So, last week I was in the throws of a really neat design idea. I’m a member of Christi’s Neighborhood and our project theme last month was called “Once Upon a Time.” Thoroughly inspired by the theme, I played around with the idea for several weeks before it formulated in my mind … Rumpelstinltskin.

While not one my favorite fairytales, and not really a “classic,” the Grimm Brothers tale certainly does inspire my imagination. Wheat spun to gold, an impish like fellow, three wishes (in the newer versions), and always willing to bargain … yep. I’ll take it. But there was a problem. I didn’t want to do a standard “image transfer” as I wanted my signage to look like a pen and ink drawing. Even though I knew that an image transfer would work, it just wasn’t what I was going for…so I decided to try something new.

***Please note: While this project turned out perfectly and this sealing system worked, because it was a recent project, its durability over time has not been tested.***

Materials:

• Mod Podge Hard Coat
• Computer Printed Black & White Graphic
• Fimo Deco Gel
• Heat Gun

NOTE: I do NOT recommend using Mod Podge as a “sealant” for your clay designs. If you want a good list of sealers, head over to The Blue Bottle Tree and read her article on sealers.

Faux Pen & Ink on Polymer Clay Tutorial

• First print your image onto plain white copy paper. I used Hammermill White, 20Lb weight. You may want to print your image in multiple sizes if you don’t know what size you will need.
• To help adhere the ink to the paper, I used my heat gun for about 1 minute on both the front and the back to help prevent smearing.
• First, using a synthetic paint brush, quickly place one thin coat of Mod Podge Hard Coat over the printed images.
• Wait a few minutes for it to dry.
• NOTE: If you do not wait for the first thin coat to dry, you will begin to smear the ink from your designs.
• Repeat by adding a second, thicker layer over the images.
• Use your heat gun to completely dry & set the mod podge. Be sure to do this on both the front AND the back as paper is porous.
• Repeat the exact same procedure as above on the back of the images (the non printed side).
• Take a small dab of Fimo Deco Gel and place it onto a piece of wax paper or printer label backs (see my article on these here).
• Using a different small synthetic brush, apply one thin coat of Fimo Deco Gel on top of the sealed images.
• Use your heat gun to completely cure the layer of liquid clay (deco gel). If you did a thin layer, this should take only a few minutes.
• Add another thin layer of Fimo Deco Gel on top of the first cured layer.
• Again, heat with heat gun to seal.
• Cut out your images using sharp scissors.
• The images are now ready to use directly on your clay.

To Place Onto Raw Polymer Clay:

• After your sheet is fully conditioned, use your finger and place a some TLS onto the wrong side of your image.
• Place the image onto your smooth clay surface, design side up.
• Use a brayer or acrylic rod to smooth down onto the clay.
• Place polymer clay around the edges of the image to hold into place.
• Before baking, add a thick coat of Fimo Deco Gel and bake your piece according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• “Rumpelstiltskin” was made for Christi’s Neighborhood, month of August project theme, “Once Upon a Time.”

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Thanks for joining me today,

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