Monday, October 26, 2009
How do you make polymer clay beads?
There are different types of polymer clay available out there. But for me, my favorite is the Fimo. It's not too soft and not to hard. Just perfect :) But remember, it's up to you to decide which one is easier for you to condition.
Here is a compilation I got from Garie Sim
INFORMATION ON POLYMER CLAY
Polymer clay is nontoxic, man-made modeling clay material that work and feel like ceramic clay, it would not dry out when exposed to the air. The clay can be bake in a regular or toaster oven at a temperature of 275º F or 130º C as compared to ceramic clay which are fired in a kiln at 1500º F. Once baked polymer clay can be sand, carve, drill, buff and rebake eg.(when required to replace or duplicate broken feature to your creations). The clay is PVC (polyvinyl chloride) plastic. Similar plastics are frequently used in today's plumbing and water piping. Tiny grains of PVC are mixed with plasticizers and pigments. When the clay is baked at the proper temperature (varying from 212 to 275 degrees Fahrenheit depending upon the make and color), chemical changes occur and the particles fuse into a solid mass without shrinking. If heated again, the clay will soften slightly but not melt (technically it is similar to "thermosetting" plastics, but still has some characteristics of "thermoplastics"). Like many other plastics, if heated too hot it will darken, give off noxious fumes and possibly catch fire.
The clay are available in more than hundred of colors, depending on the brand of the polymer clay. Many colors are available, and most others may be mixed. The colors may darken slightly when baked. Transparency has not yet been achieved with anything other than one version of "Liquid Sculpey." (Of the solid types of polymer clay, "Transparent" clay is really translucent, though In very thin sheets it is almost transparent.) The newest clays are Super Elasticlay (it forms flexible and stretchy items when baked) and Liquid Sculpey (in clear and whitish verions which we are finding a number of new ways to use). There are also polymer clays which glow in the dark. Sculpey brand has several different glow colors, and Fimo Nightglow is also a glow in the dark clay. There are many options for artists, crafters and kids in using polymer clay, you can combined them with other materials and accessories to enrich your creations. Modeling with polymer clay can be time-consuming, but it is your passport to a rich and imaginative world of shapes, textures and colors. It will certainly help you to become a less stressful person. Polymer clay can help children develop fine motor skills and improve hand eye coordination. It motivate, encourage interaction, and turn the conceptual into reality. Creative play with clay creates confident artistic kids. It is most versatile clay art medium for the professional artists and crafters.
Polymer clay work well with surfaces like paper, aluminum foils, glass, ceramic, marble, granite, do not work well with plastic and finished wood surfaces. You can paint your models or creations with acrylic water based paints. Varnishing your clay creations with water based glaze (matt or shine) will improve the clay model and also removed some of your finger prints. When gluing polymer clays, used super glue gel or if you are experience liquid super glue. Beside super glue you can also use plastic cement, silicon glue and hot melt glue gun.
FIMO is an easy-to-use, extremely versatile plastic-based modeling clay, it is divided into Fimo Classic, Fimo soft and Fimo soft effect colours, combining both it consist of 72 colors.
Fimo Classic- the reliable Fimo quality, the clay is specially stable, it is slightly harder than Fimo Soft, it must be kneaded properly to achieve good result, The Classic clay is ideal for detailed and filigree modeling works. There are 24 brilliant colors it can be blended into 100 new shades and colors. As the clay block is segmented into 8 portions on the reverse, it makes easy to blend and produced the desired shades and colors with the consumer brochure, containing a blending table to help achieve more than 100 of colors
Fimo Soft is easily kneadable and thus instantly workable, it is available in 48 topical colors, consist of 24 basic and 24 effect colors. The softness of the clay is ideal for kids to inspire creative activities and work of arts, as it is easy to use.
Fimo MillefioriArt are handmade canes with colorful motifs throughout the whole piece. They come in round and square shape, cutting or slicing creates mosaic-like surfaces. Excellent for creating fun and decorative jewelry and are suitable for decorating pearls. The square Millefiori canes can create tiles, patchwork design and rugs for doll houses. They are available in 10 different design in square or round shape.
SCULPEY
SCULPEY Products consist of many exciting and different ranges, starting with Sculpey, Super Sculpey, Sculpey III, Granitex, Premo Sculpey, Sculpey SuperFlex and Super Elasticlay. They are all nontoxic, man-made modeling clay materials, it won't dry out when exposed to air and it feel like ceramic. The clay come in over 90 colors and become permanently hard after baking.
Sculpey original polymer clay, most economical it is easy to condition and ideal for basic sculpture and moderate detail. The clay come in white and terra cotta colors.
Super Sculpey is the ultimate sculpting compound, used by movie animation studios and professionals worldwide for prototypes, maquettes and all kinds of dolls. Its excellent tooling qualities make it the preferred choice for casting and all types of sculpture. The translucent effect of the Super Sculpey make it ideal for creating realistic figurines. When baked and cooled it can be sanded, drilled, carved and painted with water based acrylic colors.
Sculpey III is a very popular clay and is soft to use without too much kneading. Fun and easy modeling medium, bakes hard with a smooth matte finish in a ordinary home oven. Its softness can be rolled cut and extruded through the Sculpey Clay Gun.
Granitex is the clay that you can take for granite! Tiny fibers mixed into the clay creates unusual stone like effect, that you can imitate nature, excellent for diorama little waterfall, miniature landscaping and creates flooring for doll houses, adds great touch to jewelry, home decor that are easy to condition and tool. Available in 8 color effects.
Premo Sculpey is the premium polymer clay.The consistency of the clay texture makes it perfect for all applications. It is firm, smooth texture, durability after baking, great for creating millefiore. The clay when kneaded does crumble easily. It is densely saturated colors create perfect shade and colors. Premo Sculpey are available in 32 colors.
Sculpey SuperFlex is bendable and flexible! It come in 8 colors and this colorful version takes you to another level of clay creation. Your creation remain rubbery and bendable after baking, combining with the other Sculpey makes excellent puppets with bendable joints. Fun medium for kids, create springing or pop-up model design.
Super Elasticlay is ideal for making flexible one sided molds, extra soft and pliable to shape around even the most intricate detail. After baking it is permanently flexible, you can pour plaster of paris to create relief or used it as a push mold for polymer clay. Can used for repairing picture frames and create molds of your favorite creations.
Where to buy?
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