Polymer Clay 101: The Basics of Shaping, Baking, and Decorating with Polymer Clay

HOW TO USE POLYMER CLAY

1. First, condition the polymer clay by kneading it until it becomes soft and pliable. This ensures that the clay is easy to work with and will not crack while being shaped.

2. Next, select the desired shape and size for your project. You can use a variety of tools such as cutters, molds, or even your hands to shape the clay.

3. Once you have shaped the clay to your desired form, you can add details and textures to it using various tools such as stamps, texture plates, or even a toothpick.

4. After you are satisfied with the shape and design of your project, it is ready to be baked. Preheat your oven to the recommended temperature on the clay packaging, typically 265°F (130°C) and bake for 15 minutes per 1/4 inch (6mm) thickness.

5. Once the polymer clay has cooled, you can add any additional details or paint it as desired.

6. You can also use a variety of techniques to create different effects, such as mokume gane, caning, or millefiori.

7. To finish your piece, you can use a sealant to give it a glossy or matte finish.

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IS THIS COOL OR WHAT?

I AM OH SO LEARNING! Just created this through Photoscape which I downloaded for free. This is very helpful for people like me who is not so familiar with Photoshop.  Although I admit that I am not yet a pro at photo editing, Photoscape was my solution.  Me and my daughter really enjoyed editing and even a 10-year-old girl like her appreciates its features and is starting to learn the basics.

POLYMER CLAY CRAFTING - How I do it :)

MY PERSONAL NOTE:

You might wonder how I do my polymer craft personally.  To help you out, I would like to share from my own personal “addicting” experience in making such clay creations.

When I feel like creating such crafts, whether it be for earrings, bracelets, necklace, rings, ref magnets, charms for key chain, I almost often think of an INSPIRATION or maybe a THEME.  It would be something that makes me feel light, happy, and wonderful.  What I do if no picture comes to my mind is I go over my magazines and books.  I have a bunch of them from Book Sale which I got for a very cheap price (I sometimes spend most of my time at Book Sale as my past time).

If magazines and books are not enough for me, I surf through the internet.  There are so many stuffs that I can find there.  Polymer Clay Central is a nice site to go to since I can find lots of projects there, but I do not copy exactly.  I would just get an idea or overall view of what to make, how to make it and then I do my own stuff.

For me, I feel that I am respecting the artist who created their craft if I am not copying exactly what they have posted for example in Etsy.  My color of choice is sometimes different and since I love all shades of purple, as a clay artist doing business, I am learning to appreciate other colors and create stuffs that are not in my niche ( which is purple :)).

After having something in mind already, I prepare my materials.  Well, the immediate things I would have handy with me is my cutting board, assorted clay colors, my flexible cutter, acrylic roller, and my ever so loved – Amaco pasta machine from my sis in Canada.  Although I can create stuffs without having the pasta machine before - now, I can't live without it since it makes me work faster.

While creating my stuff, I like to view the picture or colors that inspired me to do the art, so I often have my magazines or books open while doing my craft, and if on the internet, I have it viewed until I am done.

This way, it doesn’t break the momentum of my wanting to create such art and continually inspires, amazes, and makes me enjoy what I am doing more.

If it is just in my mind, the inspiration often starts with simple things and then it just builds up where I end up having so many stuffs to create.

I also am fond of reading blogs of clay artists and reading through their experiences also inspires me.

I have started with jewelry making and even attended a workshop in Cebu City for Basic Jewelry Making.  I thought and felt that every stuff that we create comes first an inspiration.

Doing polymer clay craft for me is a step higher that really satisfied my hunger for creating crafts.  It is very flexible and helps me mold whatever shape and size I want.

This is a sort of therapy for me and definitely makes me live a stress-free life while doing business too!

When I am lost of inspiration or nothing comes to mind, my business then would take its place, so I can still create stuff with my clays through the customized orders that are being placed by my friends and people who also loved my creations, and find them nice, cute, and lovely!