Materials:
Fimo polymer clay in desired colors
pens - use Paper Mate Flexgrip, Pen Pilot BetterGrip or Bic Round Stic
Nublade - a special razor blade used to cut clay
pasta machine - optional
Conditioning the Clay Polymer clay is very hard when fresh out of the package, so it needs to be softened prior to use. To do this, try keeping each color separate and begin conditioning Fimo 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 cylinder. Cut 1/8 inch thick slices from the cylinder and roll through the pasta machine on a thin setting (
figure A). Roll each slice and integrate into the whole. Continue until all the slices are integrated and the sheet feels elastic.
The Skinner BlendAfter conditioning the clay, perform the "Skinner Blend" technique to quickly and easily create sheets of graded color. It works for two or more colors, here's how:
- Roll two colors into sheets of the same thickness.
- Stack one 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 B).
- Fold the two-color sheet in half and roll through the pasta machine. Use the thickest setting on the pasta machine.
- Fold and roll through again. It is important to remember to fold the same way each time--that is, not to turn the sheet 45 degrees and fold and roll.
- Repeat until the sheet is graded and there are no streaks.
Steps:
- Skinner Blend a sheet using a half package of one color and of gold clay.
- Once the sheet is made, trim the sides to make a neat rectangle or square. Remove the ink cartridge from the pen.
- Place the pen along one side of the sheet, press the clay to the pen barrel and roll to cover (figure C). Roll until the leading edge touches the sheet, and then roll back, exposing the mark from the leading edge (figure D).
- Cut along the mark (figure E), then re-roll the clay around the pen. Smooth the seam with your fingers.
- Trim the clay at the closed end, leaving 1/16 inch extending beyond the end. Push the clay over the end of the pen, completely sealing the pen in the clay.
- Trim the clay from the open end of the pen and replace the metal tip in the barrel. The pen is now ready for further decoration or may be baked as it is.
- Bake at 265 degrees for 20 minutes.
- Allow to cool completely and then replace ink cartridge in pen.
Other Embellishments - To make dots, simply make a Skinner Blend sheet with two colors. Trim the sides to make a square or rectangle.
- Roll the sheet through the number 4 or 5 setting (1/16 inch thick) of the pasta machine to thin the sheet. Make sure the clay is fed into the pasta machine so that the gradation is lengthened, not made wider.
- From one of the colors edge, roll tightly to make a cylinder (figure F) .
- Depending on the finished size, you may wish to reduce the diameter of this cane in the following manner: With your fingers, squeeze and rotate the cane. As you squeeze, the diameter will be reduced and it will become longer.
- When you have arrived at the desired size, place the cane on your work surface and roll lightly to smooth. Cut and place slices on the pen.
- Bake at 265 degrees for 20 minutes.
- Allow to cool completely and then replace ink cartridge in pen.
Resources FimoSoft polymer clay
Available from local craft retailers.
American Art Clay Co. Inc. (AMACO)
Website:
www.amaco.com
The 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
Also in this Episode
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