How To Make Anime Figures With Polymer Clay

Heather has a passion for writing and drawing and perchance a slight addiction to anime and video games.

Learn about the basic supplies you'll need to get started using polymer clay — Larn nigh the basic supplies you'll need to go started using polymer clay

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Then You Want to Play With Clay?

Polymer clay has gotten extremely popular thanks to videos on social media and stores like Etsy where you can buy handcrafted creations. Whether y'all're intending to sell or brand things for yourself, everyone has to start somewhere!

Before starting, you need to set yourself up a arts and crafts surface area and of class supply yourself with proper tools. But yous don't know what the difference is between clay brands, or if that fancy press machine is really necessary. It truly comes down to preference, so let'due south dig in and outset discussing the differences so yous tin decide for yourself what is on your supply list!

This commodity will encompass the following topics to help you lot get situated and begin your clay adventure:

Craft area
Tools
Colored clay vs. paint
Types of dirt
Blistering and sealing

Work in progress: Flammie from Legend Of Mana

Craft Area

Polymer clay is not a craft yous want to merely pull out and do anywhere. Some brands are actually soft, and their oils tin be captivated into wood and papers. In fact, that'south actually a method of toughening your clay: laying it between papers so that the backlog oils are absorbed. Not only can it leave things behind, but woods grains and any imperfections in your surface could cease up on your piece. I propose using a smooth glass cutting board. Sculpey also makes a crafting mat that you can work on and bake directly on.

Nearly importantly, polymer dirt collects whatever and all dirt it comes in contact with. If you lot're working with colored clay and take no intentions of painting the projects yourself, this can go extremely irksome. You will want a make clean piece of work surface and clean easily. Some even use gloves to avert fingerprints and dirt attaching to their work. Others go on a piece of "garbage" clay to play with before working, using it to choice upward any unwanted dirt and putting it aside. Whatsoever you decide to do, you've been warned!

You don't demand to become crazy with a lighting system, just a decent well-lit room should suffice. This is another i of those personal preference things; you'll have to decide based on your environment if you lot need more or not.

There are tons of dissimilar tools out in that location with unlike uses. Metal-tipped tools are better for cutting and making more precise marks. Rubber-tipped tools are great for smoothing edges and creating gentle curves. A lot of people would probably start out with one or the other and assume getting metal would be the better selection. However, this can limit your abilities, especially as a beginner.

I highly suggest investing in a kit that includes both: for one because there'due south a lot of sets out there that are very affordable, and second because merely starting out I feel it will requite you a ameliorate and less frustrating experience. Yous're more likely to set up this stuff aside and never play with it again if you go on messing up something another tool could have done only for you. I picked up the Arteza Pottery & Dirt Sculpting Tools and was very happy with it.

Sculpey sells a basic rolling pin that you'll observe extremely useful for projects. As a beginner I highly suggest going with that over the expensive clay press. While I'1000 sure it'south great for crafters who sell and put out a lot of projects, or make their ain ombre-colored clays, information technology's not really necessary starting out.

Colored Clay or Paint?

Earlier fifty-fifty talking near brands y'all have some more decisions to brand. Yous can choose to buy colored polymer clay or plain clay that you paint yourself. Or you tin fifty-fifty employ colored clay and only paint details. Regardless, that's something you should consider before purchasing. Sculpey makes a great starter set with a ton of colors if that's the option yous'd like to get. Personally I cull to paint, considering it'due south fashion cheaper and consumes much less of my storage space than keeping a ton of different clay colors. What you'll need, once again, depends on the scale of your projects. If y'all're making tiny jewelry pieces you lot might want fine brushes for details, and medium to larger to encompass areas.

To offset off, I'd pick up a inexpensive ready of acrylic water-based paints. Exercise not employ oil based paints with polymer clay: it will not end well. You tin can besides use acrylic markers if you would adopt (again, stay abroad from oil-based).

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Types of Dirt

The differences in polymer dirt brands relies more than and so on their softness before baking than their force after. I've heard many stories about many different brands and how they were ameliorate than another and really what information technology comes downward to is proper baking. The biggest mistake crafters make with polymer clay is under-baking. Your pieces are far more than likely to intermission if they are not fully done and personally I have never had a piece come out over-baked regardless of how long I left it.

Starting off, I propose you work with a tougher dirt. Fimo Professional person is a loved brand that won't bulldoze a beginner crazy with impression marks. If you actually want something super soft, Sculpey Iii is one that I personally dislike working with considering I just don't have the patience for how fragile it is. Sculpey Premo is non equally firm equally Fimo Professional but is a decent starting dirt likewise.

Baking and Sealing

Polymer dirt is non condom to come in contact with food. I keep a cheap baking sail I picked upwards to broil directly on; however, I would withal utilize one of these nether the Sculpey mat if you're using one. Keep your clay and kitchen utensils separate! Remember that under-baking is a huge common result: the thicker your pieces are the longer they volition need.

Some will make a tent out of aluminum foil to help the pieces cook more thoroughly in a larger oven. Polymer clay tin exit behind a odor, i that I personally haven't noticed with how ofttimes I utilize it for that, but you can very easily choice up a toaster oven for the purpose of blistering your crafts if y'all're concerned almost it lingering.

Once your crafts have cooled you lot need to sand and seal. It'southward best to do this with a fine, wet sandpaper. Once you take sanded, you can paint if you lot intend to or move on to sealing.

Sculpey sells a gloss coat for polymer dirt crafts. This is what I've been using and personally I've institute no problems with information technology. No chipping or discoloring on any of my older things. Notwithstanding I've likewise heard not bad things about using polyurethane for floors too. This might be a more costly initial investment but definitely gives you more than over time if you intend to apply that much.

Odds and Ends

Don't forget to selection upwards whatsoever odds and ends for your project! If you're making jewelry you might desire to grab some eye hooks for chaplet and charms. Earring studs, necklace chains, keychains. If you're planning to do a sculpture you may want to grab some aluminum foil, which can be used inside your creations to assistance keep them sturdy and save you lot some money on clay! Not to mention it volition make sure objects much lighter. There's tons of possibilities, and now that you know where to start leave there and make something unique!

20 Polymer Clay Tips and Tricks for Beginners

Heather Lengel (writer) from Cleveland, Ohio on July 19, 2019:

Happy to assistance!!!

Loretta from United States on July 18, 2019:

My son is getting started with some clay sculpting and asked me virtually supplies, blistering, and sealing ~ I had no idea what he'd need, which is how I concluded upwards hither reading your overview ;-) At present I accept a shopping list and a meliorate thought of what we're going to need and where to get-go. Thank you a bunch

Alexander James Guckenberger from Maryland, United States of America on June 08, 2019:

Clay is so fun to play with.

Source: https://feltmagnet.com/crafts/Polymer-Clay-Basic-Supplies

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