POLYMER CLAY HACKS, TIPS AND TRICKS

 

polymer clay hacks 

What is polymer clay?

Polymer clay is such a great idea to start work with. polymer clay is a mouldable plastic made out of polymer polyvinyl chloride the best part of working with polymer clay is you can remold it if you are not satisfied with your work until it is baked and it doesn’t easily harden on its own, it needs to be baked to fully harden. you can easily create some really beautiful things like buttons, earrings, pendants, charms, and many more. Once the polymer clay artwork is baked, you can easily personalize your craft by painting, drilling, buffing, or sanding it. you can use mica powder, glitter, or leaf foil to make it more attractive. If you haven’t tried crafting with clay, what are you waiting for?

Working with polymer clay is an easy task but you need to follow a few measures while handling the clay.  If you are a newbie to Polymer Oven Bake Clay, you will be looking for tips to help you with your creations. We are putting together our quick and amazing polymer clay hacks to ease your task with polymer clay that you can use for your craft In this article, here are a few of my favorite polymer clay tips, trick, and hacks :

1.  Wash your hand before using polymer clay: Polymer clay is very sensitive to dirt or natural oil or grime. so it is very important to clean your hand or gloves properly before working with polymer clay, especially while working with white or light color polymer clay otherwise your end work will have some dirt or fingerprint marks. Also, make sure to clean your hand if you are switching colors. Lastly don’t forget to dry your hand properly. 
2. Best work surface for polymer clay:  One will find many tutorials on youtube using wooden blocks, ceramic or acrylic sheets, or silicon mats as working areas for polymer clay art. It is better to work with smooth and stiff surfaces like ceramic tile for rolling and cutting tasks on polymer clay. As per my experiences, I won't suggest using wooden blocks for cutting polymer clay because every time the small wooden chunks stick to the clay.  Again don’t forget to use a clean surface for your polymer clay work and remember that clays will dull or even remove the finish from a fine wood surface.                                                                                                               

   

   polymer clay working sheet

   
   
3. Creating your own custom-colored polymer clay:   Did you know you can easily mix different colored polymer clay? Mixing colors makes the project more exciting as you can experiment to come out with a whole new range of polymer clay colors. I really love mixing clays to make new colors, especially for canes or kaleidoscopic canes. you can mix polymer clay of different colors and brands to create your very unique color polymer clay. This can be done easily using hands and mineral or baby oil if needed( means to smooth the clay of different brands ).   Here is the link to a few youtube tutorials for mixing polymer clay for new colored clay              
   
   

            

   
   

4. Storing the polymer clay: Polymer clay can be reused till it is not baked and it will stay soft for a very long time under the right conditions. So it is very important to store the leftover clay properly for reuse. Use re-sealable baggies or fishing tackle box or any section closed container to keep dirt, air-borne particles or hair, or other color polymer clay away from your clay. Keep the clay away from extreme heat as it will be a little difficult to condition the clay                                  

   

   storage box for polymer clay

   
   
5. Hardening the clay: Sometimes clay became too soft while conditioning or due to wrong storage. To make your clay hard for a better result, leave it in the freezer for a few minutes. Now the clay is in good usable condition. Or you can do this hack also Put the piece between two sheets of paper or keep one side folded and place a heavy book over it on top. Leave it there for at least 30 minutes.
6. Working with tools: For cutting the polymer clay, metal or plastic tools can be used. If the clay sticks to the cutting tools while cutting it, use corn starch or baby powder to make your cutting tools nonsticky. Remember to clean the powder or corn starch with a clean soft brush from the clay after cutting and before baking.                                                                                        

   

   polymer clay tools

   
   
7. Baking precautions:   Always follow the directions on the package of your polymer clay for baking it. temperature and time are the two important factors while baking the clay in the oven. Every brand of clay has its own predefined temperature to bake the clay. If you are working with a different colored brand of polymer clay together for your project, then it is better to go with minimum temperature to avoid the burning of clay. Bake polymer clay at 110 degrees Celsius for 10- 15 minutes. Baking the clay at a high temperature may burn the clay piece. Don’t use the polymer clay oven for other cooking purposes or use parchment paper while baking it. Parchment Paper is safe in the oven at clay temperatures.                                                                                                       

   

   baking the clay

   
   
8. Too hard clay:   If the polymer clay is too hard and crumbly to work on, add a small amount of baby oil or mineral oil, or vegetable oil while conditioning the clay. This will make it softer and easy to work with. Add drop by drop to soften the clay or the clay became more sticky.                   

   

   soften the polymer clay

   source 
9. Taking care of polymer clay tools: Keep your polymer clay in a clean and dry place to avoid any dirt or hair. Sharp tools should be placed properly avoid the reach of children or toddlers. Don’t use polymer clay cutters for other purposes like cutting cookies or cutting fruits.
10. Avoiding air bubbles: Try to avoid any air bubbles while rolling and conditioning the polymer clay. If you are using a hand roller, use parchment paper while rolling the polymer clay sheet, it helps to remove air bubbles. Place the fold first into the pasta roller machine and allow it to press together to avoid bubbles After baking if you find any bubbles on the final work, pop it with a toothpick just after baking or when it is hot. Popping the bubble when the clay is cold won’t work
11. Cleaning the polymer clay piece: To remove fingerprints or dirt from your polymer clay artwork before baking it, genetly rubbed the dirt surface with alcohol on cotton. You can also go for other option like nail polish remover or baby wipes poured on ear cleaning buds.                     

    

    cleaning the polymer clay

    
            
12. Conditioning the clay: To condition the clay, slice and chop it with a blade or with a processor. If conditioning the clay with hand, roll the clay into a snake, ball it up, and roll it out again. Repeat these steps many times till the clay gets smooth enough to cast any shape.                          
    
    
    
    
    

POLYMER CLAY CONCLUSION 

Using these simple tips will help you make your crafts more efficiently. Do try these simple hacks and let us know which one is your favorite!

polymer clay hoop earring

Get more ideas!

POLYMER CLAY TOOLS FOR BEGINNER

 

polymer clay tools for beginner

 To get your work done with polymer clay in a professional way or you planning to sell your polymer clay projects on an eCommerce site or in your own shop, even if you have just started using it or you're an expert, all you truly gone need is some polymer clay basic tools. Polymer clay is wonderfully resilient, pliable, and easy to mold into any shape. When the polymer clay is baked, it becomes strong and firm but not that hard means it can be broken. Tools are needed to make your polymer clay work easy and look more professional. Whether you are making earrings or patterns or necklaces or any sculpture out of polymer clay, tools help to smooth out the edges for a clean look, add texture lines for pattern-making tasks that give your project a beautiful finish, and more! Just imagine a good project of polymer clay having fingerprints, rough edges, circles, or not-so-sharp square edges as you needed? would it be appreciated by anyone?

Always use all the polymer clay tools for clay work only; do not use them for food or other purposes. Though polymer clay is certified as a nontoxic art supply, still hope one doesn’t want to find cooked bits of hard clay in your next batch of cookies or jams. It is very important to keep the polymer clay tools separate from normal cooking tools. polymer clay does not release fumes but still keeps the tools separate from others.

1. Non-Stick Work Surface

nonstick surface

To start work on any project, we need a perfect surface to have a better result. Same with polymer clay. Before being baked, polymer clay is soft so the surface may get interfere with the project or techniques and makes its stamp on polymer clay. To avoid this surface stamp on polymer clay, we need a smooth clean surface. Using a silicone baking or clay mat helps to keep the polymer clay project surface smooth and surface mark free. The silicon mat won't move while working and can be wiped off for easy clean-up. Remember the silicon mat is that mat cannot be used for cutting the clay. Using a knife or sharp tools may cut the silicone mat so for cutting part in a polymer clay project, an acrylic slab or ceramic slab is the best choice. These slabs are available easily.

SHOP CLAY MAT

2. Acrylic Roller

acrylic roller with slab

Before you begin to work with polymer clay, the clay must need to be conditioned. Conditioning helps to reduce the air bubbles trapped inside the clay. When polymer clay sits, the ingredients used with polymer clay like other colored clay or rhinestones or patterns or beads or metal filings got separated and hence need to be mixed again. Conditioning the polymer clay strengthens and warms it to make it easier to work with to make smooth shapes and textures. Polymer clay can be conditioned by hand without a clay machine or the pasta-making machine. To condition polymer clay with help of hands, flatten it with a clean and smooth acrylic roller. Fold and roll it with the roller again, and repeat 20–25 times until the clay is warm and supple. while folding the clay for conditioning, make sure air bubbles are not trapped between the polymer clay layers. so while folding and rolling, press it properly to avoid air bubbles. You can also knead the clay with your hands in any way that is comfortable for you. while conditioning the clay, one cane tries by creating logs, twisting it, or forming it into a pancake shape or a ball and squashing it flat which is easier and having fun. Several different kinds of rollers like silicon roller, rubber roller, or my favorite acrylic roller can be used for conditioning and shaping clay. Silicone and rubber rollers will help smooth the clay, while acrylic and metal rollers are perfect for _ attending to the clay and making thin pieces.

SHOP CLAY ROLLER

3. Sharp Knife Tool

sharp knife tool

A sharp cutting blade tool is needed to cut the clay project smoothly with no drag, which will preserve the colors/design without distortion or to reveals the inner colors of that polymer clay cane or clay kaleidoscope cane. Polymer clay cutting blades are long, thin sharp razor blades made especially for clay cutting.  These blades are without a handle as it is broad enough to hold them. Wipe the blade with a wet wipe to remove any clay build-up as you work, or the clay build-up will tend to pull the clay being sliced. A knife tool is necessary to cut shapes out of polymer clay final sheets or to add detail to a working design piece. 

SHOP CLAY KNIFE TOOL

4. Modelling Tools/ shaper tools

clay shaper tools

While working with polymer clay projects like making patterns with different colour clay or making small holes or dig shapes into it. making it with hands or tools, leaves finger prints or edges or irregular surface or holes. for a perfect final result, we need to smooth the edges or patterns , to clear and and every details , modelling clays tools play this role. A set of modeling tools will give your polymer clay project the texture you want in even the smallest nooks and corners.

SHOP CLAY MODELING SET

5.  Sandpaper

sandpaper

Sandpaper is used after the polymer clay final piece is baked and cooled down. Sandpaper is used to rub away any imperfections in the polymer clay final piece by leaving a smooth surface behind and by giving a professional-grade creation. One of the best tools to do rubbing the clay project  is  sandpaper sheets. It will get rid of things like fingerprints or air bubbles or any extra edges or parts on the clay project without damaging the project. Always be sure to have a wide range of grits for the best results.

SHOP CLAY  SANDPAPER

6. A Slicing Blade

A slicing blade is one of the most useful tools for cutting polymer clay. A slicing blade was used to cut strips from the polymer clay blocks and make straight cuts where needed. A slicing blade also gives a nice, smooth cut on the edges of items. This tool has a very sharp blade. Be careful while working with the slicing blade to avoid cutting yourself with the sharp edge.

shop slicing blade

7. Small scissors

scissor

A small scissor is used to cut very thin layers of baked polymer clay easily, if you wanted to cut out your designs from a rough shape that way and then sand them with sandpaper, rather than using polymer clay cutters on unbaked clay. It completely depends on how you want things to be done with less effort for better results, but a good set of small scissors is good to have even if you are afraid to use the blade for such work.

You can buy a set of small scissors anywhere, or you may use one that is already in your house!  but make sure that if you are using that scissor for clay part should not be used for another purpose. it is available both online and in nearby craft stores, you’ll have no trouble getting your hands on some.

shop scissor

8. Zipper bag

zipper bag

To keep safe your polymer clay projects like earrings, necklace or rings you need a bag. The zipper bag is my favorite for this part. available in various sizes and not a burden to our pocket. The zipper bag keeps safe the project for use when needed. we can keep the unbaked polymer clay also as it keeps it safe from dirt and away from toddlers. 

Shop zipper bag

9. Oven 

oven

Make sure you have an oven! polymer clay needs to be baked after completing the project. polymer clay remains soft till it is baked. it is recommended to use 110 degrees and 10 minutes to bake the clay. baking for a long time may burn the clay.  You can use your home oven for baking the polymer clay project. If you want, your baking plate not to get stamped from the clay piece, it is best to use the parchment paper.

shop oven

10. Varnish 

UV Resin

Adding a thin uniform layer of varnish to a baked design can provide an extra waterproof and hardened layer over the clay, adding a professional and sturdy finish. for this, uv resin or epoxy resin, or mod podge can be used which is easily available nearby.

Shop varnish

11. Piercing tool

toothpick

Use a toothpick, skewer, or our Needle End Pointer to pierce holes in the polymer clay project. A toothpick also helps to remove air bubbles from baked polymer clay projects.

 If you make a buying deal via the links available in this article, I receive a little commission as these are affiliate links, that help support this site. 

If you want to purchase complete kits for beginner then you can go with this kit

clay tools kit

shop kit

visit my tutorial https://theblingon.blogspot.com/2022/02/how-to-make-easy-diy-polymer-clay.htm

How to make steampunk jewelry

  

Steampunk jewellery or you can say vintage technology looks like the jewelry world. The fashion and accessories for this style are continually growing in popularity. So here are more steampunk jewelry tutorials to inspire

Steampunk jewelry got its name from steam, the Victorian era of the 1800s, the invention of steam power, art, romance, and much more. Steampunk jewelry ideas grabbed popularity from science-fiction writing that was set in the steam age of the Victorian Era. steampunk jewelry cultivates DIY flavor.

Steampunk is a style of design and fashion that combines historical elements with anachronistic technological features inspired by science fiction.  steampunk jewelry is all about industrial and mechanical kinds of stuff like gears, nuts springs, metal stampings to be assembled to form a romantic piece of art like bracelets, earrings, necklaces, rings, and pendants not only for women but also for men. so one can say that steampunk jewelry is more incongruous with jewelry.

Steampunk jewelry ideas feature mechanical primarily and industrial components unlike other jewelry components like- metal gears, and old watch parts which are soldered, riveted, stacked, and wired. this jewelry doesn’t require any costly materials just waste or junk or old bits of metal ephemera beautifully arranged or soldered or wired to make a steampunk accessory. Cast-iron and wood instead of aluminum. Silk and linen instead of polyester. Brass and glass and rubber instead of plastic. Welding instead of superglue. Rivets instead of injection molding. Leather belts and buckles instead of Velcro. One more fantastic thing is you can use polymer clay, resin, or air dry clay with these metal components to finish your steampunk jewelry.

It is an ideal jewelry style for those of us who love collecting all those little pieces, from our old friends, family members, or from our loved ones. The goal of Steampunk is to fashion and inhabit a unique way of fashion sense.

A world where the awe and romance inspired by humanity’s pursuit of scientific knowledge is reflected in our tools, furniture, architecture, literature, art, and fashions.

Here Are A Few Steampunk Jewelry Making Materials You Can Collect

1. Metal Finding And Chains: An important component in steampunk style jewelry. available in different colors and designs in shops. for steampunk jewelry, dull-colored chains are preferable to me.

2. Glass: glass can be your old hand watch glass or small glass pieces or glass beads to make your steampunk jewelry more attractive. one can use these pieces with fabrics for necklaces, hats, or bracelets.

3. Stones: stones like opal, ruby, sapphire. amber, freshwater pearl, jasper, coral, and turquoise used in steampunk art make it look luxuries. Using stones in steampunk work related to trade route history. more you are creative with your art, and more ideas will be there to use these materials.

4. Found Objects: It's my favorite materials things when comes to making steampunk work.  found object means time traveling pieces of stuff like an old watch, a used purse or your one lost shoe or heels,  your old denim, rusted keys, and other mechanical types of equipment.

5. Charms: components in steampunk style jewelry include keys, skulls, wings, snakes, flowers, name printed tags religious symbols, dragons, festival symbols, and message metals tags. These charms are found in different sizes. some use polymer clay or resin to make light weights or glowing charms.

6. Beads:- Available in different shapes and materials of crystals, glass, porcelain, metals , clay, or woods.  An important part of ornaments and easy to find.

7. Eyelets:- Two-part brass findings. lend a smooth metal lining to a hole in metal or leather.

8. Fabrics: talking about fabrics for steampunk jewelry, used to give a romantic effect to our finished piece of work. netted fabric, faux leather, denim, or leather pieces to make bracelets or necklaces. It's better to use recycled leather from used boots or coats or old purses.

9. Threads: to string beads and stitch fabrics and even stitch metal apart from the fabric.

10. Filigree

11. connectors, jewelry tools, lobster lock, jump rings, clasps, and lock beads.

Designing Your Own Stunning Eye-Catching Steam Punk Jewelry

when comes to making your own DIY steampunk jewelry collection, one does not need to go to the shop to buy beads or heavy stones or some other kinds of stuff. so, what are

we going to need to make it? your old alarm watch, random typewriter key, a bunch of loose buttons, an old purse or shoe for leather, old denim for jeans. yes, you need to have to use these odds stuff to get into work.

get started with your creative designer mind for some steampunk ideas to work with all the gathered stuff. just be creative and experimental with your steampunk work and capture your styles and taste in your DIY steampunk art.

for making steampunk jewelry, you need to first collect all your findings accordingly to your design. start with the basic and a simple idea of jewelry.  remember when it comes to steampunk, the more eclectic and unusual, the better!

this is the steampunk pendant we are going to make today

Materials We Needed For This:-

1. nail foil( some vintage) or just old newspaper cutting

2. brass one-sided open pendant holder

3. some mechanical parts

4. chain

5. lobster locks

6. epoxy resin or UV resin

steps:-

1. cut the nail foil or old newspaper according to the size of the pendant and place it inside of it. if you are using old newspaper cutting, use mod podge to seal and coat the paper.

2. now arrange the gear or mechanical equipment as your wish. no need to use glue or any other sticking material

3. pour resin over the piece. here, if you are using uv resin so just pour a thin layer of it and place it under uv light to dry and repeat again and again to fill the pendant.  Now if you are working with epoxy resin, the need to be careful with the instruction given with the resin bottle. mix accordingly and let it dry in a dust-free area.

4. ta-da your steampunk pendant is ready. put it in a chain.

5. using plugger and jump ring, attach a lobster lock to one end of the chain and one more jump ring to the other end of the chain

6. here. your own creative charming DIY steampunk necklace is ready for you.

you can watch the complete tutorial on youtube.

https://youtu.be/jRpImV2p49I

Are you looking for some inspiration? here are some works of steampunk jewelry ideas from a google search.

Applications

many steampunk artists explore themes of form and function, so a lot of steampunk art serves a dual purpose. not only are they objects of art in their own right, but they might be made with objects that once had a function, remade, and modified to have a new function.