Looking for free polymer clay projects?
Whether you are looking for a few craft ideas for your kids or you are just young at heart, the possibilities for polymer clay projects are limited to your own imagination. Need help with some ideas? Here are a few examples that you can try at home:
- Christmas ornaments
- Refrigerator magnets
- Necklace or other polymer clay jewelry
Before you begin your polymer clay project, you should first ask yourself whether or not you want to paint the finished product. If you answered yes to that question then regular Sculpey or Super Sculpey is a great place to begin. If you prefer to use colored clays in your project and avoid painting then Sculpey III, Fimo or Primo is recommended.
Now lets take a look at a free tip for an easy polymer clay project that you can do at home. In this example you will need your clay and a cookie cutter. This is a quick and easy example on how to make a Christmas ornament or if you choose a refrigerator magnet.
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Step 1: Conditioning the clay – conditioning is a process in which you prepare the clay to a stage where it becomes soft and easy to work with. Usually when you buy polymer the chances are pretty good that it has been sitting on a shelf for awhile. If this is the case, the polymer clay can become very hard and at times brittle. Conditioning the clay will put the polymer clay back to a state where it is soft, pliable and ready for use.
There are two ways to condition the clay. The cheapest solution is to just use your own hands. By squeezing and pinching the clay, your hands will get the clay at a state where it becomes softer and easier to work with. The key when conditioning clay with your hands is to do a little at a time. Those of you that have already mixed and conditioned large amounts of clay by hand already know what a chore that it can be. If you plan to be using a lot of polymer clay in your future then one of the best investments you will ever make is purchasing a pasta machine to condition the clay. With a pasta machine, what would normally take you hours can be done in just a matter of minutes. My own hands have thanked me numerous times for this small and inexpensive investment.
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Step 2: Flatten sheet of clay – Use your hands or a bakers roller to flatten the clay into a sheet. Think of approaching this step as if you were making cookies. The key is to try and keep the thickness of the clay consistent throughout the entire sheet.
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Step 3: Cookie cutter – Use a cookie cutter with your favorite design and push it into the clay to create the unique shape. Again, anyone that has ever made cookies before already has all the experience they need to be able to complete task. Now, lets use an example that you were making Christmas ornaments using a Christmas tree design. One additional way you could spice up the design is to first cutout the tree shape, with the cookie cutter, and then strategically place little balls of clay into the tree to enhance the design.
Tip: if you are making a Christmas ornament then punch a hole into the clay using a straw or small tube.
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Step 4: Bake or cure the clay – Follow the baking instructions that came with your clay but if you are using Sculpey or Super Sculpey for this project then the baking times are 275 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes (for every 1/4 inch of thickness). You will need to let the clay cool down for a few hours after baking before you begin to paint your project.
Note: If you chose to use colored clay then there is no need to paint it at this stage. Simply let the clay cool down before moving onto the next step.
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Step 5: Paint away – If you are using Sculpey or Super Sculpey then it is recommened that you prime your artwork first (auto primer works great). You do not have to prime the sculpture but it does help the paint stick and increases the chances that it will not flake off over time.
Tip: Any craft paint should work fine but apply a sealer once the painted project has had a chance to dry.
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Step 6: Finished product– If your finished product is a Christmas ornament then simply tie a string through the hole and your are finished. If by chance you chose to make a refrigerator magnet then glue a small magnet to the back of your artwork and let it sit until it is dry (you can purchase magnets at your local Wal-Mart or craft stores. I also recommend using an epoxy or Super Glue to attach the magnet to the artwork).
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Polymer Clay Art on eBay
Don’t forget about eBay if you are interested in buying or even selling your polymer clay art. Selling original art on eBay is a great way for polymer clay artist to get their name out while earning additional income. EBay also provides an opportunity to purchase original artwork that would be hard to find in traditional markets. You can see what is available on eBay now by clicking on the link below.
