Category: Polymer Clay

Hard Clay Blending Technique

Posted on by — 21 Comments
Easy Blend Polymer Clay Technique by KatersAcres

Hard Clay? No Problem!

My Easy Blending Polymer Clay Tip No Special Tools Required

One of the things that every clayer struggles with at times is rock hard clay.  Clay that does nothing but snap, break, and never get soft.  The easiest answer to this problem is a food processor.  But, you may not have a food processor and that’s okay.

Today’s polymer clay tip will show you how to become friends with your clay, warm it up, soften it, make it malleable again, and even blend it to perfect.  In fact, with this easy polymer clay tip, you don’t need any special tools or machines.  You only need your hands, clay blade, acrylic roller and pasta machine.

Continue reading Hard Clay Blending Technique

Trina’s Clay Creations

Posted on by — 4 Comments

Thank You, Trina

It is with sadness that I do this artist feature on Trina’s Clay Creations.  Why is this sad you might ask? Almost 2 years ago, Etsy created “Teams.” From the outset, I began an all polymer clay team, The PCETeam (Polymer Clay Enthisiasts) of Etsy.  I sought out inspiring artists of different clay disciplines to aid in the creation, growth, and promotion of our mutual love, polymer clay.  One of those people that I was blessed enough to meet was Trina Prenzi.  She has a natural sculpting ability with clay that is immediately noticeable. Her fine attention to detail and adorable whimsical creations is uncanny. It has been my honor to know her, work with her, & feature her today.

Continue reading Trina’s Clay Creations

Using Lotion with Polymer Clay

Posted on by — 20 Comments
Polymer Clay Tip - Use Lotion First from KatersAcres

POLYMER CLAY TIP OF THE DAY

Haven’t you ever noticed how after claying all day (or part of the day) your hands are dried out, your cuticles begin to tear, and you get a large number of hangnails?  This is because the clay (though non-toxic and gentle) takes the moisture that is in your hands and absorbs it…all of it.
This being said, there are several things that I have on my studio table at all times.

Continue reading Using Lotion with Polymer Clay

Repurpose X-acto Blades Using Scrap Polymer Clay

Posted on by — 3 Comments

 Repurpose X-acto Blades Into a Great New Tool

Repurpose x-acto blades? Absolutely you can do that! This simple and quick tip had a huge response in last week’s email, twitter, & even on FaceBook.  It was shared, retweeted, and commented on more times that any previous tip I had posted. So today I will show you how you can take that old, grungy, and slightly beat up old cutting blade and repurpose x-acto blades into something more useful.

Continue reading Repurpose X-acto Blades Using Scrap Polymer Clay

Embossing with Powders a Polymer Clay Tutorial

Posted on by — 12 Comments

Embossing with Powders a Polymer Clay Tutorial

Have you ever taken the time to emboss something on your clay?  I love to emboss patterns, stamps, and whatever kind of texture “catches” me at that moment.  I love the crisp, clean, almost effortless and yet professional look it gives to my pieces.  One of the hardest things for me however, is embossing with powders (i.e.: Pearl ex, Perfect Pearls, etc).  A lot of clayers have problems with this as well.

I’ve read many articles that say you should slightly dampen your stamps first.  *Sigh*  This still didn’t help me.  The result was half on and half off, dark in some places and not in others, you get the idea…I just wasn’t happy with the results.  And I always emboss things…so I needed a solution that was quick, easy, and stress free.

Continue reading Embossing with Powders a Polymer Clay Tutorial