How to make clay at home. Business on polymer clay
How many interesting things can be made from such a beneficial material as polymer clay! Making this material yourself is not difficult at all. Moreover, there are several recipes that allow you to get it at home.
Polymer clay must have several important qualities - be:
- soft, but not loose;
- firm, but not tight;
- elastic.
Do-it-yourself polymer clay at home is not inferior to the store-bought version in terms of the set of these qualities. It is only necessary to correctly follow the production technology - then the material will be pleasant to work with and the crafts will turn out without flaws. And in order to make colored clay, you need to add food coloring or acrylic paint at the stage of cooking the material. But it is better to paint finished products - this way the color will be brighter.
The most popular and affordable version of polymer clay is made from corn starch. However, this material has one feature - in the finished product it dries out by a third. Therefore, the calculation of the size of the craft must be carried out taking this circumstance into account.
Ingredients:
- ¾ glue (PVA or wood glue);
- 1 tbsp. starch;
- 2 tbsp. l. oil (baby or motor);
- 1 tbsp. l. lemon juice.
Preparation:
- Mix glue with starch in a saucepan with a thick bottom.
- Add to the mixture lemon juice and oil.
- Place on low heat (or in the microwave for 30 seconds), cook, stirring constantly, until the consistency of puree.
- Remove the pan from the stove and let cool.
- Lubricate your hands with oil and begin to knead the clay on the table until it resembles pizza dough.
- Roll the finished material into a ball, put it in a bag and put it in the refrigerator.
To make crafts, we heat the material in our hands, after lubricating them with cream so that the clay does not stick. We dry the finished products naturally during the day.
From such clay you can sculpt large jewelry and bases for magnets.
DIY self-hardening polymer clay sometimes cracks in finished products. Therefore, to avoid such troubles, it is better to prepare a composition with glycerin, which enhances the effect of the glue.
Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp. PVA glue;
- 1 tbsp. cold water;
- 1 tbsp. corn (or potato) starch;
- 10-15 drops of glycerin.
Preparation:
- In a thick-bottomed saucepan, mix glue and ½ tbsp. water.
- Place the mixture on low heat and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring constantly.
- In a separate bowl, mix the starch and remaining water.
- Pour starch into the mixture, drop in glycerin, and mix thoroughly.
- Remove the material from the heat, cover with a lid and let cool.
- Sprinkle the table with starch, lay out the clay and knead it until it becomes smooth and pliable.
- Roll the finished clay into a ball, pack it in a bag or container and leave it in the refrigerator for a day or two.
By the way, you can prepare the material according to this recipe in a water bath. This clay is suitable for making small products with rounded shapes, since the material has high degree elasticity.
Universal clay, suitable for any crafts, came to us from Latin America. Its formulation requires the use of formaldehyde or formalin at a 10% concentration. But in the domestic version, this component is excellently replaced with white vinegar.
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp. corn starch;
- ½ tbsp. water;
- 2 tbsp. PVA glue;
- 2 tbsp. l. glycerin;
- 2 tbsp. l. creams with lanolin;
- 2 tbsp. l. vinegar.
Preparation:
- In a thick-bottomed saucepan, mix starch and water.
- Place on low heat and cook until the starch is completely dissolved.
- Add glue and stir.
- Add glycerin, cream and vinegar.
- Cook until the mass begins to move away from the walls of the pan.
- Turn off the heat and let the mixture cool to a temperature where the material stops burning your hands.
- Apply the cream to your hands and place the mixture on a table sprinkled with starch.
- Knead the clay into a homogeneous elastic material, cover with a damp cloth and wait until it cools.
- Pack in a bag and store in the refrigerator.
Products made from this type of clay should be dried for at least 3 days and only then painted.
To prevent products made from a polymer base from breaking, for example, when making toys, you need to use strong clay.
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp. PVA glue;
½ tbsp. l. stearic acid; - ½ tbsp. starch;
- 2 tbsp. l. glycerin;
- 2 tbsp. l. Vaseline;
- ½ tbsp. l. citric acid.
Preparation:
- Pour glue, acid, glycerin, petroleum jelly into the container and heat over low heat, stirring all the time.
- Add citric acid.
- Heat the mixture again, add starch, stir well.
- Heat until the mixture comes out of the pan following the spoon.
- Place the mixture on a table lined with baking paper and knead it well until smooth.
- Let it cool, put it in a bag and put it in the refrigerator.
Liquid plastic as a type of polymer clay
Many fans of polymer products are wondering how to make polymer clay with their own hands so that the products are almost transparent. For this purpose, experts working with such material recommend adding a special gel (Fimo or Sculpey) or Vaseline to the finished clay. Everyone determines the proportions of the additive for themselves, since different products require different degrees of liquid state. The resulting plastic is very convenient to use to create:
- stained glass effect;
- enamels;
- small parts (petals, leaves);
- decorations and image translation.
Such a material as polymer clay has been loved by people for a long time. From this plastic modeling material you can create any decorations, figures and decorative elements. When the clay hardens, the product acquires a dense structure and becomes quite durable. However, the hardened material is not flexible at all, which is why such products can be fragile. Polymer clay was invented by doll makers so that they could make light and durable heads for dolls. However, the material itself has become so attractive to ordinary people and jewelry makers that gradually various companies are beginning to produce this synthetic plastic for sale. People are happy to buy this material for design and children's crafts. Then they forgot about this material for a long time. It was also used in some industries, however ordinary people they didn't use it.
And just recently the history of this polymer began to develop with new strength. Suddenly the fashion for authentic jewelry has returned, and they themselves are quite bulky. And then the designers remembered that polymer clay is not just a malleable and elastic material for modeling, but also especially lightweight when frozen, which is very important for large jewelry. And now polymer clay has become popular again.
The more this synthetic plastic was loved in the fashion world, the more craftswomen tried to create such material at home. And finally, we managed to obtain this plastic material at home. Today it is no longer difficult to get all the necessary ingredients and prepare polymer clay with your own hands. So why not try it?
Recipes for making polymer clay at home
Recipe 1
Necessary ingredients for making polymer clay:
- PVA glue - 250 gr.
- Corn starch - 250 gr.
- Vaseline - 1 tablespoon
- Lemon juice - 2 tablespoons
- Cling film
- Hand cream (non-greasy)
Instructions for preparing polymer clay:
- First, you need to mix the basic ingredients in any glass container: PVA glue, starch and petroleum jelly until smooth. Then add lemon juice to the resulting mixture and mix thoroughly again. The mass can be mixed with a fork, but it is much more convenient to work with your hands, kneading all the ingredients, as is done with regular dough.
- Next, place the resulting dough in the microwave for 30 seconds and heat it at maximum temperature. Then mix the mixture thoroughly again. And again put everything in the microwave for 30 seconds.
- Now, after you remove the bowl from the microwave, there should be a small film on the surface of the mass, which must be carefully removed with a knife or fork.
- Next, you need to prepare a workplace for kneading the mass. To do this, you can use a wooden board wrapped in cling film, but it is best to work on the table itself, after lubricating it with a non-greasy hand cream without silicones.
- For 5-10 minutes, the resulting mass must be thoroughly kneaded, following the example of kneading dough. Roll the clay between your palms and knead it vigorously until you obtain a stretchy plastic mass. During this time, the clay itself should cool completely to room temperature and be easily kneaded. All ingredients should combine into a uniform plastic mass; if this does not happen, you can put the clay in the microwave for a few more seconds, then knead again. As a result, there should be no lumps or separate ingredients in the clay.
- Now you can form the mass into any convenient shape and place it on a napkin or thin cloth to absorb excess moisture.
- When the mass has cooled completely, you can wrap it in plastic wrap. For ease of work, the clay can also be put in the refrigerator for a while, so the mass will become a little denser and less soft, such material will stick to your hands less.
- If you have completed all the previous steps correctly, then your DIY polymer clay is completely ready for use.
This amount of ingredients should yield approximately 350 grams of polymer clay. If you do not plan to use the clay right away, then you need to store it in the refrigerator in a plastic or glass container with a tight-fitting lid.
Recipe 2
Ingredients for making polymer clay:
- Potato starch - 100 gr.
- PVA glue - 100 ml
- Baby or cosmetic oil - 2 teaspoons
- Fat cream (can be for children) - 1 full teaspoon
Cooking instructions:
At this stage it is worth putting on gloves, since we will need them later, but it will be quite inconvenient to do so.
- Heat a glass jar in a water bath. The lowest heat and very little water are suitable for this.
- Now let's prepare everything we need. Pour the required amount of glue into a glass and prepare a portion of starch in a plate in advance. We are also preparing a workplace. To do this, as in the previous recipe, take a wooden or plastic board and wrap it in cling film. Lightly coat the surface with cream.
- Pour glue into a jar heated in a water bath.
- Immediately take one spoonful of cream and add it to the glue. Mix thoroughly until a homogeneous liquid is obtained.
- Immediately add cosmetic oil and stir thoroughly.
- Without ceasing to stir, carefully add the starch in small portions, allowing it to completely dissolve.
- The longer we delay the introduction of starch and allow the liquid to heat up, the tighter and stronger the polymer clay will be in the end. If you do this within 5-10 seconds, you will get plastic suitable for creating jewelry, toys and figurines.
- Without making the heat stronger, we continue to stir the mass until it begins to gradually curdle. Gradually, in a few minutes, it will come together into one lump.
- Turn off the heat, remove the jar from the stove, take out the warm viscous dough onto the board and start kneading. The mass itself will still be a little warm, you can feel it through the gloves, but it cannot burn, so we continue to knead.
- Knead the dough until you can roll it into a smooth, even ball without cracks or folds. This should take no more than 5-8 minutes.
- When we have a perfect, even, smooth ball, we need to generously lubricate its surface with cream and leave it in this position for about an hour. During this time, the clay should cool completely to room temperature.
- Carefully place the resulting ball in a plastic bag, remove the air from it and tie it tightly with an elastic band. Thus, we seem to seal the rolled ball into a vacuum bag.
- Now our polymer clay should sit. To do this, you need to put it in a cool, dark place with a temperature of 15-25 degrees for about 12 hours.
In a usable condition, such polymer clay can be stored for up to 3 months.
Although finished polymer clay can be stored for quite a long time, this does not apply to colored clay. To store clay using food coloring, special preservatives are required. In this regard, it is advisable to color the clay with a dye immediately before use.
How long can finished polymer clay be stored?
Polymer clay can be stored in the refrigerator indefinitely. However, after about a couple of weeks, the clay will gradually begin to become drier and lose its firmness and elasticity. So it’s better to work with the freshest possible material.
What to do if the clay has spoiled or failed
After prolonged storage in the refrigerator, or due to improper preparation, the clay may turn out to be too dry and inflexible. However, this is not a reason to throw away the product.
- 1 way
It can be saved by mixing it to the required consistency with a new portion of softer polymer clay. Just as during preparation, thoroughly knead the clay until smooth and get to work.
The same method can be used if the polymer clay initially turned out to be too liquid. Mix it with the remains of old dried clay. Or prepare a new one a little drier and denser than usual, and mix it with the liquid portion.
- Method 2
The second method is even simpler, because it doesn’t even require preparing a new portion of fresh clay. You just need to add a little Vaseline or cream to the old mass and also mix thoroughly until the resulting polymer clay is homogeneous.
If your clay has been stored for a very long time and is almost dry, then these two methods are best combined. First you need to give the mass a little viscosity and elasticity by mixing it with soft clay. And then make the mass more pliable with Vaseline.
How to make colored polymer clay with your own hands
The recipe itself remains the same, but you need to carefully add a few drops of any food coloring to the finished mass and carefully knead the clay until the color becomes completely homogeneous. To make beautiful color transitions or get halftones, you can mix several food colors or several shades of already painted clay. Since the materials mix well with each other, you can easily achieve the desired shade.
You can also add fluorescent glitter or fluorescent paint to the clay, so the finished product will glow in the dark. You can mix various sparkles or glitters into the clay. These can be found at art or nail art stores. To create an unusual texture, you can add beads, beads or foam balls to polymer clay. In general, polymer clay is an ideal material for creativity and the development of imagination not only for children, but also for adults.
Ideas for polymer clay products
We figured out how to prepare good clay for crafts. Here are some ideas for some fun DIY projects at home.
Decorations
Probably the most popular products made from polymer clay are jewelry. It is very easy to fashion any decoration from a plastic, pliable mass, be it earrings, beads or a bracelet. And the product itself made from such material will last up to 7 years. There are many techniques for creating jewelry or its elements. Let's look at some of them.
Most jewelry will require beads. With this material, the design of the beads can be any, as well as color combinations. But there are two main execution techniques. The first is suitable for making round beads. The technique is very simple. We roll small neat balls of polymer clay and pierce them with a needle of a slightly larger diameter than the one on which we will then string them. Remove from the needle. Once again, slightly level the shape and you’re done. You can put it on the windowsill and leave it to dry. In about a day, the bright, light beads are ready to become part of the decoration.
The second option is similar to the technique of making glass beads or rolling candy. First, we select the appropriate colors of clay and roll them together in random order. Then we roll a long thin tube from this mass. Be sure to make sure that the entire tube is approximately the same diameter. Then, using a knife, cut off a centimeter from both ends of the tube; this excess material can be removed. Cut all the remaining clay into neat small discs. We make a hole in the center of each with a needle so that they can later be strung on fishing line or elastic. If this technique seems too easy to you, and you already understand how the pattern is laid out in such beads, you can try to create not just an arbitrary ornament, but a real pattern that will be repeated on each bead. To do this, each individual colored element will consist of many thread-thin pieces of polymer clay. They are then stacked on top of each other to form one block, which is then cut.
At first glance, creating jewelry from polymer clay may seem too complicated, but such an activity simply requires imagination and dexterity, which will gradually come with experience in this matter. So don’t be afraid to experiment and you will definitely succeed.
You can also try to create unique earrings from polymer clay. Most often, the design of such jewelry comes in two versions. Or it repeats the model of beads, that is, it is made from exactly the same beads. Or various figures are molded. You can even make two different earrings, but in the same theme. By the way, this is a great gift idea for friends or decoration for yourself for the summer. Most often they sculpt animal figures and emoticons. birds, fruits and sweets. These shapes are quite simple and almost anyone can make them. But in the end they look very unusual and fun.
How to make jewelry from polymer clay?
Once the beads for the product are ready, you can begin to work. If it is a kit, it is always better to start with the most voluminous and complex part. For example, these will be beads. You need to decide how many rows there should be in the decoration. You can string beads in two or three rows. But it’s even more interesting to make several threads of identical beads, and then twist them into one large strand. Both options will look interesting and attract attention. You should buy a clasp for the beads at any sewing store. It will be attached on both sides using clamp locks; you can secure such a lock even without special tools. You may only need pliers to tighten the ring.
The bracelet can be kept simple by stringing different beads in one row, or repeating the design on the beads. In any case, it is worth starting from the general style of the kit. Since even though such jewelry made of polymer clay will in any case be an accent in the image, they must be combined with each other.
With earrings everything is much simpler. Often they consist of one minimalistic or, on the contrary, bulky bead. In order to make jewelry, you should also purchase several clamp rings for jewelry and the earrings themselves. For example, carnations. You can use a pin or paperclip to secure the bead. You need to bend one end a few millimeters, and pass the other through the bead, then use rings to secure the bead to the earring. It is important to pay attention to the fact that the bead hangs straight; if it turns edgewise, you need to add another ring.
You can also add a ring to the set. The easiest way here would be to buy a ring blank and use super glue to attach a small bead that repeats the design from other jewelry.
In any case, no matter what the gift is, it will be the most beautiful only if it is made from the heart. If you created it with positive thoughts and a smile on your face, then the craft will radiate joy and kindness.
Please your loved ones with pleasant little things. And even though such things will not be particularly useful and will not be useful in everyday life, you can be sure that everyone will remember such a gift with their own hands.
Plastic clay (aka polymer) is a material that is used to create various crafts. If you learn how to work with this material correctly, you will be able to create beautiful decorative elements. It is not necessary to buy a ready-made substance for modeling, because you can make it yourself. In our article we will tell you how to make polymer clay at home and describe the process of modeling from the manufactured material.
Clay in its qualities can resemble plasticine, from which we use special components that make the finished material soft and plastic. Dyes are also added during manufacturing to obtain the desired color of the material.
The made base is suitable for various crafts, for example, you can make it from polymer clay.
Polymer clay made from corn starch
Many people think that making this modeling material themselves will not work, this is not so. The site will tell you how to make polymer clay at home below, but now we will list what is needed for production:
- 15 grams of fatty cosmetic cream;
- lemon juice a few tablespoons;
- a packet of corn starch;
- a microwave will also be required;
- temperature-resistant glass container;
- cling film or bag;
- plastic spatula.
Now we’ll tell you, as promised, how to make polymer clay at home. We work according to the following steps:
All is ready. If necessary, the finished substance can be painted in any suitable color. For this, a variety of paints are used.
Now you know how to make polymer clay at home. The manufacturing process is not that complicated, and only takes ten minutes of your time.
Potato starch recipe
There is another popular recipe; it has differences in ingredients, but the manufacturing process is almost identical to the first option. The preparation of this recipe is based on cooking and steaming. For work we will need:
- half a package of potato starch;
- a spoonful of Vaseline or fatty cream;
- two small spoons of liquid baby soap;
- iron container.
How to make polymer clay at home containing potato starch:
![](https://i1.wp.com/megamaster.info/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Recept-iz-kartofelnogo-krahmala-Shag-1.jpg)
![](https://i2.wp.com/megamaster.info/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Recept-iz-kartofelnogo-krahmala-Shag-2.jpg)
Manufacturing without heat treatment
Many people are interested in how to make polymer clay at home without heat treatments. This question is relevant, since heating in a water bath or in a microwave is inconvenient for many and the process requires following safety precautions. The recipe for preparing polymer clay in a cold version is practically the same in the technology for making the composition, but it differs in some ingredients.
To prepare this recipe, you must have:
- corn starch one package;
- one tablespoon of Vaseline oil;
- two large spoons of Vaseline (or replace with hand cream);
- 20 grams of perfume.
Having collected all the components, you can begin manufacturing. By the way, in this case you can involve your child, it is quite safe, just like the modeling itself.
![](https://i1.wp.com/megamaster.info/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Izgotovlenie-bez-termicheskoj-obrabotki-Shag-1.jpg)
![](https://i1.wp.com/megamaster.info/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Izgotovlenie-bez-termicheskoj-obrabotki-Shag-2.jpg)
So you learned how to make polymer clay at home without needing to heat or cook anything. To make sure that unusual things can be made from the material produced,
Reasons for poor quality crafts
We figured out how to make polymer clay at home, but often in the process of sculpting from this material, the finished products quickly deteriorate. In this case, everyone blames the wrong recipe for preparing the material, but in reality this is not the case. Such qualities are influenced by many factors, including errors that were made during the design of the figures.
Incorrect timing
This factor contributes to the violation of the properties of the manufactured material. As everyone knows, during the process of baking a product in the oven, plasticizers are released from the main composition, and thus the clay craft becomes hard. If the material is not baked, the tenacity will be weak and the finished craft will begin to break. Therefore, experts recommend baking each layer of clay for 20 minutes, so that all the plasticizer will evaporate from the material and the product will become strong. If the time is not the same, the finished product will be fragile and will quickly break.
Incorrect temperature selection
A polymer clay craft that is baked at the wrong temperature becomes fragile after completion. Experts recommend observing precise baking temperatures in this process.
Also note that most kitchen stoves with ovens have a thermometer installed, which has an error in the readings. Basically, the readings differ by 10-20 degrees. Of course, for cooking delicious dishes these indicators are not critical, but for clay crafts these indicators will carry a large error.
By following these rules for making crafts from manufactured polymer clay, all items will be of high quality.
Processing irregularities
Often, finished crafts begin to break after heat treatment. Many in this case, sin on low-quality base material. Of course, another mistake could be the cause of the breakdown, but still mistakes were made during processing.
When processing the material, do not act on the product with brute force, and you will succeed.
Improper storage
The last reason affecting the quality of finished polymer clay products is considered to be improper storage conditions of the material. You should not store prepared polymer clay in the sun, and it is also not recommended to store manufactured items in the sun. During such storage, the ingredient that is responsible for the adhesion of the material evaporates.
![](https://i0.wp.com/megamaster.info/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Pravilnoe-hranenie-gliny.jpg)
It is advisable to store the finished substance in an airtight container, which will be placed in the refrigerator. Plastic containers or plastic bags can be used as such an item. But you should not completely close the container; when closed, the clay may dry out, unless, of course, it is used immediately after production.
If polymer clay and the craft itself were made in compliance with all requirements, you can use it without fear that it will break. This product can withstand being dropped on the floor and will serve you for a long time.
As you have seen, making polymer clay at home is not at all difficult, just like making various crafts from it. The main thing during production is to comply with all requirements.
Instructions
Most polymer clays harden at high temperature, so they should be baked to remove the plasticizer from the material. Some polymers harden in air. You can work with polymer clay using various techniques, creating the effect of glass, ivory, clay, plastic and many other materials.
Before sculpting the product, thoroughly knead a piece of clay desired color to give it plasticity. If you have never sculpted clay products, start practicing by sculpting simple round ones. Roll out a piece of plastic, cut the sheet into squares, and roll each square into a small ball.
Before baking, the beads need to be placed on toothpicks to keep the hole in them. You can sculpt beads from either one-color plastic or mix two or three colors to get beautiful patterns.
Having mastered bead modeling, try making a product using the kaning technique, using any -class found on the Internet. The essence of the method is that plastic of the desired colors is rolled into thin sausages, and a pattern is laid out from the sausages, which should appear on the cut of the finished product. The finished part, assembled from several sausages, is compressed and stretched, and then cut into pieces of the same size, which can be used for any purpose.
You can also make beautiful textures on pieces of plastic using prints, if you have suitable stamps. Thin and long products, in particular dolls, need to be sculpted on the basis wire frame.
When your product is ready, proceed to the crucial stage - baking the figurine. Make sure that the oven temperature exactly corresponds to the baking temperature indicated in the instructions for your polymer clay.
Bake the product at the correct temperature, and then cool it completely. When the product has completely cooled down, you can work with it further - process it with sandpaper or a file, paint, polish, varnish, and so on. It is best to paint the product acrylic paints.
Related article
After the fashion for products made from macrame and beads, crafts made from plastic or polymer clay became popular. Jewelry made from it looks original and fashionable, and is also quite durable.
You will need
- - polymer clay;
- - baking dish;
- - wax paper or a piece of plexiglass;
- - tools for work;
- - container for preparing the product;
- - varnish;
- - oven or stove.
Instructions
First you need to purchase clay. It comes in different brands, varieties, colors and differs in consistency. Each plastic manufacturer produces several types of clay. It can be standard, soft, flexible, doll-like and with different effects: fluorescent, mother-of-pearl, metallic, translucent, imitating natural stones, etc.
Beginners are usually recommended to use polymer clay from the German brand Fimo, which is the most popular. Also in demand are the brands Sculpey (USA), Cernit (Belgium), Kato Polyclay (USA), Premo (USA), Sonnet (Russia), “Tsvetik” (Russia), etc.
Each type of clay differs from others in softness and strength after the baking process.
You should choose clay depending on what kind of product you want to create from it. On the packaging you can read about the purpose of each of them. For example, ultraviolet clay is different in that it glows under UV rays. Jewelry made from it will appeal to nightclub lovers.
Before you start making a plastic product, prepare your work area. Cut the clay of the desired color or several colors into pieces. Then mold them into a product: a pendant, earrings, magnet, ring, flower, doll, figurine, etc. If desired, you can mix several colors of plastic. Don't be afraid to use your imagination and let your imagination run wild. If you do not feel confident in your abilities, start by sculpting the simplest product that does not require special skills. For example, it could be multi-colored beads or decoration for a keychain.
IN Lately There has been a steady trend of growing demand for various handmade crafts. In addition, modeling is one of the options for children to engage in useful work and develop their individual abilities. The commercial analogue of plasticine, called polymer clay, has two disadvantages: it is quite expensive and hardens at high temperatures (about 110 - 130 ºС).
Made independently, such a mass is not in the full sense of the word this product due to differences in the main ingredients, but it is quite suitable for modeling. And if you consider that drying it does not require special installations (for example, an oven), and producing polymer clay with your own hands is cheap, it makes sense to organize it at home.
Some recipes and technologies for preparing an analogue of polymer clay
Dosage of all components per glass of starch.
Glue + corn starch
Option 1
Features of plastic mass:
- After hardening, the crafts do not become cracked.
- Working with such polymer clay is somewhat more difficult than with store-bought products, since it is more sticky. But this is if you use it right away. It is enough to wait a week, and this disadvantage will be leveled out.
- The drying time of the molded sample is about half an hour (at room temperature).
Manufacturing procedure:
- A mixture is made based on glue, into which warm water (4 to 1) is poured and mixed thoroughly.
- Place the container on an open fire (electric stove) and boil for 2 minutes. It is necessary to ensure that heating occurs evenly throughout the entire volume and that lumps and bubbles do not form. Therefore, mixing is carried out constantly. After the specified time, the dishes are removed from the heat.
- Corn starch diluted with water (1 to 1/4) is added to it. If necessary - pigment.
- After mixing and obtaining a homogeneous (and monochromatic) structure of polymer clay, the dishes are covered until the “dough” cools completely.
- Next is a high-quality batch. To prevent the clay from sticking too much to the surface, you should sprinkle it a little with the same corn starch. And add it periodically. In this case, the finished product will turn out like plasticine - quite elastic (this is due to the glucen contained in starch) and not particularly sticky to your hands.
That's it, polymer clay can be used for its intended purpose.
Option 2
This modification of polymer clay is characterized by an increased degree of shrinkage, approximately ⅓ of the original mass. Accordingly, when making any thing, you need to take into account that its initial geometry must be larger than the required one (if the size is strictly specified).
Manufacturing procedure:
![](https://i0.wp.com/masterim.guru/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/7-2.jpg)
Multi-component paste
This plastic mass quickly loses its elasticity even at room temperature, which is why it is called self-hardening. It is advisable to prepare such polymer clay before direct use.
Manufacturing procedure:
- The process begins with diluting potato starch over a fire (in water, in a ratio of 1 to ½) and stirring until the fractions are completely dissolved.
- Glue is added - approximately ⅓ of the mass of the mixture.
- Add (one and a half tablespoons): white vinegar, cold cream and glycerin. Heating and stirring are carried out constantly. A sign of readiness of the “dough” is when the mass lags behind the walls of the dish. The main thing at this stage is not to overheat the polymer clay, otherwise it will harden quite quickly, even before kneading begins.
- Removing the mass from the dishes.
- As soon as the clay has cooled, it should be kneaded a little.
You can start making what you planned.
Durable polymer clay
Crafts made from it can withstand significant mechanical loads - impacts, falls from heights, etc.
Manufacturing procedure:
- For the initial mixture you will need (in tablespoons): glycerin and petroleum jelly (1.5 each) + stearin and citric acid (0.5 each). To stir thoroughly.
- Place on open fire, as low as possible.
- While mixing, gradually, in portions, add corn starch (0.5) to the mixture.
The peculiarity of preparing this version of polymer clay is that the kneading in the dishes does not stop for a minute. The readiness of the product is judged by its consistency. The mass will gradually turn into a dense clot, moving away from the walls and collecting in the center of the dish.
After removing the polymer clay, it is thoroughly kneaded. This process can take up to ⅓ an hour, but as a result, not a single lump should remain in the “test”. Another indicator of readiness for use is that the clay stops sticking to your hands.
For those who are just starting to master the technology of making polymer clay at home, one of the above recipes is quite enough. Although they are not the only ones. There are many instructions on the Internet, but most of them are more complicated in terms of finding the components of the original mixture and implementing it yourself.
- The basis of homemade plastic mass (it is often called cold porcelain) is glue. It is advisable to use the composition white, since it is quite simple to introduce the appropriate dye into it. The most suitable product for these purposes is PVA for working with wood.
- For the production of polymer clay (which sticks well), cookware with a non-stick coating is best suited. But it is unlikely that it will be used for cooking later. The author advises for these purposes to choose a cheap old saucepan, for example, an aluminum one. Then it won’t be a shame to throw it in a landfill. Or adapt a metal jar by attaching a handle to it, which can be easily made from thick wire (as an option).
- Storing homemade polymer clay is easy to organize. The main thing is to exclude access to oxygen. For example, place the warm mass in a thick plastic bag. As soon as its temperature reaches room temperature, wrap the resulting lump tightly in polyethylene, squeezing out any remaining air, and seal it tightly.
- When working with polymer clay, you should periodically lubricate your hands with an appropriate cream. This way it will practically not stick, and kneading and leveling it is much easier.