| Translucent Polymer Clay |
From "DIY Crafts"
episode DIC-106 |
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Mary Lyon, host of DIY Crafts, describes what can be done with a new product from FimoB. called Art TranslucentB.. Mary explains how to wrap a snake with a black clay border. Art Translucent is a polymer clay that looks milky-white before baking but becomes frosty and see-through after baking. A light source that shines from behind becomes a soft light. Art Translucent can be mixed with a small amount of opaque clay to result in a tinted clay. Mix a pea-sized ball of opaque clay with a finger-sized snake of Art Translucent for the proper ratio. For a marbleized effect, mix a small amount of opaque clay with Art Translucent. until streaks begin to appear. Don't mix thoroughly. Materials:
Polymer clay in a solid color
Black polymer clay
Optional: Art Translucent
Surgical blade
Toilet-paper roll
Pasta machine (Note: After a pasta machine has been used to condition clay, it cannot be used in food preparation.)
- Condition the solid-color polymer clay by rolling it through a pasta machine. If desired, mix it with Art Translucent.
- Roll a single color of clay into a fat snake about the length of your finger.
- Condition the black polymer clay by running it through the pasta machine. Roll the clay into a 1/8"-thick sheet.
- Make a straight cut along one short edge with a surgical blade. Make another straight cut along one long edge with a surgical blade (figure A).
- Line up the clay snake with the short edge of the black clay sheet and one of the circular ends of the snake with the long edge of the black clay sheet. There will be some excess black clay above the other circular end of the snake. Trim the black clay sheet even with the other circular end of the snake, using the surgical blade (figure B).
- Roll the black clay around the snake just once around. When the beginning edge reaches the black clay sheet, roll the edge back and forth a few times. This will leave an indentation in the clay sheet to indicate where to cut off the black clay (figure C).
- Use the surgical blade to cut off the clay sheet so the edges butt together evenly. Roll the black clay around the snake, smoothing the edges together with your fingers (figure D). Since multiple colors of clay are now running the length of the snake, it's called a cane.
- Cut narrow round slices from the cane--or to make square slices, press the rounded sides of the cane against the tabletop to square off the sides, and slice the end off (figure E).
- If you're putting the cane slices on a curved surface, place them on a curved cardboard toilet-paper roll, and bake them in the oven at a low temperature. The slices will take on the curvature of the toilet-paper roll.
RESOURCES :
Polymer Clay, Art Translucent and Fimo (AMACO)
American Art Clay Co. Inc. (AMACO)
Indianapolis, IN 46222
Phone: 317-244-6871
Fax: 317-248-9300
Email: catalog@amaco.com
Website: www.amaco.com
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