About Nanetta 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 want to make a mould out of polymer clay to use for a precious metal clay pendant - I bit like making a rubber stamp. Can I use an lead pencil to mark/scribe the polymer clay or will it react with the clay? Will it mark the clay with pencil? Otherwise what would you suggest for making clean scribe marks - I bought a st/steel clay/wax tool set but they dont give 'clean lines' - seem ragged. Thanks for any help you can give me!
Answer Dear Paula - A pencil should be fine to make lines for a mold. It doesn't matter if the mold is marked with pencil lines, as it is just a mold. There are several ways you can make a mold for PMC. I have used these techniques myself.
1. Sculpey Firm and Liquid Latex: Sculpey Firm was developed specifically for use in detailed master sculpting. In other words, the original of a design. It is very dense, holds it's shape while working and makes a beautiful original. It models much like art modeling clay, except you bake it.
Begin with a ceramic glazed tile, (smooth surface). Model your original flat onto the tile. When finished, bake the piece on the tile according to package instructions. Let cool, but do not remove from the tile.
Using an inexpensive craft brush you will end up throwing away, coat the entire piece with a thin layer of the latex. Be sure to provide a 1/4 - 1/2" border around the piece on the tile. When this dries, repeat the process about 4 - 5 times. This will give you a very detailed, durable mold. Be sure to get into every crevice on the first coat for the best reproduction. Let the mold set for a day or more for the best strength.
Mold the PMC into the latex mold. It will be flexible enough to release easily. You can lay the PMC piece on a candle/tea warmer to dry completely before firing.
2. Premo Sculpey/Flex Clay Sculpey:
Model your original with Premo and bake as above. Coat the cooled, baked piece with a thin layer of baby powder or corn starch, applied with a brush.
Condition the Flex Clay, large enough to cover the original and thick enough to provide a good mold. Press over the original and carefully pull off. Inspect the mold. Place the mold face down on the tile and bake. This will offer a flexible, yet firm mold of your original. Use a bit of powder as a release agent for the PMC.
3. Premo Sculpey/Premo Sculpey:
Follow the steps above, only make the mold from Premo. This will provide a rigid mold.
