How to make polymer clay?

How to Make Polymer Clay Personalized Christmas Ornaments

• Answer:

  Polymer clay offers an unusual medium for creating Christmas ornaments. Since poly clay is a composite suspension instead of a clay mixture, you can combine several colors without worrying about muddying colors. This gives you the chance to create countless different designs and patterns that lend themselves especially well to Christmas ornaments. Skip the expensive premade ornaments this year and create your own pieces of art for the holiday season. The kids can even get in on the action. Difficulty: Moderate Things You'll Need White polymer clay Utility knife Wax paper Rolling pin Clear glass ornaments Holiday clay canes: flowers, stars, angels, candy canes, etc. Mica powder Soft paintbrush Snowflake cookie cutters Cookie sheet Ribbon Instructions Ball Ornaments Cut a square of white polymer clay about 1/4-inch thick from the clay brick. Lay the clay on a piece of wax paper and roll it out to about 1/8-inch thick. Remove the metal cap and hook from a clear glass ornament and place it in the center of the square. Wrap the edges of the square up around the ornament, smoothing and pushing the clay until the ornament is completely covered. Craft stores often sell these clear ornaments in bulk. Cut 1/4-inch thick slices from your patterned canes. Polymer clay canes are long, thin cylinders of clay with patterns on the flat ends. If you cut the canes, like loaves of bread, the pattern repeats itself. You'll need anywhere from 15 to 20 cane slices. Place the slices, one at a time, on your clay-covered ornament. Very gently press and smooth the edges of each slice outward with your thumbs. Push at the corners of each design, as well as the edges, smoothing the slice to 1/8-inch thick. The pattern may stretch a little; as long as it's still discernible, don't worry. Pinch the edges of the cane slices together once the ornament is covered. The seams should stand up from the ornament, showing that they're well sealed. Cut away the parts of the seams that stick up; the seams should remain closed if you've pinched them well enough. Replace the metal top and hook of each ornament. Hang the ornaments on the middle rack in your oven and bake them at about 250 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes. Allow them to cool for an hour before hanging. Snowflakes Cut as many 1/2-inch thick slices of white polymer clay as you want snowflakes. For instance, if you want 12 snowflakes, cut 12 slices of clay. Lay the clay on pieces of wax paper. Roll them out to about 1/4 inch with a rolling pin. Dust each slice of clay with mica powder using a very soft brush. The mica powder gives the clay a bit of shine. Cut snowflakes from your slices with cookie cutters. Some snowflake cutters come with smaller cutters for cutting designs into the snowflakes. If you don't have these, you can use a utility knife. Place the snowflakes on a cookie sheet and bake them at 250 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes. String the snowflakes on ribbon and hang them on your tree. Tips & Warnings Tip: Use your snowflake scraps to create smaller snowflakes or roll and mold them together to create snowmen. Decorate the snowmen with paint or with tiny accessories formed from more polymer clay.