HeArtfully Creating: STUDIO LIFE: What I've Been Creating This Week....Week 22 Polymer Clay Challenge

Sunday, June 5, 2016

STUDIO LIFE: What I've Been Creating This Week....Week 22 Polymer Clay Challenge

Had a visit from little Humphrey in my studio/house
this week....too bad I am allergic :o(

Good day! Summer is almost officially here and in our Northwestern Ontario City, summer weather is lagging behind. I hope wherever you are that the weather is just the way you like it. For me it is

Polymer Clay Puffy Hearts and Jewelry by me! Anita Berglund

basically the only time of year when I find it warm enough to go outside. It doesn't really matter to me anyway because I am always creating in my studio. I tried working outside before and the winds, dust and all that fun stuff, interferes with my art making too much. Polymer clay especially picks up dust and dirt really easy. Below I have share some clean clay tips as well as some of the pieces I worked on this week! Have fun!!
Click HERE if you want to see my A Bergie Creation Shop Blog

Keeping It Clean
If you are working in polymer clay you may already know this, if not, now you will! Something I have learned over time, especially from the many great online polyclay artists. If you want your clay pieces to be professional enough to sell or just because you want them to look their best, you must keep the clay clean. This means....
1. Make sure your work area, hands and surface as well as tools are all wiped super clean. I use rubbing alcohol or baby wipes. Be cautious because some wipes have fibres that can come off and end up on any of these items.
2. Work in a pet free zone. Animal hair can float anywhere including right onto your clay working area. Unless you want to incorporate it, try to keep your area a pet free zone. If not, make sure you wipe it all down prior to working.
3. After your piece is assembled, you can clean off your unbaked clay with a cotton swab or clean cotton/soft cloth and rubbing alcohol prior to baking/firing in the oven.
4. If you baked the piece and missed a speck of dirt (this can be particularly annoying with white clay!), I have learned that you can use nail polish remover. I have never tried it. If you do, let me know how it went. It isn't something I want to depend on so I try to keep everything clean before baking.
Hope that helps a little.
Keep it Clean!
HeArtfully Creating,
Anita :o)

Join the 2016 Polymer Clay Challenge! Thanks to Katers Acres!