Polyform Products:
Stamping on Clay

by Iris Weiss

Sheets of clay are very receptive to being stamped with rubber stamps and clear stamps.

Sheets of clay are very receptive to being stamped with rubber stamps and clear stamps. Once the stamped image is dry, chalks and powders (already an essential part of the stampers’ and scrapbookers’ tool bag) easily color the image, which can be trimmed and then baked. If you plan to color the stamped image with colored chalks, use fast-drying solvent ink pads for the stamped image. Rubber stamps can also be impressed into the clay inked or dry. Powders are especially effective if no ink is used when impressing the stamp. Below are two different applications of stamping on clay and stamping in clay. In addition to these easy projects, many clay designers use rubber stamps for advanced polymer clay techniques.

 

Spring Card

MATERIALS NEEDED:

• Polyform Products: Sculpey^® III (Leaf Green); Sculpey UltraLight™
• Stampabilities: Life Is Special rubber stamp GR1087
• Tsukineko: Night Sky Dew Drop stamp pad
• Second Nature by Rhonna Farrer: Autumn Leaves clear stamp set
• Jacquard Products: Misty Lavender Pearl Ex Powder
• lavender pre-made card
• cream-colored cardstock
• studio acrylic roller or clay-dedicated pasta machine
• craft glue
• craft knife

 

INSTRUCTIONS:

Step 1
Condition and mix Sculpey III and UltraLight clay. The mixture I use is one-half Sculpey III and one-half UltraLight.

Step 2
Once clay is mixed, roll it on the thickest setting on the pasta machine or about 3/16" thick. The thickness can certainly vary depending on your taste. I like the thicker setting because it makes a great magnet afterward.

Step 3
Press the largest stamp in the clear stamp collection into the clay. You may want to use a tiny mist of water on the clay to make release of the stamp a little easier. Dry the clay before proceeding if you’ve used water.

Step 4
Using a craft knife, trim around the flower. Highlight the flower with Pearl Ex power.

Step 5
Bake the flower for 20 minutes at 275 degrees F. Allow to cool.

Step 6
Rip a piece of cream-colored paper a little larger than the flower. Ink the edge of the paper using the Night Sky stamp pad. Attach the flower to the paper using a small amount of white craft glue. Allow to dry.

Step 7
Stamp the inside of the card with the Life Is Special rubber stamp and Night Sky stamp pad.

Step 8
Attach the flower to the front of the card with the white craft glue. A split front card was used.

Step 9
Do not hesitate to mail this card, as the clay is strong and will not break in the mail.

 

Wonderful Card

MATERIALS NEEDED:

• Polyform Products: Studio™ by Sculpey^® Oven-Bake Clay (Peapod)
• Rubber Stampede: Gerbera Daisy rubber stamp GR1087
• Kolette Hall: Wonderful rubber stamp
• Tsukineko: Hint of Pesto Dew Drop stamp pad
• green pre-made card
• green patterned cardstock
• craft glue (white)
• craft knife
• scrapbook tape

 

INSTRUCTIONS:

Step 1
Condition the Studio clay.

Step 2
Once clay is conditioned, roll it on the thickest setting on the pasta machine or about 3/16" thick. The thickness can certainly vary depending on your desires. I like the thicker setting because it makes a great magnet afterward.

Step 3
Using the Gerbera Daisy stamp (use masking tape to cover small flower if desired), cover the stamp with the Hint of Pesto stamp pad and lightly press on the sheet of clay. It’s wonderful the way that the clay comes up to meet the stamp, creating a great image.

Step 4
Use your craft knife to trim around the flower. Bake the flower at 275 degrees F for 30 minutes. Allow to cool.

Step 5
Stamp "Wonderful" onto a strip of the light green patterned paper. Ink the edges of the green paper and adhere to the card using scrapbook tape.

Step 6
Ink the edges of the clay flower and adhere it to the card using a small amount of white craft glue.

Polyform Products
1901 Estes Ave.
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
847/427-0020
FAX 847/427-0426
e-mail: info@polyformproducts.com
Web: www.polyformproducts.com, www.sculpey.com

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