Polymer clay is made from polyvinyl chloride and was first developed in Germany in 1930. It is available in many colors, which even include fun neon colors, translucent and granite textures. It is extremely workable, and craft artists can use it for molding, sculpting, bead making and much more. Polymer clay is a very pliable clay that you can manipulate easily. Polymer clay can be carved, stamped, sanded, buffed, painted, sculpted and textured. Colors can be mixed and worked together to create marbling effects. Jewelry makers can create beads and unique pendants. You can create virtually anything with polymer clay even little intricate dolls and figurines, picture frames, pens, vases, boxes and tiny pieces of furniture. Some craft artists will use a pasta machine to create sheets with the polymer clay. The sheets can be used for layering, wrapping or creating cutouts to be applied on picture frames or boxes that have been created. Polymer clay can also be used with other materials such as metals, woods, fabrics and plastics. It can be mixed with glitter, metallic and powders to create interesting effects. To cure polymer clay, you simply bake it at a low temperature (260-275° F) in a conventional oven. Some artists choose to use a small toaster oven. The length of time for baking depends on the thickness and size of the piece you have created. After baking, the clay product can then be sanded, polished, painted and drilled. The baking process will not shrink the polymer clay and the colors will not distort or fade. Whether you are creating lovely beads for your own designer jewelry or making delicate Christmas ornaments for the holidays, the possibilities of your creativity are endless when using polymer clay. |
