11 Easy Steps for Conditioning Clay

 

Hey look! It's a new experiment!
Since Glass Eternal is as much about cataloging my mistakes and learning from them as it is writing about inspiration and geeky things, I'm putting up what I learned this week about conditioning clay. I've even got pictures!
Things you'll need.

• Polymer clay that's all crumbly 
• Some type of cutting tool (I'm using one of my old X-acto blades) 
• freezer paper
• baby/mineral oil 
• tape 
• patience

I'm warning you now, it's MESSY. I suggest taking off all jewelry on your hands and wrists prior to working with the clay. Also, just to clear it up, I was using two packages of white clay. That's why the mountain is so huge.
1. Alrighty. First up, prep your work station by taping down a piece of freezer paper, slick side up.
         
2. Next, take your clay and chop it up. Chop Chop Chop!
         
Ohh, doesn't it look lovely? Not.               
3. Now, add a FEW drops all over. Seriously, I'm talking ten drops. Max.
         
4. Take a little bit and start squishing it together. Fair warning. IT"S MESSY!
Really, really, really messy ladies and gents.
         
5. If your clay is not sticking together add one drop at a time to it, until it does.
it;s going to be all bumpy and ugly at this point. It's ok.
Now, roll it together between your hands. Round and round and round.
         
Does it look all smooth and pretty? Yes? Don't be fooled.
6. Smoosh it between your hands, or your fingers, or roll one fist against your palm. Whatever it takes to make it flat, I just don't suggest a pasta machine or a rolling pin at this point.
         
7. Fold it in half,
         
8. and in half again.
         
9. Roll it up into a ball till the outside and smooth again.
10. Now after doing this once or twice, your ball should start to feel VERY sticky. It's alright. Don't freak, (I did at first XD) it's the plasticizer in the clay activating.
         
11. You'll keep squishing and rolling the clay until it looks like this
    
At this point you should be able to easily pull, twist and roll out the clay. If so, you're done!
    
Congrats! If not, keep folding and rolling a little bit longer.
Go back to step 4 and repeat for the rest of the clay.
It takes about a half hour to an hour, depending on how much clay you're working with, but it's messy and fun.

Perils of Polymer Clay! =dramatic music=

At the  beginning of the month I came up with a really cool idea for a series of pendants that I'd like to do. The problem was, I couldn't make them in paper or wire. Oh no! What's a girl to do? I went hunting all over the net and found something new. Something that would give me the look I wanted, and (BONUS!) could let me use the alcohol inks I'd made up. What is it you ask? Ok, you're probably not asking if you read the title to the post. It's polymer clay! :D

But as I lay in my bed last week, doing research (pretty much the only thing I could do) I found all sorts of scary things. Crumbly clay. Conditioning. Half cured clay. Accidentally over-softening clay. Canes! Trouble with baking. The list goes on and on! Was I even going to be able to use this lovely medium, or would it scare me off before I could?

But then I bought some...and while I did have to recondition the clay..guys I think I'm in love. I'll talk more about it over the next week. ;) Feel free to share some of your horror stories in the comments below.

Welcome Back!

When I had to take down the blog last year (wow that sounds odd) I had intended to have things back up and running, and posting regularly by the 15th of January. I even had this whole "Welcome Back" post full of snark and lovely goals.

Through various life things getting in the way though, that got tossed by the wayside, although I did make sure there would be a book review for ya'll.

This time, I'm back though, and even trying something new so that I can commit to bringing new content and ideas for ya'll, an editorial calendar. Full of jewelry, design, learning things, and the usual variety of geeky things as well.  I even have plans for a few regular posts, although the ATB will only be done every now and then ( was it just me or was it getting repetitive?) Instead, you can follow me over at my new twitter @GlassEternal where I'll post up thoughts and questions that pop up as I work. I'll also be posting up content two to three times a week, still with a healthy mix between jewelry and all things chic and geeky.

Last year was chaotic and an utter mess, this year will hopefully be better. Care to find out with me?