For those of you who are just joining in, you will note, according to the syllabus, this and the next lesson are out of order, as promised the last time we met. I explained that the polymer clay and fabric lessons were reversed because I use the polymer clay I made in some of my fabric pages. I hope you understand and it doesn't confuse too many of you. Now let's begin our next lesson.
Polymer Clay
I am sure some of you are thinking polymer clay is not in your wheelhouse. That could be because you don't believe you have the tools needed for this craft. I have to agree that if you decide to get into polymer clay, it can be expensive, as are all art forms that you start where you don’t have the tools needed for the job.

However, some of you may not even know what polymer clay is. It's really a polymer medium, and not clay. It is like clay in the fact that it must be baked. It is a PVC product, or polyvinyl chloride. That is what your white "plastic plumbing pipes" in your house are made of. Additionally, polymer clay contains a plasticizer, which makes it different from your plumbing pipes.
Polymer clay stays soft in a cool, dark place until it is baked at low temperatures. Although you can leave unbaked clay open for several hours, it is not something I would recommend doing once your project is complete, but unbaked. I store my open clay in sealed plastic bags, still wrapped in their original wrappers, and they stay soft and ready for use when I decide to use them.
The words "tissue blade" always give me the creeps. Other than the brain and its functions, I have no interest in the medical community, primarily due to my desire to stay away from blood and needles. Tissue blades are used when cutting canes, those polymer clay cylinders or logs that have a design running through them. A cross section of the clay log is cut to show and bring out the design. The sharpest blade you can use for cutting these cross sections is a tissue blade, which must be sharp, or the cane will pull, smear, and distort as it is cut. Tissue blades are used by pathologists to make thin slices of tissue that will be examined under a microscope. Again, very creepy: goose bump creepy!
Polymer clay must be conditioned. Even if you are using a pasta machine to roll it out (NEVER EVER use the pasta maker for anything other than clay again), you must warm the clay before you work with it. You do this by kneading it in your hands, then twisting and turning it, then kneading it some more. If you start flattening your clay and it crumbles, it is still cold in spots, and must be reconditioned. Some brands and colors of clay take longer to condition than others. If you are using a pasta maker, once warm, run the clay through the pasta maker at least TWENTY times. Some artists suggest at least THIRTY times.
However, if you are NOT using a pasta maker, continue kneading, twisting, kneading, and repeating the process ad nauseum. Once your hand starts to fall off, or your wrist no longer works, the clay should be ready. OK, that's an exaggeration, but it does take a long time to condition and I don't want you to get discouraged. Of course, I've had clay that was so soft, it was nearly ready when I removed it from the package. So choose your clay wisely, because I've been told you can actually get your clay too soft, although that has never happened to me.
For those of you who work with polymer clay on a regular basis, the remainder of this lesson is not for you, although you may continue reading, if you wish. Please create any clay piece you want to make using your polymer clay tools and techniques, and skip to "Lesson 18: Student's Choice." This lesson is for those who have never worked with polymer clay, or who have been curious about polymer clay, but knew you didn't have the equipment usually required or recommended for the process.
If you are not into polymer clay, but want to play with ONE block, you will need items you more than likely will have around your home: items that are also inexpensive and often free. That includes:
A smooth, round bottle, or length of PVC pipe (used in plumbing)
At least two paint stirrer sticks or a deck of old cards
Two old pie tins (cleaned) or two metal pans the same size or an old baking pan with a lid
At least two bulldog clips
3 X 5 file cards or regular printer paper
A craft knife, X-acto, or a straight edge blade (preferred)
Optional items include gloves, pearl-ex or any mica powder, old paint brush, texture plates (although I don't own any), old cookie cutters, bamboo skewer, candy molds, and/or rubber stamps.
2 paint stirrer sticksPVC pipe
2 pie tins
Binder clips
Straight edge razor blades
Latex glovesPolymer clay (I used copper; you are looking at 1/2 package)
X-acto knife kit
Rubber stamp(s)
Flexible candy molds
Cookie cutters (not shown here, but see above)
Please note: DO NOT use the candy molds or cookie cutters with any food product after they have been exposed to polymer clay.
Alternately, if you don't have paint stirrer sticks, you can lay out the same number of playing cards on each side, but that limits the length as well as the width of your final piece. With the small amount I am using, it would not have made a difference. I suggest six playing cards on each side, for a total of twelve. However, the total thickness on each side should be about 1/4 inch.
You can also spritz your stamp with water or Amour-All,
Bake in your own kitchen oven per the package directions. This is USUALLY around 265 degrees F for 20 minutes for each 1/4" thickness. However, be sure to check your clay package, because they do vary. I have NO idea how to convert that to the British gas cooking system some of you use, although I am sure there are conversion charts somewhere.
You now have completed a polymer clay project with items you have around the house. Your only outlay was the polymer clay block. You have also kept your oven safe.
Use your charms or beads in your favorite AB.
I realize this is a short lesson this week photo wise, although I hope I've inspired you to find a way to incorporate polymer clay in your art. Remember, you don't even need an entire page for this technique.
I'll be back next week with my homework assignment to show you at least one more technique, this time using more than one color of clay, and how I have used polymer clay in some of my AB spreads. However, if you can't wait, and want to add your polymer clay piece to your AB, you should use a strong glue like E-6000. White glue does not work well, because of its properties.
Lesson 18: Student's Choice
Some of you asked for pop-ups, some asked for transfers. I've never made a pop-up, so am not sure how to make one. But I am exceptionally good at transfers. I have made various types of transfers many times, so I will start with transfers and if I have time, will attempt a pop-up. I hope that is acceptable with everyone.
As for the paper carving/sculpting Paula suggested, that sounds like a knife thing to me, and many of you know how much I hate X-acto knives, especially with my arthritis. Sorry, Paula, but anything even SIMILAR to that will never show up on my blog (grin).
If anyone wants to see how to make drawers, I recommend "The Less Patient Book Tutorial," by my dear friend Annette, also known as Voodoo Vixen to some. Annette is on her way to Scotland right now, but I'm sure she won't mind me pointing all of you to her extremely thorough tutorial. I swear, she is the Queen of Paper Engineering.
HOMEWORK (never mandatory, always optional):
Create at least one embellishment made from polymer clay. Use whatever equipment you have on hand. DO NOT go out and buy anything (except possibly one block of polymer clay) for this project. You should have everything you need for this project, should you attempt it.
If you can't find a suitable page on which to attach your polymer clay embellishment, feel free to create a tag using it, then fill one of those tag pockets you made earlier.
It's share time!
Now is the time to share your Lesson 15 homework (decorative edges). I've already seen at least one decorative edge, and it is awesome. I know some of you are probably anxious to show what you have made, so it's now time for the big reveal. Remember, if you have homework from any lesson other than Lesson 15 (decorative edges), you may enter it here, along with the lesson number. Thanks again for your continued support. I'm extremely grateful so many of you are keeping up with your book pages.
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21 thoughtful remarks:
Great lesson...if I could tolerate the smell of polymer clay I know I'd love working with it. I think I sent the remainder of mine to you a couple years ago if memory serves. :)
Terrific tutorial! I did not know about covering the clay in the oven to minimize fumes. brilliant! I rarely use clay, but decided to resurrect a post from the past on my blog...so I linked up to show my impressions of old buttons in clay. enjoyed this. your tutorials are always so well done.
ok. so I messed up the first linky thingy. maybe you can delete it. so sorry. hopefully the second try works correctly...
This was a great lesson! I've used polymer clay extensively and never knew about the pie tin method of containing the fumes... What a great idea!
May I be so bold as to think it was my decorative edge you have seen already? Many thanks if so. I was so very nearly interested in this lesson on polymer clay but then got to the bit about fumes and now I don't think I will be buying any - sorry not for me. Not sure what you mean by transfers for lesson 18 either. But if I can do fabric WITHOUT polymer clay next time now that will be just down my street. Thanks BJ
Don't panic Elizabeth, I got both of your replies and can still see you blog, but can understand your shock of the situation considering all your hard work. Air dry sounds much better to me, I do believe the Fimo I have seen is such and I did see loads of colours, I'll have to check it out again and let you know. Afraid I'm not sure of what you call packing tape??? You know our names can be quite different! As for pop-ups I was thinking of simple ones often used in the card making arena, thought they might add a cool surprise aspect to turning the pages. Might be good for my New Year page, I'll look into it. Thanks as ever BJ
I got the post as an-email (like I get all of my posts) but yes you are right it isn't on my blog - curious??? Must have missed that bit. I could cut and paste it as a reply on my blog if you like.
This is the go-to post on working with clay! What a comprehensive tutorial, Elizabeth! I tried having my students work with clay when I taught Kindergarten, but I wasn't very knowledgeable and the results were mediocre....if only I had all this info back then. Have a creative week!
Wow! You know so much about so many things! And you're always so generous with what you know! Thank you Elizabeth! Patsy
Thanks for the polymer clay info. Someone gave me a few squares of clay and some small carving tools about a year ago and I've yet to take the clay out of the packages. I think I am brave enough now that I have your "beginner" instructions.
Darla
A wealth of information for sure. I need to think about what I'll do for my book but I am game to try it for sure. I linked up my beaded edge which has been my MOST favourite thing so far.
Hello again!
Just wanted to pop back in, since I don't have your email, and say thanks so much for your kind comments on my blog. I really appreciate your taking the time to share your thoughts! :)
Great lesson Elizabeth, I have a small amount of light weight clay that is white. I usually paint this with watercolor as I prefer the more transparent look to acrylic paint that I see lots of people use. You made me laugh about using knives....I too have arthritis and they don't mix with me either. Off to do some baking!
Sorry forgot to say my link is up for decorative edges.
Does this mean we are going to have a guest appearance lesson from you BJ for the pop-ups?
Wow ! This is quite the tutorial ~ great job ~ (A Creative Harbor)
Thank you for the baking pan suggestion! Not having an oven is the reason I've not used poly clay. Woo Hoo, something else to try!
I have played with clay but was never terrible happy when using it with stamps- not any more! Your idea with the paint stirring sticks is genius and solves the problem I've had in the past with it! Thanks for sharing your ideas so generously!
Very useful information. I appreciate that you write with such precision and detail. Anyone should be able to follow this tutorial and produce something amazing. Thanks so much for sharing Elizabeth.
Wow, yet another fab lesson my lovely thank-you. I will have to be brutally honest though and say that clay orientated crafts have never really floated my boat so to speak so I will probably give this one a miss. My feeble attempts at a window and decorative edge spread have now been posted and linked for you. Huge learning curve for me tbh, I started it ages ago but ended up with a big gap before finishing it. I truly lost the love for it because of the gap I think, and I had lost all creative impetus too when I returned to it. Lol was determined to get it finished so that I could move on so lots of doodling ensued to try to tie it all together.
Bring on the fabric lesson is all thats on my mind now, really looking forward to it.
Big hugs x x x x
nicely done! i love your design... thanks for sharing
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