The Absolute Beginners Guide Working with Polymer Clay

97 Pages·2012·23.82 MB·English

by  Lori Wilkes

THE ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS GUIDE
Working with
Polymer
Clay
everything
you need to
know to
get started

Lori Wilkes
THE ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS GUIDE
Working with
Polymer
Clay

THE ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS GUIDE
Working with
Polymer
Clay
Lori Wilkes
Contents
Kalmbach Books
21027 Crossroads Circle
Waukesha, Wisconsin 53186
www.Kalmbach.com/Books
© 2012 Lori Wilkes
All rights reserved. Except for brief excerpts for review, Introduction 6
this book may not be reproduced in part or in whole
by electronic means or otherwise without written Basics 7
permission of the publisher.
Materials 7
Tools 8
Photography © Kalmbach Books.
Safety 9
Color 10
he jewelry designs in he Absolute Beginners Guide
Working with Polymer Clay are the copyrighted property Workspace 11
of the author, and they may not be taught or sold
without permission. Please use them for your education Projects 12
and personal enjoyment only. PROJECT1 Assorted bead shapes 14
Published in 2012 PROJECT2 Sand beads 18
16 15 14 13 12 1 2 3 4 5
PROJECT3 Textured earrings 20
Manufactured in the United States of America PROJECT4 Sandpaper beads 22
and necklace
ISBN: 978-087116-453-7
PROJECT5 Faux lapis 25
EISBN: 978-0-87116-753-8
PROJECT6 Faux turquoise 29
Editor: Karin Van Voorhees
Art Director: Lisa Bergman PROJECT7 Faux bone 32
Photographers: James Forbes, William Zuback
PROJECT8 Faux jade 35
PROJECT9 Bollywood beads 38
PROJECT10 Marbleized clay stretch 42
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data bracelet
Wilkes, Lori.
PROJECT11 All about stripes 46
Working with polymer clay / Lori Wilkes.
PROJECT12 Transparent jelly roll cane 50
p. : col. ill. ; cm. —(he absolute beginners guide)
earrings
“Everything you need to know to get started”—Cover.
ISBN: 978-0-87116-453-7
1. Polymer clay crat—Handbooks, manuals, etc. 2.
Jewelry making—Handbooks, manuals, etc. I. Title. II.
Title: Polymer clay
TT297 .W55 2012
745.594/2
4 The Absolute Beginners Guide
PROJECT13 Mokume gane technique 53
PROJECT14 Zinnia pin 56

PROJECT15 Sculptural extruded clay pin 59
PROJECT16 Extruded cane pendant 64
PROJECT17 Checkerboard cane beads 67
PROJECT18 Extruded cane 70
PROJECT19 Millefiore flower beads 72
PROJECT20 Modified brain cane 76
PROJECT21 Textured beads 79
PROJECT22 Carved beads 82
PROJECT23 Stamped and inkwashed 86
pendant
PROJECT24 Shamrock pin 87
Glossary 93
From the Author 95
Working with Polymer Clay 5
Introduction
Welcome to the world of polymer clay! I use the term “world” because polymer clay ofers
incredibly diverse possibilities, especially for jewelry making. From creating realistic faux
stones to intricate loral patterns, polymer clay really does have something for everyone. It’s
also fun, forgiving, and satisfying. I’ve logged countless hours in my studio and I couldn’t
do that if I weren’t enjoying myself. Mistakes are welcome in this world. Some of my best
work has come from a foiled attempt to do something else. And, there is no waste. Polymer
clay does not dry out and if stored properly, will be workable for a long time.
Best of all, soon you’ll be hearing
“Where did you
get that great
necklace?” “Wow, I
or
like your
earrings!”
6 The Absolute Beginners Guide
Basics
MATERIALS & SUPPLIES
In addition to clay, there are some
Because this is an absolute beginners It’s important to note that
other materials and supplies you’ll
guide, my goal is to get you manufacturers change their formulas
want to have before you begin:
comfortable and creating without a occasionally. hese days, I do a “press
lot of required polymer clay materials, test” at the store. When considering a
supplies, and tools. Yes, it’s quite block of clay, I press the corner to feel Armor-all release agent: Spray a
possible to create fabulous beads how sot it is. he sotness or irmness mold or texture sheet before using to
using common household items. In of the clay I buy depends on the ensure easy release of the clay.
fact, you may ind yourself scouring project that I’ll be making.
your junk drawer and refrigerator to Glues (E-6000, he Ultimate by
ind “tools” to use in your projects! Polymer clays come in gorgeous Crater’s Pick): You’ll need a glue
But irst, it’s important to understand colors. Some even have built in special that bonds well with the cured clay to
the clay itself. efects! Metallic clays contain mica attach elements such as pin backs.
for a sot metallic luster. Glitter clays
You’ll ind that you have many brands are fun for making beads: Glitter is Ranger Alcohol Inks: Mix with
to choose from—Sculpey, Premo, suspended throughout the clay so uncured clay to add color and pattern.
Fimo, Kato—which clay is the best? there are no dead spots. (Don’t use
Is there a diference? Some clays, like glitter clays or clays with inclusions Future acrylic loor polish: Seal the
Fimo Sot and Sculpey, are sot. hey for making patterns that need to be cured piece and provides a nice inish.
are easy to condition and shape with sliced, though, because the blade
your hands. hese clays are great for drags the inclusions through the Assorted metal leaf (gold, silver, and
stamping, texturing, and inclusions. clay and distorts and scratches the copper): Sold in paper-thin sheets,
However, sotness becomes an issue pattern.) these can be layered on or combined
when building patterns in clay as with clay for special efects.
you’ll learn to do with canes. he Translucent clays are available in
pattern may smudge or lose its shape. many colors. hey are not as opaque Isopropyl alcohol: Use with paper
An easy way to understand this is to as the regular solid colors, so they towels to remove all clay residue from
think about slice-and-bake cookies can create depth and transparency. your workspace and tools.
with patterns inside (such as hearts Translucents are also helpful when
or shamrocks). he dough must be loosening up clay that is too irm Fast Orange hand cleaner: Cleans
irm enough to slice and maintain or dry. he translucent acts as an clay from your hands without drying
the pretty pattern. If the dough is too extender medium. them out.
warm, it’s hard to slice and the pattern
becomes distorted. It’s the same way Glow-in-the-dark clays aren’t just kid Acrylic paints: Add details to cured
with clay. Firm clays such as Kato or stuf. Use them just like all the other clay or bring out textures with paint.
Premo hold a pattern, and sot clays light neutral clays but gain the fringe
have trouble with it. Conditioning beneit of being impressive at night.
irm clays is more work, but it is easily
accomplished with a pasta machine. Liquid polymer clay is used as a sort
of polymer “glue” to apply two pieces
of clay together (both cured and
uncured), or as a curable protective
layer for transferred images and foils.
Liquid clays are available in several
colors.
Working with Polymer Clay 7
Basics
TOOLS
My pasta machine is an Atlas for pasta,
but the crat store variety for clay works
as well. If you’re very lucky, you might
ind a pasta machine at a yard sale! he
pasta machine must have a clamp to
attach to a sturdy table.
If you don’t have a pasta machine to
use for clay, you will need a rolling pin
to make sheets of clay. In the polymer
clay area of the store, you’ll see clear
acrylic rollers in various sizes. he
one I use the most is 8" long. You can
use an old rolling pin, but if it is wood,
he only non-negotiable must-have
tool is a tissue blade. Originally
made for medical use, these lexible
blades are essential for slicing clay. I
did not have one of these when I irst Pins and needles in assorted sizes are
experimented, and my results relected useful for making marks and holes.
it. hey’re not expensive and you can
ind them wherever polymer clay is Knitting needles make holes and
sold. Flexible tissue blades allow you it may leave a texture on the clay. I’ve add textures.
to really bend and cut curves; stifer used the handle of a crat knife as a
blades are great for straight cuts. Wavy roller many times with good results. A crat knife has many purposes: Use
ripple blades are also available for Acrylic rollers are nice because they the barrel for rolling, the coupler for
creating special cuts. Tissue blades are smooth, cheap, and clean up well. texturing, and the blade for cutting.
are extremely sharp. he ends are To roll out diferent thicknesses of clay
unmarked, so you must pay attention without a PM, stack an equal number Plastic straws and stir sticks in
when using these blades. You may of matboard scraps on either side of the diferent sizes make marks or uniform
want to mark the safe end with paint or clay and roll the clay in the middle. the holes in pendants or other items.
a marker. clay will roll to a thickness equal to the
height of the stack. Eyeglass screw drivers—both Phillips
A pasta machine (PM) is also a and standard—are used for marking.
wonder when working with clay. Now that we’ve covered the biggies, let’s
hough not a necessity, once you use look around the house for other tools
one, you’ll never go back to rolling that are great for working with clay. :
by hand. he machine rolls out A 3x3" matboard scrap or similarly
consistently thick sheets of clay with sized sturdy box cover for rolling or
the turn of a crank handle. hickness is shaping beads. Personally, I like a 3x3"
adjusted by turning a knob on Plexiglas square because I can see the
the machine. bead as I’m shaping it.
8 The Absolute Beginners Guide
SAFETY
Scrap paper will protecting the
tabletop from clay residue.
Polymer clay is a very safe medium
Use wire to stabilize beads as they bake. when used properly. It is rated non-
toxic, but it does contain polymers and
Keep a variety of rubber stamps on plasticizers that are better let in the
hand for adding texture and patterns beads and not in the belly. his is why I
to clay. clean up with a good hand cleaner and
never snack while working with clay.
It is imparative that you commit to
a dedicated oven for polymer clay. Curing clay also requires attention.
Polymer clay is never to be used in Most clays cure in the oven between
a microwave oven. Toaster and/or 265–325oF. When you mix diferent
crat ovens aren’t too expensive and brands together, choose the lower
can be also found at yard sales fairly oven temperature and the longer
readily. I also recommend having an recommended time. Debbie Jackson,
oven thermometer to check the actual a well-known polymer clay artist, once
temperature of the oven. Because a told me she tells her students, “Longer
toaster oven is small, the beads cure is stronger.” Check the clay package for
very near to the heat. To prevent bead directions about the bake temperatures
scorching during oven heat cycles, and bake times for various thicknesses.
place a sheet of aluminum foil over the
beads. he foil can be used over and Clay will burn if the oven exceeds
Apply Pearl-Ex powders or paint to over again. I line my baking sheet with the curing temperature. I remember
clay with a paint brush to enhance the parchment paper. If you bake clay well a very full batch of beads that
clay’s texture. directly on the metal tray, the clay will burned because I did not check the
have a shiny texture when cured. Using temperature dial on the oven when
A ruler is useful for measuring clay. parchment paper as a liner prevents I put the beads in. hough it didn’t
this. Oven timers are wonderful too. smoke much, it did create fumes that
Sandpaper is important for inishing, I get so involved in the studio that I I’m sure wouldn’t pass a fresh air test.
but can also be used for texturing clay. could easily forget about beads curing We lushed out the basement air with
in the basement. window fans and all was well—except
Mesh veggie bags add unusual texture for all those beads! It turned out that
(garlic bags are wonderful). Why a dedicated oven? I say dedicated my little one had breezed by the oven
because once the oven is used for clay, and decided to play with the buttons
Store open packages of clay in plastic it shouldn’t be used for food thereater. and the temperature dial!
baggies—also helpful in keeping his is a rule that I do not violate—
colors separate. ever. It applies to every tool that I use here are times when you might decide
that originally has a food use. Once that you want to sand or buf a cured
Wax paper is used to wrap up canes to it gets used in my clay, it is magically piece of clay. Because this will create
keep them dust-free and protect them transformed into a clay tool that never dust, it’s always a good idea to wear a
from sticking to other canes. returns to the kitchen. his leads me dust mask and eye goggles.
to…
Kemper Clay Tools are available in
small sets with assorted shapes and
sizes. hey’re nice because they have a
little plunger that pushes the clay out of
the cutter.
Working with Polymer Clay 9