AboutNanetta Bananto Expertise I can answer questions pertaining to polymer clay: dollmaking, jewelry, candleholders, etc. I can give advice for children`s craft as well as fine art with polymer clay.
Experience I have worked in polymer clay for about 15 years. I have sold my work for about 15 and work in this medium almost daily. My book, "Creative Techniques for Polymer Clay Jewelry" by North Light Books, will be released June 2005.
Question I'm completely frustrated, I was making some miniature lemons for my dollhouse and the translucent part keeps coming out a pinkish red when I bake it. I'm ready to pull my hair out lol Do I have the temp to high? I go by the manufactures directions, but it does seem that I may be having it to high for the color of the clay, any help would be gratefully appreciated!!!
Answer Dear Jennie -
First of all, get an oven thermometer and test your oven temperature. I use a convection oven and it will nearly burn the clay at the recommended temp. So it is obviously higher than it reads. Ovens, especially toaster ovens, can change over time and become hotter as they age.
Below is a link to a comparative test done by Polymer Clay Express (Thanks PCE!). I hope this is of some help to you. I, myself, use Premo translucent and have little problem with "amber-ing" unless, as you suspected, it becomes overbaked. Remember that your tiny pieces will require less time to bake.
What are you baking on? You can buffer the heat by placing a ceramic tile on the rack. You can bake on fiberfill as well, which also helps keep the shape. Experiment with your temps and clay types. I am guessing it is mostly a heat issue. It won't hurt the clay to underbake it and add a few minutes to each additional bake to find out your best heat zone.
You can make a set of little marbles and remove one with each addition of time. Write down the time it took to bake and compare the results. This will help you find the right formula on time. You can do the same with temperature. If it seems like too much trouble, it is a way you can control a situation you are finding out of control.
Also - did you know that you can increase translucency by taking a polymer clay piece right out of the oven and plunging it into icewater? It really works! Just be sure not to touch the hot clay.
