I have always wanted to try fun and awesome things with polymer clay, and recently I gave it a shot. What I found was that polymer clay is probably not going to be my strong suit...my giant man hands get in the way of forming something tiny and adorable...I haven't given up entirely, but I think I may have to change the game plan. The coolest thing that happened with my initial polymer clay experimenting day was making these cool little whats-its:
This was fun and easy to do. You just flatten the unbaked clay, print a picture off your computer (color should work too, although I am from 1922 and have a black and white only printer, so I can't say from experience that it does...only in theory). You lay the picture face down on your clay and wet the back of it with rubbing alcohol two or three times letting it dry in between. When the paper is dry the final time, carefully peel the paper back and the ink stays on the polymer clay. Then you just bake it as instructed the clay's package. Just a small warning or really a heads up (warning sounds like you are in immanent danger...):two things that I did wrong that you can avoid...one, when you do this, what is on your clay is a mirror image, so if you want to put words on your clay, you have to make them a mirror image in your computer first, so they will come out the right way on your clay...unless of course you have a small child or a child minded adult who you wanted to play spy with...(e.g. - secret messages!!! ...this is exciting to me as I am a child minded adult...) The second thing to keep in mind is to be careful when peeling your paper back...do it slowly...otherwise, this happens:
The poor awesome fox has no face now!!! Later I tried to fill him in with Sharpie, but its just not the same! So, learn a lesson from my disfigured fox and peel slowly!
Now, as to what to do with these little doo-dads, I think a more skilled person could make totally awesome jewelry type things with these. But since my totally awesome skills are lacking, I just threaded a ribbon through my holes and used them as tags on my handmade purses. They look something in the region of this:
Please pay no attention to the terribly uneven stitching on this...my sewing machine tried to eat this bag and so it became the "prototype". That being said, I'd totally be carrying this purse and its uneven stitches around town had I not made myself an awesome owl material purse...which I need to take pictures of...
This purse is loosely based on Simplicity pattern 2830, with some adjustments to construction and a liner added...why Simplicity doesn't know I carry 80 pounds of bricks in my purse and I need the extra protection of a reinforced liner I will never understand...I will mention that if you do this pattern, be prepared for the pain in the hiney straps. Maybe normal humans won't have a problem with them, but they were driving me crazy! In subsequent bag making, I have tried some other strap making options with less headache involved and the result is just as good...well, better in my opinion, because the small amount of sanity I have left remains with me. At least until tomorrow.
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