excess and gently flex the mould to release the piece. Repeat the process to create the claw, taking extra care around the nails. Use the black clay again with the Dragon Wings Mould. Press it into the narrow tips and textured ribs, keeping the back as flat as possible. Avoid making the pointed areas too thin, as they will be more fragile when dry. Place the pieces somewhere safe and allow them to dry completely. 

Create the Castle Ruins
Press light neutral clay into the Castle Ruins Silicone Mould, working gradually from one end to the other. Make sure the clay reaches the brickwork, windows and broken architectural details. Sheena has mixed a tiny amount of brown clay into the white clay to make a neutral colour for this project. Check the reverse for any thin areas and reinforce them with additional clay where needed, then gently flex the mould to release the castle. Leave the castle to dry fully before painting or assembling the project.

Cover the Tin with a Mountain Landscape
Use the Mystical Mountain Scene Silicone Mould to create two clay panels for the sides of the tin. Press the clay across the mountain, cloud and sky section of the mould, making each piece slightly larger than required to cover half of the tin. Use a small rolling pin to flatten the back and release from mould. Curve them around the tin and allow the panels to dry for 24 hours. This allows most of the natural clay shrinkage to take place first before we stick in place. Once dry, overlap the two panels one at a time around the tin and carefully trim the top and bottom edges level so they fit the tin perfectly. Apply Cosmic Shimmer glue to the reverse, edges and join where the two pieces will connect, then press the panels firmly around the tin until the adhesive grips.

Paint the Castle and Background
Create a thin stone-coloured wash by mixing dark brown with a little black water-based ink and plenty of water. Brush it over the castle, allowing the colour to settle into the brickwork, cracks and windows. Use a damp cloth or water wipe to remove paint from the raised areas. This leaves darker colour in the recesses and brings out the moulded detail. Add touches of green or brown to selected areas if desired. Leaving more paint in place creates a darker, more dramatic finish, while removing more reveals a lighter, weathered stone effect. For the mountain background (already attached to the tin), use the same technique with a cooler grey or blue-grey wash. Make sure the colour reaches all the deeper texture areas before wiping the raised areas clean.

Add Metallic Colour to the Dragon
Once the dragon pieces are fully dry, apply metallic polish with a dry stencil brush, using only a small amount at a time. Sweep it lightly across the raised scales and textures, leaving the black visible in the recesses. When colouring the wing, brush across the ribs rather than along them so the polish catches the raised details. Layer additional colours onto the wing tips, claws and parts of the dragon’s face, blending them gradually into the base shade. Finish with a light metallic highlight across the highest points.

Assemble the Desk Tidy
Arrange all the pieces against the tin before gluing. Position the castle upright at the front, slightly towards the left. The wing should sit behind the castle and rise above its left side, while the dragon head emerges around the right. Place the claw across the lower left so it appears to grip the ruins. Attach the wing first. Trim away any hidden clay that adds unnecessary bulk, but leave enough material for a secure fixing. Sturdy card can be glued to the back of the wing for extra support. Glue the castle over the wing, holding it firmly until the adhesive grips. A small block of dried clay can be placed behind the castle to fill uneven gaps in the mountain background to provide additional support. Next, trim any hidden section from the dragon head that would be behind the castle and glue it closely against the right side of the castle ruins. Finish by attaching the claw across the lower front. Check the project from several angles as the glue dries and add more adhesive wherever extra support is required.

Once assembled, the original tin is completely disguised beneath the mountain landscape, crumbling castle and richly textured dragon. The open top remains practical for holding paintbrushes, pens, palette knives and other creative tools, while the sculpted exterior turns the desk tidy into an eye-catching display piece.