Guest Author - Kim M. Bayne

Make simple and inexpensive embellishments for your greeting cards or other projects with polymer clay and your favorite rubber stamps.

Materials & Tools List

Polymer Clay, like Sculpey, Premo, etc.

Pasta Machine

Powdered Pearl-like Pigment, like Pearl Ex Pigments by Jacquard Products

Oven

Rubber Stamp, Chinese Lantern A2451D by Rubber Stampede

Rubber Stamp, Quirky Alphabet (Set of 28) by Stampin' Up!

Other Favorite Rubber Stamps

The Steps
(Click to enlarge each image. Another browser window will open.)
1. Warm up polymer clay by holding it in your hands or put a package out in the hot sun for just a few minutes. (Note: Don't forget the clay or you'll come back to a blob!)

2. Tear off a chunk of polymer clay. Knead it slightly with your hands to make it more pliable.


3. Set your pasta machine thickness dial to 1/4-inch. Push your clay through the pasta machine while turning the handle. Repeat to condition and flatten the clay.


4. Lay your clay on a flat surface, preferably one that is non-stick. If you don't like the looks of your clay shape, fold it and run it through the pasta machine again.


5. Choose your rubber stamp design wisely. This project works best using rubber stamps that have deeply etched distinct lines and simply designs. Too much detail may be hard to see on the clay. Experiment to see what works from your rubber stamp collection.


6. To avoid sticking to the clay, apply a bit of Pearl Ex Pigments directly to the stamp rubber. Now press the rubber stamp into the clay. Apply pressure on the wood mount evenly.


7. Remove the rubber stamp from the clay slowly to avoid pulling the clay or distorting the design.


8. You can do this step before or after you bake the clay...your choice. Apply Pearl Ex Pigments powder directly to the clay, using a finger tip, small brush, cotton swab or other applicator.


9. Bake clay according to manufacturer's directions.


10. After baking, remove the clay from the oven carefully then allow it to cool. While it is still slightly warm, you may choose to trim excess clay around the image or use a cookie cutter or other tool to create a nice shape.


11. After the clay has cooled, you can easily mount your embellishments to the front of a greeting card.

More Polymer Clay Embellishments

Project Tips

Don't risk ingesting polymer with your next homemade spaghetti dinner. Many crafts stores sell inexpensive pasta machines you can dedicate to clay.

Play with different ways to make the shape of your clay more interesting. Before baking, tear the clay to create a ragged edge. Cut the clay with cookie cutters, scissors or a knife for a shaped border.

Time and temperature differ from brand to brand. Some clays bake for 10 to 20 minutes while others bake for 30. Read each package carefully beforehand.

Polymer clay may give off fumes while baking. If you can't dedicate an oven to this craft, try baking the clay inside a small cardboard box.

If you're having trouble getting the clay to bake properly, use an oven thermometer to double-check the temperature in your oven.

Pay attention while baking your clay or you might end up with burnt edges. Actually, that isn't such a bad look if you're going for that effect.

Be careful! The clay will get hot. Use a tool and/or potholders to remove the clay from the oven.

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Product Resource Guide

Buy your craft supplies at MisterArt.com

Most project photos on this page were taken with a 5.0 MP resolution KODAK EASYSHARE DX4530 Zoom Digital Camera

Additional Reading

Creative Stamping in Polymer Clay by Barbara A. McGuire

Stamp Artistry by Rice Freeman-Zachery

Stamping with Style by Katherine Duncan Aimone

Creative Stamping With Mixed Media Techniques by Sherrill Kahn

Polymer Clay Extravaganza by Lisa Pavelka

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