Polymer Pansies Carol Duvall Show : Episode CDS-816 -- More Projects »
Conditioning the Clay - Polymer clay must be conditioned prior to use. If you do not have a pasta machine, the easiest way to condition Fimo polymer clay is to 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" 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 polymer clay can also be conditioned by cutting slices approximately 1/4" thick directly from the block, compressing and thinning slices using an acrylic rod to a thickness of approximately 1/8" thick. Roll each thinned slice through the pasta machine on the thickest setting, then reset and roll the sheets through until they are of medium thinness. Finish by folding and rolling through the thinner setting to expedite the conditioning process. Roll slices together to finish.
- Occasionally, you might need to add a clay softener to expedite the conditioning process. Fimo Soft polymer clay 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.
Clay Technique - The Skinner Blend Use this technique to quickly and easily create sheets of graded color needed to make the flower petals as instructed below. The Skinner Blend method works when using two or more colors of clay. At its simplest, it works in the following manner: - Roll two colors into sheets of the same thickness.
- Stack one sheet of color atop the other and cut a right angle triangle.
- Separate the two sheets and join them along the diagonal edge, offsetting the colors slightly so that the corners do not exactly meet (figure A). You must do this if you wish to have areas of the graded color clay sheet which are the two colors you began with. If the colors meet exactly, you will have a sheet that is entirely graded.
- Fold the two color sheet in half and roll through the pasta machine, folding same color edge on same color edge. Fold and roll through again. Repeat until the sheet is graded and there are no streaks. Note: It is important to remember to fold the same way each time, that is, not to turn the sheet 45-degrees then fold and roll.
Flower Petals - Skinner Blend Bulls-Eye Cane - Select two colors for the flower petals. The flower petals begin as a Skinner Blend Bulls-eye cane. Guest Donna Kato used Fimo brand polymer clay in white and red colors. Make a Skinner Blend sheet using the two colors as instructed above ( figure B).
- Determine which color will be at the center of the blended bulls-eye cane. Place that color edge on the rollers of the pasta machine. Reset the machine to a thin setting.
- Roll the clay through the rollers.
- Beginning at the center color, roll the sheet up tightly to the other color edge to create a cane.
- Reduce the cane to a diameter that is approximately 1/2" or the finished flower petal size.
Flower Petal Cane Assembly - Trim the ends of the reduced bulls-eye cane. Cut it in half crosswise, dividing the length into two equal length pieces.
- Lay the two pieces out straight on the work surface then slice each in half lengthwise. This will render four long strips (figure C). You will use three strips to make the flower cane so set one aside.
- Place one of the strips, flat side down, on the work surface.
- Position a second strip atop the first, slightly off center, pressing its flat side onto the round side of the first. Repeat with the third strip atop the second strip to form a cane consisting of the three strips.
- Cut the new cane in half crosswise, dividing the length to create two pieces.
- Press the two pieces together on the flat side to form a whole flower. Lightly press to assure the elements are well adhered to each other (figure D). Take care not to press too hard to avoid distorting the flower.
- Slice cane with clay blade to create flowers to use as beads or embellishments. Press needle tool into the petals to create dimensional petal texture. Bake according to manufacturer instructions.
Tips: - Create leaves in the same manner as flowers but add a small sheet of white (or any desired color to create a leaf vein) in between the clay cane pieces before pressing the halves together as outlined in step 6. Pinch the cane to form a more leaf-like shape.
- To make a wreath of flowers, create a ring-shaped base of clay, then cover the ring with the leaves and flowers (figure E).
Resources Fimo polymer clay, Marxit Kato, NuBlade Kato - Prairie Craft
Prairie Craft Company/Kato Polyclay
Website: www.prairiecraft.com
or
Website: www.katopolyclay.comThe Art of Polymer Clay: Designs and Techniques for Making Jewelry, Pottery and Decorative Artwork
by Donna Kato
Watson-Guptill, 1997
Order this title from Amazon.com.
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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