I thought I’d share my experiments working with polymer clay. I’ve always enjoyed trying my hand at different crafts of all kinds. An inclination has only been encouraged since working at The Bead Shop. Being surrounded by tools and materials all day. As well as interacting with our inspiring customers and staff certainly helps me to forget about all my own UFOs. Leaving me ready to dive headfirst into something new!
One craft I was very excited to discover more about was Polymer Clay. I’d had a go at using it years ago for basic models. But I was keen to know how to use it for making my own jewellery. I’ve seen some amazing images crossing my social media feeds, as the craft has been rising in popularity. With colourful slabs adorned with tiny flowers, funky zig-zags and geometric shapes. A far cry from my Playdoh-esque attempts – but we all have to start somewhere! Those little unassuming blocks have so much potential and versatility.
Learning the Basics
I was invited to join one of our Introduction to Polymer Clay Workshops to expand my knowledge and jumped at the chance!
Steph began by giving us all an overview of how the material works. She showed us some examples of how the various techniques can be used to create patterns and designs. Like most things worth doing, working with polymer clay requires a little preparation before beginning. The clay needs to be conditioned before use. This quick and simple process involves warming the clay in your hands and gently kneading it until it’s pliable and easy to work with. We each chose a couple of colours to be our base shades. I had to go for purple, of course, and fresh white for a nice contrast. Although I was tempted by a rich and earthy burnt orange shade and a bright teal combo.
Polymer clay is available in a multitude of hues, and if you can’t find exactly what you want, it’s very easy to mix together. Meaning you can create that perfect shade to match an outfit! There are guides with colour chart to mix certain shades with recipes detailing what weight of colours to combine. Staedtler the producers of Fimo, our new range of polymer clay, have created a wonderful colour mixing guide. Along with an informative video to explain how it all works. It’s fascinating and very helpful.
Colour Tips
Steph showed us an interesting tip with a smartphone to help decide which clays to use. Using your camera app, set your filter to ‘black and white’. Pan over your selection to see which tones contrast and which are perhaps too similar. With colour removed, the difference becomes really obvious. This is a fun trick that could be applied to lots of crafting, like choosing beads or yarn too. When creating designs on a small scale like those we were working on, it’s important that the colours are distinct, so that the fine details don’t lose definition.
Tools on a Budget
A piece of greaseproof paper makes a brilliant working surface. It also means finished items can be placed straight into the oven for curing without having to lift them. Ideal for more delicate designs. The pasta machines we used were perfect for rolling out even thickness of conditioned clay. Leaving a smooth surface to work with. However beginners will find that they can start crafting without a massive outlay. A block of clay costs £3 – £4*, and many of the basic tools can be found in the kitchen. It’s the type of craft that you can build the equipment you need as and when you’d find them useful. Though there is one tool that’s very handy from the start. That is a slicing tool, a fine metal blade. It enables you to slice cleanly and precisely through clay (where even a craft knife can’t cut it – excuse the pun).
Making Jewellery
If you’d like to use your completed beads to make earrings. A headpin or stud can be pushed through or onto the bead, before hardening. Due to the low baking temperature, they can be left in place during the hardening (baking) which helps ensure a snug fit! Texture can be applied to the surface easily. You can use all sorts of different materials, or using freehand tools like this 5-in-1. It include a blade for cutting and a needle head which is ideal for making holes for pendants and earrings.
One of my favourite parts of the workshop was learning about the ‘Skinner Blend’. This is a technique for blending two or more colours of clay using a pasta machine with a nifty system of folding. It came together like magic, just a few folds and turns of the handle and we had smoothly graduated panels of ombre colour. That was just the beginning of the excitement! Once the blending has been completed and the results are rolled up, the cross section displays delicate graduated shading from one colour to the next, with all the shades between.
Creating Clay Canes
The creation of ‘canes’ is at the heart of many polymer clay designs. These cylinders are made up of ‘sausages’ of polymer clay which are combined into one, and it is the cross section of this that creates the characteristic designs. Think of a stick of rock and you’ll be on the right track.
Intricate patterns can be created by combining multiple rolls, to produce millefiore effects; but we started with a simple spiral design. Using a pasta machine to roll out each clay to uniform thickness, stacking one on top of the other and then rolling them together. We used long slicing tools to trim edges where required, and to slice the resulting cane into sections. Canes can be rolled and pressed to make smaller skinnier versions, and the clay retains the design crisply defined. Pinch the cane with your fingers or a tool to shape squares, triangles, ovals for petals. The sections can then be sliced and applied to another surface. Such as a flat base for a pendant, a ball to make beads or a dome to create a cabochon. This was a great introduction to cane work and the potential possibilities.
Here’s some of my experiments from the class.
If you’re keen to learn about working with polymer clay you can join us on our next Introduction to Polymer Clay Workshop below.
If you’re not local to us in Nottingham Steph has also filmed a handy tutorial. It shows you how to make a colour blend with 2 colours, without using a pasta machine. It’s a great beginner project and a fun to experiment with.
I hope you’ve found reading about my experience working with polymer clay informative. I would definitely recommend a craftanoon experimenting and making your own jewellery.
* (prices accurate Sep 2022)