Polymer clay crafts are a fun way to add a little decoration to your house, pass out as a gift, or spend time with your kids. Polymer clay is squish-able, colorful, and hardens once it is baked. The best part about polymer clay is you can create almost anything you imagine. Many people use the clay to create plates, animals, necklaces, bracelets, and even flower pots!
Here are some tips to help you get started when making your polymer clay crafts:
Decide on a pattern – What do you want to make? If you are working with kids, its best to keep the designs simple. Creating bird’s nests, or animals like turtles, cats, and dogs are simple, easy polymer clay crafts. Working with an older audience usually requires polymer crafts that are more detailed such as jewelry, plates, or flower pots.
Choosing the colors – Now that you have a design in mind, you need to select the colors you want to use. If you can’t find a color you are looking for, you can knead together different clay colors to get the desired color you want. If you don’t want the clays to mix, use a damp cloth to wipe your hands with before touching different colors.
Selecting the brand – There are several different brands on polymer clay. Sculpey and Filmo are softer brands and easier for children to work with. Many people prefer to use Kato Polyclay. This clay was created by Donna Kato, one of the leading experts in polymer clay crafts. No matter what brand you use, most brands will work for whatever project you choose.
Wire and Sculpting – Some project require that you use wire. Make sure you purchase an oven-safe wire that can be trimmed with scissors. Most craft supply stores will carry this wire or you can find it online at several craft web sites. If you are using sculpting materials, such as blades, be sure they are properly handled. Smaller children should not be allowed to use the blades or should have adult supervision at all times.
Baking – Be sure to follow the directions for baking your polymer clay. Most polymer clay can be fired in your oven at 275 degrees for about 20 minutes. Be sure to read the instructions first.
Repairs – The best about polymer clay is that you can re-fire it at any time without affecting the original design. If a piece of your creation falls off or you want to add more to it, you can simply attach it to your design and fire it in the oven again.
Starting your first polymer clay craft project
Now that you have a little information on how to create a polymer clay craft, let’s go over some of the steps to make a project. Keep in mind that the directions will differ for every sculpture you make.
Here are directions for making a clay rabbit:
You will need polymer clay in white and pink and some toothpicks. This project will take just under an hour to complete. Start by rolling the clay into several pieces:
One 1 inch ball for the body
One ¾ inch ball for the head
Two ¼ inch balls for the front feet
Two ½ inch balls for the back feet (you can flatten the end out a little bit)
Two ½ inch balls for the ears. Then, shape the balls to look like floppy rabbit ears.
Two tiny balls in pink clay for the nose and mouth. Shape one ball into a triangle for the nose and shape the other into a small line for the mouth.
Two tiny balls in white for the cheeks
Roll and shape all the parts, then cut the end off a toothpick and use it to fasten the head to the body. Press the tail and back feet to the body. Now add the front feet, ears, cheeks, nose and mouth. With a black pen, you can mark two black eyes. Use a toothpick to create whisker holes on the cheeks and to shape the teeth.
One the rabbit is shaped; place it in the oven for 20 minutes at 275 degrees. After it is fired, allow it to cool and coat it with a polymer sealant and allow it to dry.