Project designed by Donna Kato.
Materials:
Fimo or Fimo Soft in the following colors:
- Art Transparent - 2-ounce package
- Black - 2-ounce package
photocopied image to transfer
metal leaf
decorator chalks or pastels
Nublade Kato or other long tissue-type blade
pasta machine
needle tool
Steps:
Conditioning the Clay
- Polymer clay must be conditioned prior to use. To condition Fimo, begin by squeezing it on all sides. The clay is very responsive to pressure and will take on an elastic feel. Roll it into a ball, then a snake. Fold it back on itself and roll a snake again. Repeat a few times then roll a thick cylinder. Cut 1/8-inch thick slices from the cylinder and roll through the pasta machine on a thin setting. Roll each slice and integrate into the whole. Continue until all the slices are integrated and the sheet feels supple and elastic.
- Fimo clay can also be conditioned by cutting very thin slices directly from the block and passing them through thin settings of the pasta machine. Begin with one piece, folding it in half and rolling through until it is conditioned. Add slices to the conditioned piece, folding and rolling until all the slices are integrated into the whole and the entire mass is conditioned. Tip - Occasionally, you might need to add a clay softener, such as MixQuick to expedite the process.
- Fimo Soft may be conditioned easily by slicing the block in half then rolling each half through the pasta machine. Roll them together then fold and roll, fold and roll until the sheet is soft and pliable and the surface is unblemished.
Photocopied Image Transfer Beads - It is best to have a fresh photocopied image to transfer. For copyright-free imagery, look for Dover Books at local book sellers. Bear in mind not all photocopies will work, depending on the toner used in the photocopy machine. If you are not able to transfer one copy, try making a copy on a different copy machine. Rubbing alcohol or an alcohol-based product (waterless hand cleaners) will expedite the transfer process. This tip comes from artist Celie Fago.
- Roll a thin sheet of Art Transparent Fimo as thin as possible. Place the photocopied transfer image face down on the clay and push any air pockets out from between paper and clay. If the paper does not touch the clay, it will not transfer an image.
- Rub alcohol or waterless hand cleaner on the back of the paper and wait a few minutes. Carefully peel the paper away.
- Using the chalks or pastels, brush color on the clay with the transferred image.
- Prepare clay to cover the back of the transparent clay sheet as follows: Roll a sheet of black Fimo through the thickest setting of the pasta machine. Place a sheet of metal leaf on the sheet and pat lightly.
- Reset the pasta machine to the next thinner setting and roll through. You will see the sheet crackling.
- Reset the pasta machine to the next thinner setting, rotate the black, leafed sheet 45-degrees and roll through again. The crackles will be more pronounced.
- Lay the colored, transferred sheet, transfer-side down, onto the crackle sheet. Press lightly, then roll through the pasta machine (reset the machine to a thicker setting). You may stop here or continue to reset the machine to thinner settings and roll through to spread and enlarge the pattern.
- Prepare the base bead in roughly the finished shape. Lay the sheet on the bead surface and trim. Cover the entire base bead in this way so that the seams are neat and do not overlap. Once the bead is covered, lightly roll on your work surface.
- "Drill" the bead hole using a needle tool.
- Bake in a 265-degree oven for 30 minutes. Allow clay piece to cool before handling.
Resources FimoSoft polymer clay
Available from local craft retailers.
American Art Clay Co. Inc. (AMACO)
Website:
www.amaco.com
NuBlade Kato craft knife (blade) - Prairie
Prairie Craft Company/Kato Polyclay
Website:
www.prairiecraft.com
or
Website:
www.katopolyclay.com Guests Donna Kato
Artist and owner of Prairie Craft Company
Website:
www.prairiecraft.com
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