Project designed by Donna Kato.
Materials:
Fimo or Fimo Soft in the following colors and amounts:
- Black - two 2-ounce packages
- Light Turquoise or Peppermint - 2-ounce package
- Raspberry - 2-ounce package
- White - 2-ounce package
Nublade Kato or other tissue type clay blade
bent acrylic frame
gel-type cyanoacrylate glue
Steps:
Conditioning the Clay
- Polymer clay must be conditioned prior to use. To condition Fimo, begin by squeezing it on all sides. The clay is very responsive to pressure and will take on an elastic feel. Roll it into a ball, then a snake. Fold it back on itself and roll a snake again. Repeat a few times then roll a thick cylinder. Cut 1/8" thick slices from the cylinder and roll through the pasta machine on a thin setting. Roll each slice and integrate into the whole. Continue until all the slices are integrated and the sheet feels supple and elastic.
- Fimo clay can also be conditioned by cutting very thin slices directly from the block and passing them through thin settings of the pasta machine. Begin with one piece, folding it in half and rolling through until it is conditioned. Add slices to the conditioned piece, folding and rolling until all the slices are integrated into the whole and the entire mass is conditioned. Tip: Occasionally, you might need to add a clay softener, such as MixQuick to expedite the process.
- Fimo Soft may be conditioned easily by slicing the block in half then rolling each half through the pasta machine. Roll them together then fold and roll, fold and roll until the sheet is soft and pliable and the surface is unblemished.
Frame FrontThe Skinner Blend: This technique quickly and easily creates sheets of graded color. It works for two colors on up! At its simplest, it works in the following manner. Roll two colors into sheets of the same thickness. Stack one color atop the other and cut a right angle triangle. Separate the two sheets and join them along the diagonal edge, offsetting the colors slightly so that the corners do not exactly meet. You must do this if you wish to have areas of the graded sheet which are purely the two colors you begin with. If the colors meet exactly, you will have a sheet which is entirely graded.
- Fold the two-color sheet in half and roll through the pasta machine, folding same color edge on same color edge. Fold and roll through again. Repeat until the sheet is graded and there are no streaks. It is important to remember to fold the same way each time, that is, not to turn the sheet 45-degrees and fold and roll.
- Lay the sheet flat and place the acrylic frame on the sheet, face down. Cut the frame shape. For curves, arc the Nublade and cut. Cut the inside opening and remove the cut out clay.
Frame Backing - Roll a sheet of black clay approximately 1/16" thick. Place the cut clay frame, face up, on the sheet and gently press out air pockets. Cut the black base clay away at the top and bottom sides neatly, so that there is no black showing.
- Cut the black base clay from the sides, leaving an allowance of 1/4" black clay on the two sides.
Swirly Sides - Roll two long tapering rods of black clay. Press one rod on each side on the frame and press. The rods should rest on the 1/4" allowance.
Curing - Place the frame on a flat baking surface. Do not use paper--it may warp while curing and distort the frame.
- Place in a 265-degree oven for 30 minutes. Allow to cool completely before handling then glue the frame front to the bent acrylic frame.
Resources Fimo polymer clay
Available at art supply stores and craft stores nationwide.
American Art Clay Co. Inc. (AMACO)
Website:
www.amaco.com
NuBlade Kato clay blade, Marxit clay cane ruler
Prairie Craft Company/Kato Polyclay
Website:
www.prairiecraft.com
or
Website:
www.katopolyclay.comThe Art of Polymer Clay: Designs and Techniques for Making Jewelry, Pottery and Decorative Artwork
by Donna Kato
Watson-Guptill, 1997
Order this title from Amazon.com.
Prairie Craft Company/Kato Polyclay
Website:
www.prairiecraft.com
or
Website:
www.katopolyclay.com Guests Donna Kato
Artist and owner of Prairie Craft Company
Website:
www.prairiecraft.com
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