So, I have been making shrink plastic jewelry for decades now. I'm a master of the craft, self-taught. I can make just about anything I put my mind to with regards to that medium. But now I've found recycled tin, cardboard, and polymer clay... Unfortunately, I have not been able to dedicate the time to these new mediums like I did the plastic. I have a new granddaughter who lives with me so much of my after-work and weekend hours are spent around her. Which I love, don't get me wrong, but it really puts a kink into spending as much time as is needed to learn new mediums and to continue to develop skills.
To be fair, the tin is pretty much done. I can place the images of my choosing onto it, and I can cut it and shape it so that's a done deal, same goes for the recycled paper stuff. Both of these mediums can be very tricky and following the processes to the letter is an absolute requirement in order to have the results I am looking for, but are so worth the time involved. However, the clay, that is a whole new ballgame.
Polymer clay is so insanely versatile that you never ever stop learning or thinking of things to do with it. You simply do not. There are so many techniques, styles, etc. It seems every day I see something new that I'd like to try. I have come across some absolutely stellar tutorials provided by clay artists and they have been worth every single penny spent to get them, which can get pricey. If you are really lucky you may even have the opportunity to take a class with an artist in-person. Because each time I buy one of these tutorials, there are one or two nuggets of knowledge that are worth their weight in gold. Unfortunately, some of the tutorials I've bought are super rudimentary and not worth even the $5 or $10 spent to get them, but I guess how many brilliant nuggets are you going to get for next to nothing? And if you are just starting out, even these 'beginner tutorials' might have some value.
I've noticed something though, it seems that polymer clay has sort of slowed down. Many of the tutorials I've purchased are older (by years and even a decade or two), or the publications I've purchased are almost 10 years old and I've purchased them in print used or in digital format because the magazines are no longer in print or even in business anymore. Another thing I've noticed is that Sculpey is having a very hard time getting their clay made since the beginning of the pandemic. In fact, it's gotten steadily worse and I think it is due to hoarding by clay artists and enthusiasts. I can hardly find Premo! or Souffle anywhere. When I do find it, it is in colors that I can't use. Sparkle, opal, glow in the dark, etc. Seriously, man, it's getting really bad. In a way, I wish Sculpey would just produce black, white, ecru, translucent, ultramarine, cadmium red, and cadmium yellow and produce a mixing chart so that you could make any color in the rainbow from scratch. Oh yeah, add to that bronze, 14 K gold, and gold. I'm not kidding. I go to JoAnns and find 4 bars of white and ecru and pumpkin in the souffle. Then I go to Hobby Lobby and find poppy seed in Souffle and 3 unusable colors in the Premo! Meanwhile, Sculpey III is fully stocked which any jewelry maker knows won't work for jewelry making. Even the new kid on the block, Papa's clay has dwindling supplies. Although I got lucky and bought about $60 worth at an online retailer that apparently had not yet been discovered. Score one for me!
I've watched multiple videos of people using Papa's Clay and it reminds me of Kato Clay, which I've had mixed results using. Oh btw, Kato and Fimo seem to both be a little easier to get. Anyway, Papa's Clay is crumbly. You need to hold it in your palms for a minute to warm it up and then you can run it through your pasta machine without the crumbles, or so that is what I have seen in the videos. It makes me wonder if that would work for Kato as well. I have had Kato Clay, and even after running through my pasta machine no less than 20 times, it is still crumbly! I have thrown it away before because of that. The good news is Kato now sells, in one pound chunks, a new clay softener AND, drumroll, please.....A super-black clay to turn all of your scraps into usable black clay. No more muddy and unusable leftovers with weird colors! Fimo I don't care for because if you get it wet, it starts to get pasty and gross whereas the Premo! is truly water repellant and takes image transfers well.
Speaking of image transfers, there are many image transfer papers that work that I've tried. There are some at PolymerclayTV for a reasonable price and there are some others that use T-shirt transfer paper that works well. You can even use nail decals that can be purchased for pennies on Wish. I love working with images so these are a big one for me. You can also do transfers using water or heat, just do a search online and you'll find multiple videos for both.
I've really been trying to concentrate more on textures and surface techniques with the goal to make the charm look like it is kiln-fired clay or porcelain with glaze, and these are not so easy to come across. Well, I guess the textures are, but the surface techniques using paint, ink, alcohol, waxes, sealers, etc are not easily found, and let me tell you, some of the clay I have seen is crazy amazing and leaves me wondering: How'd they do that? Apparently, sadly, nobody wants to share what they've learned (because they have worked hard to figure it out). Can you blame them? No. So I keep looking for clues and keys and any hints of how the spectacular surface effects are procured. This is where my time constraints and lack of available clay seriously hinder me.
So here is my advice. If you see a result in any medium you like, dig, dig deep, and maybe even ask a question of the artist to see if they can help or steer you in the right direction. Watch videos, read articles, purchase tutorials, and purchase books and magazines. Take notes. Take a chance, buy some things you think *might* work, and give them a try. Use things you already have and see what happens. Truly some of the best techniques were discovered through happenstance and giving something a go. This is most likely where I'm headed for the kiln-fired look I've seen on some pieces. Some of it is simply amazing and looks like kiln-fired clay. Don't ask me why I'm stuck on that look. Most likely because it is what I would wear and that is the best place to start. Make jewelry you yourself would wear. That way, if you don't sell it you can still wear it!
