The Beginner's Guide to Polymer Clay

You lot might recall that polymer clay is really more for kids. You lot're wrong.

You might even think that there's not much yous tin can do with polymer clay. You're wrong again!

While information technology's true that I chose to explore polymer clay as a hobby this month because I was looking for an activity to enjoy with my nieces and nephews, I realized that these colorful pieces of clay tin can actually lead to so much more than.

You tin can create a diverseness of items out of polymer clay – jewelry, miniature figurines, motion picture frames. Wherever your creativity takes you lot.

This post contains Amazon affiliate links. Don't worry! Your price stays the aforementioned. I just receive a small percentage of the sale which helps cover the costs of maintaining this website. I simply link to products I highly recommend. Bank check out my privacy policy for more info.

Introduction

Polymer dirt is a type of modeling clay with a polymer polyvinyl chloride (PVC). It doesn't really accept clay minerals in it, but it'south simply as pliable and like shooting fish in a barrel to work with (if non, more than and then!). In one case you mold it into your desired shape, you can pop information technology in the oven to cure it. Information technology doesn't shrink when you cure the clay, just hardens it! This as well allows polymer clay to be a great activity to enjoy with the kids every bit long as adults can take care of the curing procedure. It'due south merely every bit fun equally Play-Doh but way ameliorate in my opinion, since yous really get to solidify your object into something you lot can keep!

Yous've probably seen polymer dirt at your local crafting stores in rows and rows of colorful blocks from brands like Fimo, Sculpey, Premo, and many others. Well, now's your chance to finally grab a few blocks to try to run across what y'all tin can make.

So what exactly IS polymer dirt made out of?

As well the PVC resin, polymer dirt also has a liquid plasticizer, coloring agents and other filler components. This combination allows the polymer dirt to be categorized as a plastigel. A plastigel has a considerable amount of plasticity which allows information technology to be molded freely but too allows it to harden when heat is applied.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BTmbhCgjoK1/

Can polymer clay be dangerous?

There's really two chief rules yous have to remember when working with polymer clay:

Don't eat it.

Don't fire it.

There has been some safety concerns in regards to the effects of exposure to certain plasticizers as they have been known to be endocrine disruptors. The clay that is readily available will non have any more than 0.1% of the restricted plasticizer so yous don't really have to worry. Polymer dirt is technically certified as non-toxic but yous should still make certain that it's not accidentally ingested by pocket-size children.

If you are careful not to burn down the dirt (by following the product instructions for temperatures and baking time), you should exist fine. Only brand sure to keep the space you are working in well-ventilated. If you lot find yourself accidentally burning the clay, a small corporeality of hydrogen chloride released could lead to some harmful odors that may cause some eye or olfactory organ irritation. If this happens, brand certain to open up windows and doors to allow whatsoever hydrogen chloride gas to escape the enclosed infinite. If you are actually concerned about fumes, y'all tin bake information technology in a sealed purse (like a Reynolds baking bag).

Even when you have cured the polymer clay, the plasticizers could still leach out. But make sure not to utilize whatsoever of your products for handling or storing food as this substance is definitely not food-condom. If using cookie sheets to bake it, make sure yous line it with foil or wax paper and toss it out after yous are washed curing the polymer clay. A good rule of thumb is to dedicate your polymer clay tools for crafting use only. Equally ever, make sure you wash your hands before and afterwards each time you work with polymer dirt.

What are the different types of polymer dirt?

You can find polymer clay at any of your local arts & arts and crafts stores sold in bricks of different sizes. Commonly you'll find them in 2 oz. bricks or higher. There's even packages with multiple colors. If y'all ever need a larger size of polymer dirt, you'll be able to find information technology online.

At that place'southward quite a few brands available for polymer clay including Fimo, Sculpey, Cernit, Formello, Modello, Du-Kit, Pardo and Kato Polyclay.  Polymer clay can vary from brand to brand as the composition won't be exactly the same. Even within the same brand, you might notice a variety of polymer clay types. If you're really serious into polymer clay as a hobby, I  recommend trying unlike brands and see which one works best for yous!

FIMO

FIMO is known as the original make of polymer dirt. It was developed in the 1930s past "Fifi" Kruse Rehbinder, a German doll artist who used polymer clay to make doll heads. Once the polymer clay formula was sold to Ebrehard Faber in the 60s, the brand FIMO was born.  FIMO has a variety of polymer clay products including FIMO Classic, FIMO Soft, FIMO Kids, FIMO result and FIMO professional.

Sculpey

Sculpey is bachelor in a diversity of products including Original Sculpey, Super Sculpey, Sculpey Iii, Sculpey Souffle, Sculpey Pluffy, Sculpey Super Flex bake & Curve, Sculpey Ultra Light, Translucent Liquid Sculpey and Premo. These products tin can range in its characteristics during molding (similar softness and ease of conditioning) and its characteristics after baking (like durability).

Cernit

Cernit is by and large used amidst doll makers as information technology is bachelor in tons of skin-tone colors. It results in a firm but flexible production with a translucent finish after baking.

Kato Polyclay

Kato Polyclay can be a bit hard when y'all first start to use it but with plenty conditioning, you'll find a product with actually good strength and flexibility later on curing. There's 21 colors currently available with Kato Polyclay.

Liquid Polymer Clay

Liquid clay is a pretty new matter as it was only introduced in the 90s. You tin use it every bit an adhesive for two layers of polymer clay. You tin can also use information technology for a wide variety for projects. Check out this article for uses of liquid polymer clay.

What tools practice I need for polymer clay?

Work Expanse – Detect a clean, smooth work surface. If you're worried most getting it on the surface, cover the area with sheets of wax or parchment newspaper.

Tools – To get started, y'all don't really demand anything merely your ain hands! Even so, it really helps to have a rolling pin, cutting blade and other shaping tools. Many brands offer minor starter sets that have a variety of these tools.

Oven – You'll need an oven to broil the polymer clay. You tin can use your normal baking oven or fifty-fifty a small toaster oven if you lot take information technology. Do not utilize a microwave oven for polymer dirt!

Wax or parchment paper – Not simply can you use it to encompass your working space, y'all can use information technology to embrace the blistering sheets yous are using to cure the polymer dirt.

What is conditioning?

Workout is the process of manipulating the polymer dirt and so that it is ready to use. Y'all can status some types of polymer clay straight out of the packet just using the warmth of your easily. However, some types of polymer dirt are much more than difficult to to condition and so others. In these cases, the polymer clay is sometimes sliced and rolled through a pasta motorcar (like the one shown below).

How do I cure polymer clay?

As mentioned previously, you'll need an oven to harden and bake the polymer clay (likewise known as curing). You tin can cure polymer clay in conventional, convection or toaster ovens simply exercise not use microwave oven. Since you'll need to avoid getting polymer clay onto items that might be used for food, you can actually bake in a sealed chamber (like a Reynolds baking bag). If yous are using any type of cookie sheet, you should definitely encompass it with wax or parchment newspaper that yous can toss out when you're done.

You should always follow the package instructions when it comes to the baking time and temperature as each production will vary. You'll need to be conscientious not to burn the polymer clay. Mostly, y'all will exist determining your baking time on the thickest surface area of your polymer clay object. Usually baking times vary effectually fifteen-20 minutes for every 1/four inch of polymer clay thickness.

What can I brand with polymer clay?

The pliability of the polymer dirt can allow you to create a multitude of things. Creative crafters have utilized polymer dirt in jewelry, pottery, ornamentation, and sculptures. You can use this type of dirt to decorate anything that won't burn during the curing process (like wood). Afterward polymer clay is cured, you can finish it past sanding, buffing, glazing or even painting it.

There's tons of things you can do with polymer clay. Don't call back of it as some sort of child's play dough. Think of it as some other fine art medium! Bank check out this mail service on what you can practice with polymer clay!

Like this post? Pin it to share information technology with your friends!

tuckerentaid.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.thecuriouslycreative.com/polymer-clay/

Share this post